News:

Due to a technical issue, some recently uploaded pictures have been lost. We are investigating why this happened but the issue has been resolved so that future uploads should be safe.  You can also Modify your post (MORE...) and re-upload the pictures in your post.

Main Menu

1959 Cadillac Vin Number

Started by Bill Balkie 24172, January 01, 2012, 08:56:46 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Bill Balkie 24172

Hello ,
    There is a 1959 Cadillac on E Bay that has a letter J in the vin number Does any one know what the letter J   means . It is listed as the Eldorado  but is it a coupe Deville . A friend of mine asked me the question and i have no idea . any information will be helpful .

Thanks Bill

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-Eldorado-CoupeDeville-Cadillac-Elderado-Coupe-Deville-/130621880205?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1e69abb78d
Bill Balkie
1970 Coupe DeVille
2009 CTS

J Kjerrulf

Hi Bill,
Letter "J" in a 1959 Cadillac means 2 door Coupe Deville - car is not listed correct on ebay.

//J Kjerrulf
/J Kjerrulf
Eldorado Seville 1957

The Tassie Devil(le)

This is typical of ebayers.   They put in identifying catch-names to draw the widest viewing audience.

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

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

I think it was an honest error on the seller's part; judging from the general wording of the listing, he doesn't seem to be particularly knowledgeable about the car. The "Eldorado" issue is addressed in the Q & A section where he freely admits that. I noticed the radio has been changed but otherwise it appears to be a nice car- especially if the paint is original.
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

veesixteen

And then you have those who deliberately misrepresent their offerings, like our old friend “Marv” and his unique “1959 Cadillac Motorama show car”, also vaunted as being unique custom  job from Harley Earl’s own “skunkworks” and that looks like (is in fact) a 1960 convertible but mounted on a 1959 chassis with a “J” code VIN corresponding to a 1959 Coupe de Ville!
Yann Saunders, CLC #12588
Compiler and former keeper of "The Cadillac Database"
aka "MrCadillac", aka "Veesixteen"

Richard Sills - CLC #936

On this subject, I'm just about certain that the '59 convertible that Yann is referring to sold for $44,500 at a Mecum auction in 2010.  It has to be the same car -- it is described as a 1959 Cadillac that had the front and rear clips changed to a 1960 model at some point inn the car's life.  It also said the car was restored in Florida in 2005, and the pictures show the TV mounted in the dashboard.  No reference to any modifications having been made at the factory.

veesixteen

At the Mecum auction in Monterey (August 2009,  Lot S116) the car was listed as "a 1959 Cadillac Autorama Prototype Convertible”. There was a high bid of $57,000, but no sale ensued (http://www.mecum.com/contact/contact_email.cfm). Here are excerpts of the catalog description: “ ... Built for the 1960 Autorama [what is THAT?]  ... bold new grille-work front and rear ... dash mounted television ... prototype, shown at Autorama [???] …”.  In May and June, 2010 this hybrid "whatizzit" Cadillac appeared again for sale on Ebay, from the (respected) Daniel Schmitt & Co. of St. Louis, MO, an Ebay "Power Seller". The starting bid for both consecutive auction periods was set at $117,000 and there was a Buy-it-Now amount shown of $119,000. I Emailed the company, asking if they knew the real history of the car they were selling; I got no reply. Here is their Web page (included are aome 50 photos of the car): http://schmitt.com/viewimage.asp?ID=4255. The descriotion reads: "This spectacular motorcar has been beautifully restored with no expense spared. Nearly $100,000 spent on the restoration alone [that's what "Marv" asserted]! This unique and special motorcar just might be one of the most important American classics that you will ever have the opportunity to acquire. This exquisite motorcar comes with many unique features, including black and white TV. 

We have definitely not heard the last of this car.
Yann Saunders, CLC #12588
Compiler and former keeper of "The Cadillac Database"
aka "MrCadillac", aka "Veesixteen"

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

#7
To my knowledge,  one off "experimental" or "concept" design cars were assigned an "X" prefix followed by a two or three digit number.  In the absence of factory documentation to the contrary, I would evaluate this example simply for what it appears to be: A 1960 Cadillac body mated to a 1959 chassis. Given the VIN begins "59J", I don't buy the story. Judging by the number of times it's been flogged in the marketplace without change in ownership- nobody else does either.   
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

Joe G 12138

When "Marv" was trying to sell it, it was written up as having a Philco TV. General Motors wouldn't have been caught dead mounting a Philco (Division of FORD Motor company at the time) in ANY of their cars, let alone a Show or concept car! I can't read the nameplate on the attached photo, with my old small monitor. Does it say Philco?
Joe Gibeault