1959 marked the first year for the fourth generation Cadillac Eldorado, which was restyled from the previous model to be lower, longer, and wider. The coupe model was billed as the Eldorado Seville, and with a total of only 975 built it is quite a rare and collectible piece of Cadillac history. If you like tailfins and are in the market for a vintage Cadillac, this may be a good car for you. Located in Riverton, Utah, it can be found here on eBay with about 6 days left on the auction. As of this writing, 26 people have placed their bids and the reserve has not been met at $72,100 so there has already been quite a bit of interest in this vehicle.
The seller says that this Cadillac is a true barn find, as it had been stored inside a barn for years until the current owner purchased it 3 years ago. It is said to be very solid and will start right up, and is driveable. The car has been repainted at some point in its life and the seller states that the red paint is about a 3 on a 10 scale. The body appears to be in very well preserved condition, so if the next owner decides to repaint it again there should not be too much body prep to be done beforehand. There is some surface rust under the hood, but it doesn’t look to be very deep or anything major to be concerned about. Although not perfect, the interior seems to be in overall good condition and complete.
Lift the hood and you’ll find a tri-power 390 cubic inch power plant, which was good for 345 horsepower from the factory. It is mated to a 4-speed Hydra Matic transmission with a 3:21 rear axle ratio, just right for hours of easy cruising down long roads. The seller does not mention whether or not the motor or transmission has ever been rebuilt but does state the mileage is 78,321. We are told that the car has a new gas tank and that it is not currently hooked up, but has a gas can in the front with a hose in it.
It’s really nice to run across a complete car like this that hasn’t been apart. And given its rarity, there aren’t many opportunities to buy a car like this in any condition. What are your thoughts on this 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Seville? What do you think would be a reasonable price to pay?
It’s OK but I like the Teal one better.
Did they really come with a tri-power from the factory . I have never seen one in a Caddy
It appears on the website I use the tri-power was used across the Eldorado series, Biarritz, Brougham, and Seville, while the rest of the line used 4-barrel carbs.
The Eldos came with Tri Powerand it is worth some $$ on its own. I had a lovely 56 Coupe De Ville and the Eldos were always a step up in style and power. I would love this..
Tri power induction replaced the two fours on the later top end Cad’s. The thing I question is the factory looking wire wheels. Are they real are aftermarket. Cadillac quit installing (as a option)in 1954(last year). They were having a problem with broken spokes and they replaced with the Saber (turbine) wheels. There is a company making stronger wire wheels for restorations in I believe 15 and 16″. A lot of the old Cad and Buick wire wheels ended up on street rods and custom cars.
Gorgeous car and I get it,it’s rare. If it wasn’t repainted I can see the that type of money. I think should wander if it is a repair grab a magnet you just never know,but on the flip side of it if your spending that kind of money then money really isn’t an issue. The guns for me are iconic trade mark to an era that can never be forgotten, guess that’s why I love the first back to the future so much…lol. Everyone have a great day!🙏👍
Doesn’t have auto-dimming or cruise, so may be as close to a “stripper” as one of these ever got.
J. C.,
It doesn’t even have A/C, and it’s one of only a couple Seville hardtops sold with a bench seat. In all my years dealing with these cars, I’ve never seen one that had been sold new with standard suspension. Even those converted to springs only, still maintained the air pump and under hood parts.
I’ve owned a ’59 Eldo convertible, and restored several for customers. In my extensive research, I’ve never seen a ’59 Eldo so stripped as this one. It may well be the only Eldo hardtop without A/C. This is probably an ordered car, as the vast majority of Cadillac dealerships would order their top tier cars well loaded, as buyers wanted their cars loaded with options.
The Seville hardtop MSRP was About $7,500 to $8,000, and the published price for A/C was $475, or about 8% of the total value of the car. It’s likely the car was sold in an area where A/C wasn’t needed, perhaps southern California or the northern areas of America or Canada.
Plus, it’s missing a very hard to find piece: The horn ring. The one in place has both of the side rings broken and missing. These are currently selling for at least $1,200. Yep, $1,200 for a horn ring. They were used only on the ’59 & ’60 Cadillacs, no other GM cars used it.
If I bought it and had the space, time and money to do it, I would buy a standard Cadillac parts car with working A/C, and turn this car into a factory A/C equipped Eldo. It will probably add more value to the car than the cost of the work.
