The third generation of the Cadillac Eldorado was a brief one, lasting only for the 1957-1958 year models. However, it was a beauty, and I’m partial to the ’58 with that more rounded rear section, which seemed to make those protruding tail fins even more difficult to ignore. Those who drove these cars in the late fifties were experiencing modern luxury at its finest, and I hope somebody will have the time and funds needed to return this 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Seville back to its former glory. This one is in Perris, California, and can be spotted here on eBay, where the opening bid of $5,800 has yet to be made. There are also a couple of other purchase options, including a buy-it-now cost $8,900, along with the opportunity to submit an offer of your choosing to the seller for consideration.
For its time frame, the 1958 Eldorado had a sort of space-age appearance from the side views, with the hardtops featuring some other great-looking lines in addition to the fins incorporated into the quarters. The exterior here is probably this car’s strongest point, as it’s mostly complete, and the seller mentions that he has a reproduction unit of the missing “V” ornament that belongs on the trunk. Some rust is also said to be present, but hopefully, it’s not severe enough to be beyond repair and saving all of the existing body panels. Nothing is specifically stated about the tires, but it looks like a new set of skins has recently been added.
Once you get inside, things can best be described as baked, or maybe even char-broiled in this case. While Southern California is a beautiful place to experience, the sun has wreaked havoc on the dash, door trim, steering wheel, and headliner, although the seats don’t appear to be quite as deteriorated. The gauges seem to have survived better, but there are going to be several interior issues for the future owner to contend with, so remember to take this into account while deciding how much you’re willing to spend initially on this Caddy.
The only mention of an engine is that it’s a ’58 and not original to the car, with a couple of under-the-hood photos showing an empty bay. The above photo is all we get of the supplied motor, which seems not to be much beyond a block, so the buyer will have to decide whether to add to this one or go with something entirely different. The transmission is still there, but it’s a mystery whether there’s any value left inside that component or not. There’s a lot of work to be done here, but with plenty of love, this 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Seville could once again be a stunning late-fifties luxury cruiser. Is this one worth all the effort required to get it there?
“Honey I just wonder what you do there in the back of your pink Cadillac”,,I think we can all agree, the “Boss” is just one of the best. There’s no question in anyone’s mind what a fantastic car this was, but it’s not even 1/4 there, and I just don’t know what kind of attraction there is for this. Since money obviously isn’t an issue today, we live in an instant gratification society, and why go through the heartache and wait, and despair,,, how much extra now? Bailed on the project? When they can go to the auction, cut the check, and be driving that glorious ’58 Eldo that very night. THAT’S instant gratification for ya’,,this? Sadly, I’m afraid it will continue to rot in the California sunshine. Sorry, Angel, I calls it likes I sees it.
I tend to agree Howard. The ‘feasibility’ of restoring this `58 has a heavy price–well over $120K to restore! A car like this can only attract a buyer who wants a `58 Eldorado Seville, and has the pocket to do it. THAT field has narrowed in recent years, and with today’s “economy” (or what passes for one anyway) those buyers are in VERY short supply!
seems to me, with todays economy, there are plenty of people with deep enough pockets for this. Too many IMO.
Agree with Howard. Time goes on. If you want to know how big this car is, we had a 58 convertible in the shop that took up a lot of space. I’m 5’6″ and fit lengthwise in the trunk without my head or feet touching anything.
Very uncommon car, 866 made over two years. This one should be a parts car for others to use, methinks.
A ready to drive one is on sale now for $46K and the chrome work (I thought much was stainless steel?) can be $25K to redo.
This is an Eldorado Seville. Do you mean to reference the Eldorado Brougham?
There’s an article about one of these in a back issue of Hemmings Classic Cars in mostly original condition and owned and driven by a former GM engineer. I did a quick look-through on their website but couldn’t find it. It’s from around 10 years ago but I didn’t have the patience to search further. Very interesting car and the elusive article, too.
I think my Aunt Jean in the Philadelphia suburbs bought one of these new back in the day. I seem to recall that it was a convertible.
@Big John
In that case, being a convertible your aunts car would have been a Cadillac Eldorado Barritz. The same car as a hardtop was called a Cadillac Eldorado SeVille.
Now before you come at me with torches and pitchforks, this car should be back on the road somehow and if that means
restomdding it then so be it. And if this is the case, I could see it running a big EFI 500 cube Caddy mated to an M-22 rock crusher 4-speed tranny. With all that go power, it’s gonna have to whoa and a set of Wildwood vented disc brakes on all four corners will bring this beast to a screeching halt in seconds. But for you purists out there, I would do my best to preserve as much of the original car as possible. I do see a lot of hard to find stuff here that could be cleaned and re used in the final rodstoration. Things like the whole interior, the wiring, and so much more. In all, I think that this car would make a great restomod. And just like the Jaguar sedan I dropped a GM drive line into, this car would be saved from the crusher and put back on the road
where it belongs.
Agree, resto mod could be interesting. I’ll add 4 bucket seats, full length console AND 4 fins! Make molds and double up…maybe about 4 inches apart…the body and paint guys will have a love/hate relationship.
