1954 Coupe Deville – 77k miles – Authentic restoration completed – Numbers matching to frame – Body stripped down to bare metal and painted the original colors of 16 Apollo Gold with black top – Painted base coat / clear coat in 2012 and still looks great – All exterior stainless was buffed and the rear bumper and hood goddess ornament were re–chromed – Engine was rebuilt and detailed in 2017 as well as the Hydramatic transmission – Runs great – NOS fuel pump and rebuilt water pump installed – Radiator was pressure tested and painted – New front end wiring harness was installed in 2020 – Starter and generator rebuilt – Recently installed new period correct battery – Interior was redone in vinyl and original cloth material purchased at SMS interiors – Reupholstered in trim code 67, light green and Crest cloth with dark green vinyl not leather – Looks great and incredibly durable – New headliner from SMS installed and looks great, as well as the sun visors – Door panels were restored to original condition – New interior carpet was installed – Original Wonderbar radio was converted to AM/FM (would never know it was FM) – Original factory vacuum antenna rebuilt and works off engine vacuum – Autronic Eye was rebuilt a while ago does not work but looks great on dash – Power windows, power seat, power steering, power brakes and fog lights – All dash gauges and lights work – Even the clock works and keeps perfect time – Trunk was detailed with the correct material as well as the body bolts and correct spring that holds down the factory correct jack – Nice spare tire in trunk, along with decal for changing the tires – Light in trunk works – Tires are new period correct 8:00 x 15 Coker Classics with '54 Cadillac wire hubcaps in beautiful shape – New period correct shocks just installed in 2021 – New four new wheel cylinders, treadle vacuum brake booster and brake shoes installed – Many awards won including Third Place in Primary Class at 2013 CLC Grand National in Massachusetts and First Place at Lime Rock Concours – Not a perfect car but a very nice presentable classic – Recently used in the movie Pep about Willie Pep the prizefighter – Selling with a heavy heart, as I am restoring another car and need the space – Not many 1954 Cadillacs restored to this level of originality, per the 1954 Cadillac Authenticity Manual – See more pictures and contact info (http://www.clcpotomacregion.org/54cadillacforsale.htm) – $48,000 $45,000 or best offer – Car is located in Oxford, CT
Now THAT is a pretty one!
Nicer than my 54 CDV, I'm tempted!
Reduced to $45,000 obo
I've been looking at the pictures very hard. Very nice car. However, could not help noticing that both of the door bottom edges to not really line-up with the rocker panels. Is that within factory tolerance? Or is it just an optical illusion on the pictures? It looks like either the door or the rocker edge is not straight. ???
G'day Ivan,
No optical illusion at all. Just poor alignment following rebuilding.
The door alignment is not correct, but it looks like the door at the front has been inset slightly so that the leading edge clears the front fender when being opened. They tried to get the front fenders looking good, then that meant working backwards.
The way these cars are built is that the doors are aligned with the opening, and then the front clip meets the car down the production line, and the front fenders at the rear are aligned to allow the door to open without striking.
During production, it is not possible to realign the doors whilst fitting the completed front clip, as that would mean having to remove the front clip, (reverse the Clip to body joining process) to gain access to the hinges, then try again.
Bruce. >:D
My dad had a body shop when I was growing up and I developed an eye for paint work and panel fitment. Yes, these doors are not adjusted correctly. And yes, hard to do with the front fenders on. Yes, the correct sequence is to align the front doors (the only doors on a coupe) to the body opening and then once the doors fit correctly, install and adjust the front fender fitment.
Most "restorations" fail in body fitment. When I go to a show, probably 10% of restored cars really have this detail right. It makes a huge difference.
Still, it is a nice looking car.
On those cars, the doors alignement can be done when the front fenders are installed: when the doors are wide open, the bolts attaching the hinges to the body can be reached.