This 1953 Cadillac is listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Independence, Oregon, bidding has taken the current price to $1,650, but the reserve hasn’t been met at this stage. The seller contradicts themselves as they indicate in one part of the advertisement that the car comes with a clear title, but in another part intimates that a clear title will be at the buyer’s expense, although the lack of punctuation throws even this statement into some confusion.
I guess that to be strictly correct we probably should give this particular car its full title, which is a Cadillac Series 62 Coupe de Ville. The seller describes this particular de Ville as being straight and rust-free. Certainly the supplied photos tend to back these claims. The trunk floor looks nice and solid. The lack of carpet inside the car allows a pretty clear picture of the floor which also looks quite promising. The rear bumper is quite damaged in the center and may present a few issues if you were to try to source a good replacement, but a good metal fabricator should be able to repair it in preparation for a fresh dose of chrome. Some of the other exterior trim pieces will also need restoration as there is some pitting in evidence, along with signs that the chrome plating has lifted in spots. The paint color on this car isn’t original either. The seller describes the original color as being a shade of baby blue which I assume was actually “Pastoral Blue”. This information would certainly gel with the interior trim.
The interior provides both good and bad news. The seats look to be in quite good condition and would probably respond well to being cleaned. The door trims are present, but are probably going to require full restoration as their condition is not good. The headliner also appears to be in quite good condition, but does appear to be sagging in the center at the front. Some of the other soft trim pieces look like they will also clean-up well while others will require full restoration. It also appears that there is no carpet with the car.
The dash looks to be in reasonable condition, although once again there are some trim items in particular that will require restoration. The original radio is present and the wheel itself looks to be in really good condition which is a huge bonus.
Under the hood is the 331ci V8 engine which is backed by the 4-speed automatic Hydra-Matic transmission. Once again there is going to be a bit of work required if the car is going to be returned to its former glory. The really good news is that this car runs and drives, so it may be that a full service will return this Cadillac to sound mechanical condition.
This Coupe de Ville is going to be a big restoration job, there’s no doubt about that. There are certainly some potentially expensive tasks to be completed, but it appears that it could be returned to a serviceable state reasonable easily, and the aesthetic tasks could be tackled over time. Once restored this car would be an extremely nice thing to appreciate on leisurely (and comfortable) Sunday drives.
Get that puppy running and driving right, polish the chrome as much as you can, wash and wax then use it for coffee and cars on weekends.
Reading the eBay ad (now at $5800 or £4493) the issue of title read to me it has a clean title and that they, at the buyers expense, can ship world wide. Punctuation is a bit lacking.
“Clean title we at buyers expense can ship worldwide” should – I think – read
“Clean title. We, at buyers expense, can ship worldwide.”
I’d love it but the shipping costs would kill the deal.
Thanks for that Neil. I wasn’t sure which way to interpret it and didn’t want to jump the wrong way, but I agree with you.
I once worked for a freight forwarding company that shipped cars overseas – many to the Scandinavian countries. Some of these cars were crap, to my eyes, but there are plenty of folks, apparently, willing to pay the freight for classic American iron.
WOW, it has fog lights which was a rare option.
Somebody should put it back on the road though.
Every time I see what should be a reasonable deal sitting on a trailer it screams FLIPPER and I get another sick feeling in my stomach. If everyone would stop helping these vultures turn cars everybody would be better off. Don’t bid on them, don’t buy them. Make them sit on them.
I think it’s a great car. But what seals the deal for me is the seller’s claim that it “rubs and drives”.
We all need a car like that…
up to 6 large and hasn’t hit reserve, Beautiful Caddy!!!
Good luck to the new owner!!
In 1965 I was in college and had a Fraternity brother who could not be drafted due to a physical condition. However, he worked as a railroad brakeman. He worked 6 months, then went to school 6 months. He bought a very low milage 1953 Cadillac hearse and asked me to car sit while he was gone. He even gave me a gas card and said to use only premium. It was a combo unit in black but with red and blue lights in the grille and a siren under the hood.
Because of the Hydromatic factory fire, the hearse had a Dynaflow. It was very slow. I pulled out of my alley behind a cop car and noticed my high beams were on. I pressed what I thought was the dimmer switch, but it activated the lights and siren. The cop pulled over and then began escorting me. I thought fast, (I was young then) and pulled over at a freeway entrance. The cop pulled along side, I said I had received a radio message cancelling the call. The cop saluted and drove off.
I think this was the last year for that pokey looking steering wheel. Sammy Davis Junior lost his eye on a ’53 Caddy after two old ladies pulled out in front of him in 1954. He didn’t know he was injured until the ladies started screaming when he walked over to see if they were alright!
Seats have been reupholstered; Lord knows what it needs under the hood, and missing trim items. You are better off paying a bit more, and getting a better `53. No one wants someone else’s unfinished problems.