Hi Kenneth, don’t worry, nobody here will put your head on a pike for those views, it actually makes the most sense. While the future will regard the style as something from outer space, let’s face it, it still has 1958 mechanicals, I could see an update of some sort. I’m not sure about your personal choice, but a modern motor, trans and brakes would make it desirable and yes, would make it useful again. To do that, however, will cost a fortune to most folks here and like most projects, may or may not be attractive to anyone else. In these uncertain times, it seems awful foolish to stick $100grand into a mere automobile.
Hand wringing environmentalists have killed the chrome plating industry which thrived for decades with no documented impact on society. All of these 50’s and 60’s American icons with massive bumpers and other chrome parts are just far too expensive to restore.
Maybe you could do one piece at a time Like Johnny if you had the cash
I’m sure I’m in the minority, but I never liked this Cadillac. I always felt that the back end looked like a Corvette with oddly mounted fins.
As for chrome plating, I lived in Waterbury CT in the 1960’s, the capitol of chrome plating in New England, the Naugatuck River, into which the waste from plating was dumped had no life in it. The end of cheap dumping of waste resulted in a much cleaner river, fish again, and maybe some recreation by humans. The environmental rules are necessary and help us humans, let alone the fish, survive.
And this is a neat car, Car and Driver, in 1957 likened the rear to a potato with eyes, but I like it anyway.
I didn’t know CAR & DRIVER existed in 1957. I thought it was SPORTS CAR GRAPHIC, or something like that?
To own one of these in ’58 you would have had to have been Johnny Stompanato or Lana Turner or the owner of a dry cleaning plant:) Its a terrific design in the rear, though I never liked the quad headlights. As you folks not in Calunicornia may know, Perris IS the desert. Hot and dry doesnt begin to describe it. This baby is BAKED..
Setting the price of old cars especially almost total tear down restorations is like throwing darts at a spot on the wall. There’s only hope involved. If the yard really wants to move this poor gal he may have to offer to pay THEM to take it, unfortunately.
I’ve always loved these. Many moons ago I had a ’58 62 Convert. This was rode hard and put away wet way too many times but it still would be a fun project if you could come up with a rust bucket parts car from up North. Considering that there is only a used short block included, I assume the tri-power is long gone.
Pay $8900 for this and then spend $75K or more to have a car worth $40K at the most.
I don’t think so.
@Rick W
Rick, as always you’re entitled to your opinion. Even if it stinks. LOL
For someone who loves over the top I would think you would love this.
When I was first aware of these, the rear was so different from the Series 62 and de Villes and hated it. Too round. But as I got older and matured and my tastes changed, these are very innovative for the mid fifties. The movie “Tin Men” helped in my changing opinion.
This car is savable as a restomod in my opinion or (God forbid) a parts car so that others my carry on the Cadillac excellence and “Standard of the World.”
Restoring this to original will be painstakingly costly as well as time consuming. As much as I prefer originality in my old cars this one, I have to agree with others, it would have to be a restomod.
New engine and trans, rear, disc brakes, 3″ exhaust, custom interior. Keep the outside original.
Jon Rukavina if you see this Happy Birthday! 🎂🎉
Interesting several people agree with me. RESTOMOD! But do it right! To do that you need to take it to Utah and tell Dave and Kevin call me when it’s done, I will bring my check book.
it’s a shame that somebody let it get to this point. I would say said and done 100k to restore
This puppy is a labor of love at it’s quintessential height! There is no $ value placed on a work of art. This example of America’s automobile industrial bad ass attitude of ” Who cares what surveys dictate, we’re going to build them any way! The richest country in the world had better produce the largest, most beautiful automobile in the world. Who cares who’s going to buy it? Once displayed to the masses a few will indubitably say. I want one.” For it’s absolute beauty, and for it’s look that says “Get the F*#@k out of my way!” I love Cadillacs, I drive Cadillacs, I have owned them for 50+ years!
Every time I see one of these I have the urge to shave off those out of proportion little fins. It would look really cool.
That’s what I said Angel. For some ungodly reason, I just wanna build one with a thumpin’ cammed up 500 cube Caddy
backed by a Muncie 4-speed tranny. Now that to me would be a real blast to drive provided the rear end doesn’t break loose and the car doesn’t squirrelly. To make ‘er whoa, I’d use a set of Wildwood discs with vented rotors to decrease brake fade when you stand on the stop pedal. And for you dear, I’d
keep the car as original as possible save for the running gear and the brakes. Just a few more ponies for the rocketship.
Dad and I bought a ’58 Bearitz 4-door hardtop in late 1970 but we didn’t keep it long though. It was a real pain in neck having to blow up the suspension before you drive the car. That and the ass end of our car samk slowly into the sunset
due to a leaky air bag. And since my friend Joe Levavich didn’t have any airbags, we sold the car rather than replace
the air suspension with standard springs. Other than the
suspension problem, the car was complete down to the Arpege atomizer in the rear seat and silver flask with the silver cups and the cigarette case that were in the glovebox.
Cool car but not for me. My ’66 Calais 4-door hardtop was enough for me.
If the modern auto industry tooled up and made dies to re-produce this monster it would cost well over $100K to just make one. To buy one would be double that! Seeing this exquisite work of art reminds me: I want one to drive daily!
@AL HEARTBREAKER
Maybe that’s why the new Cadillac Celistiq is $340,000 to start and only goes up from there
No kidding! Now you’re gonna make me look on line to find one.
Hi Angel! Check your email. Just got my phone fixed tonight while at my store. I’ll send you a test email in a minute.
Ended with 0 bids.