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B-J Las Vegas auction '54 eldo conv.

Started by fishnjim, October 01, 2019, 03:25:48 PM

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fishnjim

Featured car, boomer eye candy.  White w/ red/white.
Lets see how much she brings.   Certainly less than the cost of restoring this ~20K mile original.   One of those "investor grade" cars, aka trailer queen?

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

fishnjim

Reread what I said. 
"less than the cost of restoring" this 20K mile original.   

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

#3
Appears to be a nice restoration.  I noticed a few "nit
picky" things such as the steering wheel mounted
upside down, a few things in the engine compartment.
I can't comment on the Di-Noc that should be on the
dash since none of the pics show that.  That is a
common issue with these.

The 1954 didn't sell all that well since it was not a very
distinctive car vs. the standard series 62 convertible.
Other than the aluminum panels on the rear quarters
and a few other minor trim pieces it was easy to overlook.

Just 2,150 were sold.  Everything changed in 1955 when
the Eldorado was give a complete restyle with Harely
Earl's help.  That included "rocket ship" tailfins and
"jet pod" rear exhaust.

Mike
1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

Quote from: fishnjim on October 01, 2019, 06:10:11 PM
Reread what I said. 
"less than the cost of restoring" this 20K mile original.

What 20K mile original are you referring to?
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

Alan Harris CLC#1513

With all due respect, how hard is it to put the steering wheel right side up? Didn't these guys have a picture or something to work from?

What else did they get wrong?

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

The convertible top material is incorrect.  They
used a "Haartx cloth" type material.  Originally it
was Orlon but those were replaced by pin point vinyl
due to durability issues. Haartz was never used.

Some details under the hood look incorrect to me but
I can't be fully sure due to the one pic supplied.  With
a close inspection I'm certain more would pop up.

You would be surprised that even good restoration
shops don't "do their homework" as to what is
authentically correct. If you don't thoroughly research
your car and work with them, expect mistakes. 

Mike
1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

Mike Baillargeon #15848

Mike
Baillargeon
#15848

BlackCads

Quote from: Mike Josephic  CLC #3877 on October 01, 2019, 06:59:28 PM
I noticed a few "nit picky" things such as the steering wheel mounted upside down
I would think that mounting the steering wheel upside down is a bit more than nit picky -- a major error in my opinion.
I am not all that familiar with 1954 so I am guessing that the white portion of the steering wheel is supposed to be on the lower half when the wheels are turned straight ahead.

Scot Minesinger

Agreed that if the steering wheel is upside down this demonstrates carelessness in the restoration - what else is wrong that may not be quite so easy to fix?

I see this all the time, for example I'm working on a 1969 Cadillac DVC and top of the fan shroud is missing - easy to replace - right? - not so fast...   The motor mounts are wrong, forcing the engine higher.  The fan blade out edges are damaged.  The smog pump is missing - OK, a worthwhile upgrade, except the means of belt power from water pump to engine drive pulley has no tension adjustment - yes really.  Oh and it has an EGR.  The engine is probably a 1974 or 1975.  Turns out the 74/75 engine mounts were not replaced with 69/70 mounts (same engine mount holes, but different frame) which raised the engine.  After removing front engine cover to fix oil leak and check if chain was replaced - it was the hub on crank was not pressed all the way on, making pulley alignments bad.  All this from a missing fan shroud upper section. And I'm not done going through it yet.

Fairfax Station, VA  22039 (Washington DC Sub)
1970 Cadillac DeVille Convertible
1970 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1970 four door Convertible w/Cadillac Warranty

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

#10
For whatever it's worth, the steering grips are in the wrong location in this 1959 factory brochure photo...





A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

Big Fins

Eric, I want to bring that exact point up. I was considering a '59 CDV purchase and the car I was looking at is a members car and he claims full originality. His wheel is in the same position. Appearing to be upside down. The car is absolutely beautiful. But that wheel in that position just ruins the aesthetics.