Because GM expected to sell mostly A/C equipped cars, they stamped the firewall as if the car would be A/C equipped. For the few that only had a heater, they installed a black panel onto the firewall, above the heater box. This covered the location where the A/C cooling unit would attach to the firewall.
I truly like this car however , paying over 70 grand and having to put another 20 grand in it does not seem feasible . Now, keep in mind that my comment is my personal opinion . If one feels like debating, please feel free to do so, I may actually learn something 👍
Ihad a 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood. I lovedthe attention I got and the people asking if they can take pictures. I sold itand regreat having done so. Iam now restoring Packards and will be back on the road with my Patricians in a couple of months.
70k seems a little crazy for one of these that’s not absolutely perfect.
The other day I amdrivingthrough a small townbetweenFresnoand Bakersfield, (Lamore, Ca.) Infromt ofa customizing shopis a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville. All fourtires areflat butappearto be the orginals. Color is mist green with a white vynal top. Needs new interior butis 100% rust free. This car I am sure has always been in this small town. I called and offered $10,000 and went down in flames. Called two weekslaterandoffered$19,000 and guy hessated thensaid”NO” again. I am now not able to offer any more. Anyonewant pictures I got them
There is one of these in Gainesville, FL, as a static display with a ’59 Coupe De Ville, at a vacuum cleaner store on 6th street, I believe. I go by there often and love looking at the cars. I always think of Neil Young and his ’59 Eldorado. Don’t know if he still has it but was looking for the side top trim at one time. That sweeping expanse of curved stainless is quite elegant IMHO. The display cars have wide whites, and tinted windows, to protect the interiors. Every so often they get a repaint and are set slightly off the ground without the wheels hanging. One of my favourite Cadillacs in the 1959 line up.
No wonder cars aren’t getting restored. These aholes are asking completely restored prices on cars that need a ton of work. This hobby is going to die a slow horrible death if this keeps up.
I’m very sad.
The only way this is going to be rectified is for the bottom to fall out, and I hope that happens soon.
This is a pretty car, but, certainly not worth the asking price.
Replace the gas tank, shine up the paint and chrome, take care of major issues, THEN ask for $72,000+.
Every so often a commenter will offer a “personal opinion”. Question: what other kind is there?
Forgot to mention that this car doesn’t even have “E-Z-Eye” tinted glass, a $52 option. While I don’t believe this is the case, GM was known to order vehicles slated to go to the larger new car shows like the GM Motorama, with clear glass, because the cars, located inside large halls with many spotlights pointed at the cars, simply look better with clear glass.
In the 1953 to about 1968 [when tinted glass became standard on Cadillacs], most GM production show cars were well-loaded, and the Cadillacs [and other senior line cars] always had A/C, but no tinted glass. If you find a GM car from this period, with A/C but no E-Z-Eye glass, chances are good it’s a former special order show car.
Bill’s comment about tinted glass rings a bell. 1969 I walked around the local Buick dealer inventory and found a new 1969 Electra 4 door sedan, no tined class but had the climate control air, higher option than just AC withmanual controls. I had this car in Death Valley with the temp. at 124 degrees and the AC was pumping it’s heart out trying to keep the car at 72 degrees. Older couple in a Chrysler New Yorker was on the highway with me for some 90 miles and his car would slow down going up hills and I would pass, then the opposite on the down hill side. My cruise control held the car steady while the Chrysler cruise control had a 10 MPH flex to it. We both stopped for gas and he appeared a bit angry with me. I made sure every car after this one had tinted glass.
I am willing to send pictures of this 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville in mist green with a white vynal top to anyone interested. This car had to have been in storage for 40 years. It has 40 pounds ofdust, and I am sure the paint is orginal, tires are flat, but are the correct size white wall and I am sure orginal, shows 43000 miles. Trying to buy it but they say they are going to restore it. Willing to work to get the car for someone. Can send pictures via E mail. Located near Fresno, Ca. rust free, dent free, chrome good, has gold sabre wheels.
I do notknowof any other Eldorado manufactured without AC or cruise. 1959 about 50% of regiular 62 series Cadillacs even had auto temp AC.
I believe 1957 was the firstyear where the complete AX system was under thehood and inthe dash, no longer usingthe trunk compartment.