I bought myself a '57 eldorado brougham over a year ago, and have yet to start doing anything on the car. As of now, i am gathering the chrome parts to get re-plated and some of the chrome parts polished. My plan on the restoration is to restore all of the parts for the car which should last me over this winter, and by then i will decide whether or not i will get the body repainted the original color. I have lots of research and questions to get answered, like what color were certain parts painted(engine components, seat frame and springs, etc), since there are a few members here that have already restored or own a brougham.
The first three pictures were from when i picked up the car.
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi761.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx258%2Fdatyonabg%2Fcadillac%2520eldorado%2520brougham%2FDSC06188.jpg&hash=02cd2e8ee4867f68cd399ae8a0bb5834f9dd6e43)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi761.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx258%2Fdatyonabg%2Fcadillac%2520eldorado%2520brougham%2FDSC06189.jpg&hash=1311067aec7d8b03c65cb249fce114bad7a491b7)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi761.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx258%2Fdatyonabg%2Fcadillac%2520eldorado%2520brougham%2FDSC06192.jpg&hash=7247f92c90bec868c8d7fc86c671adad12c9c2b9)
Here the car was already packed up for shipping out, and gives a better view of the back end. I like to call the grill "the holy grill" since it would be expensive and hard to find a replacement for it.
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi761.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx258%2Fdatyonabg%2Fcadillac%2520eldorado%2520brougham%2FDSC06193.jpg&hash=f35a65459658c84d2494d472810a56c3b068359f)
Beautiful car. Looks to be in fairly good shape but you never know what lurks under paint till it is stripped off. Wish you luck but I think thats a tall order to recondition and locate parts in one winter. How far do you need to tear it down? By the way how did you get your pics to post? I keep getting bumped with too large a file. now I can't even get one pic posted.
That's the good part about this car, aside from the engine, trans and possibly the rear fender script missing, all the parts are there that i need. Also, as far as i can tell, the previous owner had already stripped down the body and frame and repainted both, so i'll have to wait till next year to see what it is like underneath. As long as i get a sandblaster, the reconditioning should be fairly quick, although i probably have to do it piece by piece so i know what came off of it and how each piece goes in place. As the parts are already in boxes, the assembling and piecing parts together will probably have to wait until i'm ready to start assembling the car eventuallly. One of the benefits of restoring an all original old car is that you can document where each part belongs and how it is put on, not so much luck in my case. As for the pictures, they might be slightly on the large side, but i found the easiest and one universal way to successfully post images is by uploading them to a photobucket account, then copy and pasting the image url code for the picture to post the image on a forum.
Not to be a butt-inski, but you mentioned a "sand blaster". Hopefully you are aware that sand blasting exterior sheetmetal can have a really detrimental effect. The body sheetmetal tends to distort under the pressure used in most sand blasting operations, and leave undulations in the metal. Using chemical strippers or sandpaper to remove old paint is a lot easier on the sheetmetal. In the alternative, hire a specialist to "media" blast or-dip strip the body. Any distortion you create in stripping has to be corrected with MANY layers of high-build primer and sandpaper blocking. Can be very expensive and time consuming. Best luck with this very cool car.
Kelly
I will second this prior comment about sandbalsting. Anyone who actually uses sand is causing a rediculous amount of damage and work for themselves. I invested a very hefty sum into media blast equipment for my project with the intent to do some for other folks on the side as a way to pay for the equipment. I spent about $8000 on equipment and formed a small business. I spent alot of time learning the standoffs and medias to use and then began with some of my own projects. It didn't take long for me to find customers and soon I was specializing in full frame and body jobs. I was making good money and realized between my real job and this I was not getting anything done for myself. I slowed it down and only do stuff for others occassionally now, I didn't need another carreer. I have been media blasting for over 6 years. Anyway my point is you cant just go to harbor freight buy a blast pot and whatever media they sell you and expect good results. There are also alot of folks who do this proffessionally and are not so skilled either it's crap shoot. My first paying job was a 71 chevelle another company screwed this guy on. My advise research it a bit and find a good company to handle it for you it will be worth it. You should be able to media strip the whole body and frame inside and out for under $1800. Have it done using either plastic beads or my preference is crushed windshield glass. The glass is very fine and does not heat up the surface but will leave a nice profile to primer on without going back over with a DA. Nothing is better to work on the clean fresh metal.
