This sad looking old Caddy listed on eBay in Livingston, New Jersey has been sitting since 1943. When it was parked, it was just an old used car. Gas was being rationed and big cars like this were often more valuable as scrap. It would have been very difficult to find a buyer for this Cadillac. Instead, it was hauled away by a casual collector and added to his collection of other derelict cars. It’s completely original, even including such things as the leather boots over the springs. Luckily, this Caddy lived inside with other cars until recently when it was banished to the cruel outside world. The leather and upholstery have long since submitted to the ravages of time. Perhaps some pieces might serve as patterns for the restoration. We have a 1925 Cadallic similar to this Cadillac in the museum and it is a big and imposing car that gets lots of attention from visitors. Restoring this big coupe would be a huge undertaking, but it would be a grand reminder of a bygone era.
Here’s a glimpse into the luxury of another time. It appears the passing decades and not rodents have done most of the damage here.
The old flathead V8, first introduced by Cadillac in 1914, is all there, rusted and rotted by the years. Perhaps there’s a small chance it is not frozen.
Here’s the 1925 Cadillac V-63 Coupe displayed in the museum. This is similar to what this 1926 Cadillac 314 would look if it was restored.
The body looks straight with no signs of rust. The unknown, of course, is the condition of the wooden body frame. With bidding over $7,000 at this time and reserve not met, the seller might have an overly optimistic opinion of what a buyer would be willing to pay for this Cadillac. Restoration will be expensive and beyond the capabilities and the bank accounts of most folks. The cost of restoration alone could be beyond the value of this car. This Cadillac is yet another sad example of a car worth saving, but perhaps not worth the cost of restoration.
Do you know what we are looking at here David? The 1926 2 passenger opera coupe was a 1 year only model for 1926 with those little rear windows. From what the records show through all Cadillac clubs plus the AACA club, no other examples seem to exist today. Current bid is 9000. The seller said the reserve is 10k so it’s close. I was lucky enough to have a tour at this amazing place a whole back and this car was very well preserved in dry storage for over 70 years by the same owner! I saw under the car, the floors, wood and frame are excellent. This is a full CCCA 1 of a kind Classic. Take this unrestored example to RM Sotheby’s auction, it will top 20k. This is not just a sedan body style. I was wondering just last night if this car would show up on Barn Finds and here it is. 10k is nothing for this car. Have any of us seen another one? Deal of the month for the collectors who understand what this car is. Check out the rare LaSalle rumble seat convertible behind it! Unrestored true classic car barn finds that have been hiding for 70 years just don’t exist anymore. Yards like this are almost all gone now. Sad looking you said? I don’t think so….
Great additional information. It absolutely warrants a no holds barred restoration for sure. No doubts on that!!!
If it was closer. Sigh. What a beauty. One might not recoup their “investment”, but for some of us, that really isn’t the point.
The cost of restoring this car may be large,but what a piece of time
you could own,when done!Someone with some money and more importantly skills,could manage it without too much cost.People all the time buy a vehicle
that could be restored or refurbished for $5,000-$10,000–“IF” they were to do most of the work themselves,Most can’t,don’t or won’t.So now people believe
that because they “paid” thousands of dollars on a job-that could have only cost hundreds,that their vehicle is worth a fortune.Also some tv shows make it worse.This could be a really nice car,and cost “shouldn’t matter” IF done for love of a vehicle.!I hope it gets the love it needs!
As a huge Cadillac lover, I can look past the rough & tumble exteriors to see the beauty that’s waiting to shine. True, that this wont be a cheap restoration, but in the end it will definitely worth it, tho not necessarily in financial returns
Would love to see her after the restoration
David Frank, You said the engine is rusted and rotted and most likely frozen? I guess you did not read the part where the guy said the engine is free and turns over? To call a car like this a “Derelict Car” along with his other old cars is not cool. You have no clue what treasures this man has in his collection. Packards, Pierce Arrows, Cadillacs, old Rolls Royces, he was smart to save them. The fact that it’s 91 years old and was stored for 75 years is amazing in itself. Again, I know this car so I speak the truth. Maybe you should do a little more homework on old cars in general before you post your future writeups….
+nessy – In this case, you da man. “Derelict”? This is an automotive miracle. Just the lack of rust or major body damage makes this a VERY do-able project. At $10,000 it is a stunning bargain (which I can write a check for, and am considering). The only damper on my personal enthusiasm is my 65 years on this planet. This is a gift for any self-respecting collector (or budding collector).
Thanks man. If this car was in the Fall Hershey Car Coral, forget 20k, it would have sold pretty fast at 25k, maybe 30k, most likely to an overseas collector/museum. 10k is a low price for this coupe. I think Ebay may not be the right place to market this car. Not enough of the right kind of buyers are seeing it. I’ve seen the car, it’s in much better shape than people would think.
By the time I got it to Arizona, it would have been about $15,000, or more had it gone higher. Even though, in my opinion, it is still an unbelievably good deal, just not for me. This is one of those I alluded to in a different thread, where I said its loss will bother me for many nights to come. Amazing opportunity…
I’m 72 and still collecting. Don’t stop now.
Worth every penny for this currently undervalued and unappreciated future big $$ collectible.
This is one of those deals that people will be talking about years from now…
The car just hit 10000. It looks like his reserve is met. Geez, some lucky dude might win this car for only 10g. If I only had the garage space. This one is really getting under my skin. I want it.
It just sold $13,200. What a great car. You won’t find another one.
Unreal…. Too cheap for this car. Lucky sob.
Gimmie the drop top in the back ground. I would make the car the car mechanically safe and sound and DRIVE IT! wow, actually driving a classic and enjoying it, WHAT AN IDEA!
It’s too much stress for me to continue in this hobby. This ranks right up there around where SAM 61 lives… A stash of WW-II radial engines in barns and fields. Worth about 60 ziilion dollars. This car was the epitome of affluence when she was born. The other cars around there remind me of stalking the yards back in the early 60s.
If only the Illinois lottery would pay me the money I didn’t win. I could have bought the Caddy and put one of my HEMIS in it. Would’a been a real hit at the rod and custom shows. I hope my sarcasm is evident. What a golden chalice.
Where are those radial engines?
The first Cadillacs to be fitted with 20 inch wheels. Take that Escalade owners!
When “Personal Luxury Car” was in it’s infancy. I hope it gets restored to original.
What a fantastic find! And I thought that *before* I read nessy’s first post. Afterwards I was even more impressed.
The house I live in, a twin in the Philly first ring suburbs was built in 1926. I’ll bet this car cost more than my house did in 1926. One of these would *not* have been parked in the garage, LOL. But it gives me an idea of what was cruising by on nearby Baltimore Pike. Oh, to have been there to see that.
I hope the car is going to a good home (I’m sure that it is? and it will be restored to its former glory. Even better if I see it on the judging field at Hershey in a couple of years.
What a find!!!
13K….. what a gift….
I saw a photo of this car on line before someone had the bright idea to paint it gray. Then again, it was out in the rain and quite rusty looking.
Congrats to the new owner of this truly awesome Caddy!
whoa….cool stuff right there……..
Pretty amazing survivor. I sent it over to my wonderful neighbor born in the very same year with a note that he’s in better shape than the car :)
Fabulous! I spent half my life drewling over Cadillac’s. Now I own(ed) five. I just picked up the newly introduced CT6. Thank-you to those of you who preserve such amazing history.
Is this the highest thumbs up post so far?