Cadillac King - Junkyard 411 for the novice

[car junkie]

CROOKS!!!

Liars and thieves.

[cadillacmike68]

Whatever happens... bring LOTS of money!!!

Amen to that, Especially when Cadillac king is involved. 

[Crow331]

Well it took 11 days, several false promises, at least 6 phones calls (in which they put me on hold for extended periods and then said 'let me call you back', and then no call back) but I finally got my parts today. I came to them for a front and rear dash and a windshield. They said they would have to get the parts from their junkyard in Victorville and it would take until the end of the week or possibly Monday. It's Thursday. The biggest thing that pissed me off was them not returning calls when they said they would call me back.

The other thing was, the parts they showed me were from the rafters in their garage on site, they did not come from Victorville like they said, which was why I thought I was waiting for 11 days for the parts. If the parts are literally sitting right there, why did I have to wait 11 days?? They literally pulled the windshield out this morning (give us '30 minutes' went on for 2 hours and my buddy who was going to help me transport had to cancel. Luckily I took the chance and squeezed it in my Jeep and it arrived to the shop safely), also from a car right there on site and I also felt like I "settled" for less than the perfect dash that I was promised.

I would definitely think twice before using them again. I wouldn't call them crooks more like they are under-staffed. The owner and one other guy answering calls and the phone just rang off the hook both times I was there. Also because he has so many cars I think he just says "yes I have the part" because he assumes he does because of all the cars he has! The problem is the time it takes him to find the part.

[59-in-pieces]

Crow...
You are the most charitable guy who has posted their experiences with the KING.
I will post a portion from my earlier post --------
"Unless you have truly knocked yourself out looking on the forumS, Craig's ListS- national, and eBay, go get the unobtainium at THEIR price and consider yourself lucky - cuz, the next guy who looks will beat you out of it, unless you got the last one, first."
That was my charitable comment.
For those who may be reading the other accounts - including mine and Crow...'s - read the lines and between the lines about this supplier, before you as Crow puts it " I also felt like I "settled" for less than the perfect dash that I was promised."
Caveat Emptor .......
Have fun,
Steve B.

[cadillacmike68]

They are definitely my vendor of LAST RESORT.

[David Greenburg]

Me too, Mike.  And the problem is that they know that!  And price accordingly.

[cadillacmike68]

Yeah, they pretty much know that if you are calling them, that you've already called everywhere else.

[TD Alex]

Looking for warnings about Cadillac King.  Found this stream from four years back.  I can attest nothing has changed with Tom there.  Document everything and be prepared to go to CC company if you have to get a refund.  In other words  BUYER BE WARE

[jaxops]

Perhaps things have changed but I had a good experience with them when I was restoring my '56 Cadillac.  I guess I knew what I was getting (from a junkyard) and since it was a limousine, parts were extraordinarily hard to get.  The few pieces I bought were decent enough to restore.  This was 15-20 years ago though.

I sure do miss roaming the junkyards.  The wife and I used to get Buick parts (yes, I said "Buick") for our '70 Electra daily driver in PA, Jax (FLA), and here in Norva.  There used to be a great Ford junkyard in Suffolk, VA that we went to often for interior parts or lens assemblies for the Crown Victorias.  The InterNet online parts and unbridled home construction really did a lot of those once-isolated yards in!

[James Landi]

"Did anyone else have the issue I always seemed to have going to the junkyard where most of the time the cars you were taking parts off of were nicer than the one you were buying the parts for?   That was the depressing aspect of junking."

Oh my yes, TJ---   back in the mid-60's when I was driving my first '56 Cadillac, I needed a rear door...and there were several '56's that looked like they were junked well before their time-- with fabric front seats that and interiors that showed less wear than my car.  These visits to junk yards back in the day, always created an "emotional" reset, so that I would feel great about finding not only the part I needed but other parts that I might use, and, in contrast, feeling somewhat depressed at viewing some of automotive carnage that was very visible in these yards for "the shopper."  James

[Frank g]

Good luck .I live in Connecticut anyone know if any of these in the northeast ?
Frank

[Scot Minesinger]

I have enjoyed a positive experience over the last decade with Cadillac King.  Prices are up there, not outrageous, but you can count on them.  If you want a part - it is a good option.  If you want an experience, maybe a Cadillac show is better.

[DBOT805]

Desert Valley Auto Parts in AZ, have a fair inventory of Cad parts,and actually are quite fair and legit.I purchased a 60Cad crossmember for 200$.Couldnt believe they cut up chassis to do so.Replacing that member into existing chassis,was one of craziest feats,Ive ever done.Too insane to list here,but did it!!