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No Reserve: 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood

This 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood was stored in a shed for nearly four decades. Therefore, it is no surprise to find that it has only accumulated 46,900 miles on its odometer throughout its life. The owner revived it and returned it to a roadworthy state about 4-years-ago, and he has now decided to place it on the market. Located in Woodstock, New York, it has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $15,000 in what is a No Reserve auction. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting the Fleetwood for us.

The Fleetwood is unmolested and still wears all of its original Black paint. It shines pretty nicely, but as you will see in a moment, it isn’t perfect. The owner admits that there is surface corrosion but doesn’t mention any problems with penetrating rust. The panels are as straight as you could hope to find in an original classic of this era, and the gaps are as tight as you might expect from a manufacturer who has always boasted about their build quality. The chrome and trim are in excellent order for a survivor, with no apparent damage or missing pieces. It is expected that any luxury car from this era was going to be fitted with tinted glass, and the Cadillac is no exception. It is all original, and it appears to be free from major flaws.

Time has taken a toll on the original paint, and there’s no doubt that the vehicle would benefit from a cosmetic refresh. However, if the buyer wants to maintain the Fleetwood’s original survivor status, that is a possibility. Even with all of its flaws, the paint does hold a nice shine. If the “shabby chic” appearance appeals to you, that could make this the perfect classic to own.

The interior of this Cadillac is a surprise because it is better than I had expected given the years of inactivity. It would have been no surprise to find evidence of rodent infestation, but the upholstered surfaces are free from this. There are no rips or tears, but there is some “dirtying” and some seam separations. However, I’m pretty sure that an upholsterer could return this interior to an excellent state without breaking the bank. If they repaired the separations and applied the right cleaners and treatments, the upholstery could be returned to a factory-fresh condition. This is a luxury car, so creature comforts abound. Some of these work, while some don’t. The radio operates, but it will need a new speaker. The power front seat and the power driver’s window require attention while the clock has stopped. The remaining power glass, the air conditioning, the soft-close trunk, and the Autronic Eye function exactly as Cadillac intended.

The owner revived the Cadillac in 2017 after it had been sitting for nearly four decades. He treated the original 365ci V8 to a rebuild and fitted new brakes, new suspensions, and new tires. That 365 should now be producing 300hp, which finds its way to the rear wheels via a 4-speed Hydramatic transmission. At 4,980lbs, this is a heavy classic. That makes the 18-second ¼ mile ET seem pretty impressive. The owner has covered around 3,000 miles since the Fleetwood was revived, and he describes it as being enjoyable to drive. I have included a video of the car running and driving at the bottom of this article. It sounds crisp and clean, with no evidence of rattling, squeaks, or other problems.

The owner set the auction for this 1957 Fleetwood to open at $15,000 but says that he will accept a BIN price of $20,000. When you look at its overall solid nature and the work that has been performed on the drivetrain, those figures seem to be pretty competitive. Seventy-four people are currently watching the listing, and it will be interesting to see how many of them choose to bid. If it were a spotless example, it would easily command a value of $30,000, and getting it to that state without compromising its financial viability would be possible. Of course, the buyer might like that survivor look, so I could understand that decision if they left the car untouched. Which way would you go if you parked this beauty in your garage?

Comments

  1. Avatar Moparman Member

    A beautiful survivor from an era when a Cadillac was instantly recognizable, and also knew what it was, rather than aspiring to be something it was not! GLWTA!! :-)

    Like 12
  2. Avatar alphasud Member

    The BIN seems really reasonable. Beautiful car, beautiful lines, chrome and stainless look good. Rebuilt engine and factory A/C. 20K buys a lot here from a time when Cadillac was at the top of their game. Surprised it hasn’t already sold!

    Like 19
  3. Avatar Fred W

    Is it just me, or does that look more like a deteriorated repaint than OEM? Can’t believe they were able to get the air working. This car makes me salivate all over the keyboard, but wife says “no” and I don’t have the space anyway. It’s a good thing I don’t have a giant warehouse or I would be one of those “hoarders” you see on TV.

    Like 13
  4. Avatar Jcs

    One of the most 2-door looking 4-doors ever built. Very cool.

    Me thinks that the guy in the gray minivan or whatever that pulled out in front of him needs another cocktail, seems to have been rattled by the sinister black Cadillac.

    Like 12
    • Avatar Philip

      I thought the same thing that it was a 2 door, at first glance.
      But the specs show that it’s actually 20 inches longer and 1.5 inches wider than the even cooler 1957 Brougham, albeit 1/4 the price.

      Like 2
  5. Avatar Al

    Back when a Cadillac was a Cadillac! I have a neighbor close by with an identical car (can’t say about the AC) and every time I go by his house I’m tempted to stop and see if he is ready to sell. These were and are beautiful cars and truly represented quality and prestige.

    Like 5
  6. Avatar doone

    My dad had a 57 Fleetwood in Tahoe Blue about 40 mi from where this one is. Same equipment except for the trunk closer. Quiet comfy ride. I note that this car has a dual reservoir master cylinder which was not OE, but a smart add on by whomever restored the brakes.

    Like 7
  7. Avatar BigDoc987

    Al said it perfectly. Back when a Cadillac was a Cadillac. Wow beautiful car.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar kent gordon Member

    A real “stop and look” car. I bought one or these at an auction in Fresno Ca. for $1,800.00. Drove it home. Transmission soon died. $1,200.00 for a new tranny. Enjoyed it a year and sold it to a guy in Germany. Broke even. On a trip to SF everyone on a tour bus (from Japan) rushed to the side of the bus my car was on just to get look. Almost tipped the bus over on my car!

    Like 1
  9. Avatar MattR

    This Caddy is the first Barn Find I’ve showed my wife where she actually wanted us to buy the car – and it’s 3k miles away. Damn my luck!

    Like 4
  10. Avatar tom collins

    looks like a nice original fleetwood, fair price, a true sport sedan, no pillar or post. futire appreciation a plus, if it passes magnet test! submitted by Tom Collins certified appraiser

    Like 0
  11. Avatar GEORGE T SAMAHA

    My first Cadillac was this like this one except it had green cloth interior. I purchased it from Thomas Cadillac in Charlotte, NC, in 1968 . I paid $300.00 for it! I drove it for several years and never had any problems with it.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar MattR

    30m left in this auction and holding at 16k. Someone is about to get a great car.

    Like 2
    • Avatar DayDreamBeliever

      Finished right there.
      Good buy, IMO!

      Like 2
      • Avatar MattR

        Agreed. I am quite jealous but happy for them all the same.

        Like 2

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