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1954 Coupe Deville - Authentic Restoration - Winner at 2013 CLC GN - Reduced to $45k

Started by Vince Taliano #13852, November 03, 2022, 08:42:58 PM

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Vince Taliano #13852

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$48,000 $45,000 or best offer – Car is located in Oxford, CT
Vince Taliano
CLC Potomac Region
www.clcpotomacregion.org (view over 3,000 pictures!)

Cadillac Jack 82

Tim

CLC Member #30850

1959 Cadillac CDV "Shelley"
1964 Cadillac SDV "Rosalie"
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado "Sienna"

Past Cars

1937 LaSalle Cpe
1940 Chevrolet Cpe
1941 Ford 11Y
1954 Buick 48D
1955 Cadillac CDV
1955 Packard Clipper
1957 Cadillac Series 62
1962 VW Bug
1962 Dodge 880
1966 Mercury Montclair
1967 Buick Wildcat Convertible
1968 Chevy Chevelle SS
1968 Plymouth Barracuda
1977 Lincoln MKV


Vince Taliano #13852

Vince Taliano
CLC Potomac Region
www.clcpotomacregion.org (view over 3,000 pictures!)

Jw4

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.  ???
Ivan Beliaev

The Tassie Devil(le)

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 
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

Caddy Wizard

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.
Art Gardner


1955 S60 Fleetwood sedan (now under resto -- has been in paint shop since June 2022!)
1955 S62 Coupe (future show car? 2/3 done)
1958 Eldo Seville (2/3 done)

Roger Zimmermann

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.
1956 Sedan de Ville (sold)
1956 Eldorado Biarritz
1957 Eldorado Brougham (sold)
1972 Coupe de Ville
2011 DTS
CLCMRC benefactor #101