He has pix of it on the FaceBook site. I deleted them from my computer because they haunted me that the deal couldn't move forward like I wanted it too.

I'll see if I can dg one up to post.
Current:
1976 Eldorado Convertible in Crystal Blue FireMist with white interior and top. (Misty Blue)
1969 Fleetwood Brougham in Chalice Gold FireMist with matching interior and top. (The Old Man) SOLD!

Past and much missed:
1977 Brougham de Elegance
1976 Eldorado Convertible
1972 Fleetwood Brougham
1971 Sedan de Ville
1970 de Ville Convertible
1969 Sedan de Ville
1959 Sedan deVille

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

Quote from: Big Fins on October 02, 2019, 02:04:17 PM
Eric, I want to bring that exact point up. I was considering a '59 CDV purchase and the car I was looking at is a members car and he claims full originality. His wheel is in the same position. Appearing to be upside down. The car is absolutely beautiful. But that wheel in that position just ruins the aesthetics.

I couldn't agree more on the aesthetics. All I'm pointing out is that there were probably a few that left
the factory with the wheel installed incorrectly with one factory depiction even escaping the marketing
department's notice before it was printed in the brochure(!) of all things.

My own mechanic made the same mistake when reinstalling the wheel that had to be removed for
some wiring work that needed to be done. 10 minutes to correct with a steering wheel puller.

I could certainly see it raising questions but if everything else checks out, it would be foolish to allow
something so trivial to stand in the way - especially since it's very likely for some to have been
incorrectly installed when originally built.

A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

Dan LeBlanc

Call me someone of loose morals, but if I had the coinage, I'd sure drive that 54!
Dan LeBlanc
1977 Lincoln Continental Town Car

Big Fins

So would I, Dan, without blinking.

Eric, no steering wheel would ever keep me from an automobile purchase. It was the transaction that was going to finance the deal that never materialized. Real Estate transactions are like automobile transactions. They lead you right up to the closing table then try and get you to accept an offer that truely insults your intelligence.
Current:
1976 Eldorado Convertible in Crystal Blue FireMist with white interior and top. (Misty Blue)
1969 Fleetwood Brougham in Chalice Gold FireMist with matching interior and top. (The Old Man) SOLD!

Past and much missed:
1977 Brougham de Elegance
1976 Eldorado Convertible
1972 Fleetwood Brougham
1971 Sedan de Ville
1970 de Ville Convertible
1969 Sedan de Ville
1959 Sedan deVille

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

#15
Yes, it's a good looking Eldorado.

Fellows -- I agree that an upside down mounted steering wheel
is by itself not a deal breaker.  However, when I see that, the
incorrect convertible top and other small items it raises questions.
It makes me wonder what other things might have been done
incorrectly.

I would not purchase this car for the six figures it will likely take to
win the auction without a thorough on site inspection.  I would fully
expect there to be other items show up as well.

Mike
1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

Dan LeBlanc

Maybe, just maybe, the owner/restorer preferred the look of this type of top instead. Doesn't mean other things on the car are bad, maybe it was a personal preference. We seem to forget that here quite often.
Dan LeBlanc
1977 Lincoln Continental Town Car

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

Hi Dan:

Nope -- I didn't forget that at all.  However, I judged Class 15
for almost 20 years.  I've heard that explanation often.  However,
the vehicle owner still got a deduction for it.

I merely am pointing it out in the spirit of providing information.
There are, however, other things that raise questions on this car.

Mike
1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

#18
Bumper to side fender trim appears to be bent downward a bit. Stuff like that is off putting.





A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

The Tassie Devil(le)

Quote from: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on October 02, 2019, 01:20:51 PM
For whatever it's worth, the steering grips are in the wrong location in this 1959 factory brochure photo... 
Don't forget that the driving position for the hands is always recommended to be in the 10/2 position on the wheel.   So, shouldn't the grips be there, where needed?

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