Well it never crossed my mind to sandblast the body and frame, i was thinking more along the lines of smaller metal parts. But at least now i know what sandblasting does on body panels.
looking at ypur picturees I wopuld think that if the body is that nice looks very straight in the reflections and the paint quality is excellent thatn someone already invested a great deal in the bodywork. If the frame is that nice you probably don't need to work on any of the suspension. looks like you purchased a project from someone who either lost interest of funds. 57 eldo's are pretty expensive restos. Eldo Broughams are rare. like to see your engine bay and interior.
Always on the lookout out for "new found" Eldo Broughams. Is yours on my list of survivors? Cn you provide the VIN or body number as well as any prior vehicle history. Thanks. Yann (keeper of the Cadillac Database: http://cadillacdb.planeteldorado.com/Dbas_txt/Brg13a1a.htm )
My car's body number is 184, the vin# i will get to you when i get back home, i will also try to take some pictures of all the parts and the interior and engine bay. This car in specific is on the list of brougham survivors, although there doesn't appear to be an extensive history, and unfortunately the only person who could have helped me find out more about the car and helped me track down some missing parts passed away a few years ago. Only history i know is the previous owner i bought the car from, bought the car from an older man in B.C. who had this brougham sitting in his shops yard as a parts car, so it was in bad condition and all the parts had to be tracked down and much of the lower section of the body had to be rebuilt, including the floorpan. From what i was told, the owner of the automotive shop may have bought the car from somebody in the U.S.
I will help as I can.
David
Eldorado Brougham #184 was added to the roster of survivors more than nine years ago by "Fred" (?), a visitor to the "Cadillac Database". Fred said "Hello! I like your web page and database for the 1957-58 Broughams; you might add two more to it if you like; I have #184 (this one is a parts car)". Fred had also #701, which he sold in 2003."
In October, 2005, I got an eMail from a Mr. Elliot Imeson, who apparently had acquired #184 from Fred in March of 2004. He worked on restoring it. He said the sheet metal in the body was in good condition except for the floors. He had replaced all of the floors and trunk floors, restored the air suspension and was in the process of re-assembling the frame (that was 5 years ago). He added that "With a lot of work I hope to have the body back on the frame some time in the spring of 2006." At that time I elevated #184 from "parts car" to full "survivor" status.
I heard no more about the car until the recent posts about it, here, on the Club "Forum".
Well, Elliot did get the body work all finished and put the body back on the frame as you can see in the pictures, along with that, he started to finish some of the wiring and partiallly re-upholstered the interior. Since he couldn't find the original drivetrain, there is now a newer 350 and automatic transmission in place.
Hope that is a Cadillac 390 and not a Chevy 350!
:) Geoff N.
I'm kind of a "keep it original" guy, so i will eventually track down a 365 and original caddy transmission to put in if i ever sell it. But as of now it'll at least get the car going under it's own power. Seeing as how the original engine and transmission are long gone, it doesn't really matter to me what goes in there for the time being, although a 500 cubic inch caddy engine would be neat but unethical in such a car.
So which engine is in the car, a 390 or a 350?
Sorry i didn't clarify that earlier, it's a 350 out of a 70's oldsmobile or some similar gm car that the previous owner had siitting around. The engine was repainted so it fits right in in a restored car. Sorry to ruin your hopes of it being a cadillac 390. At least on the bright side it isn't a mopar or ford engine in there.
Aye carumba!
It shouldn't be too difficult to find a 365 or 390 engine for that car. Someone on the forum recently was getting rid of an entire 365 / hydramatic drivetrain for like $800.
Keep your eyes peeled.
My hope is to at least find a date coded 365 engine and possibly trans too, even though it wouldn't be "correct" to a brougham as they had specially marked drivetrain parts, but it will at least be better for originality and value than leaving a 350 in there.
Just to keep everybody current on what's happening, after the Cadillac sat for about 4-5 months in one spot and getting a decent layer of dust, i decided that i would never have the time to work on it for many years.
And with that, i sent it off to a restoration shop to get the job done the right way. It should be done sometime in the coming spring or summer, just in time to take it out for a drive and an occasional show or two.
Glad to hear progress is being made. :D
David
After hearing what the shop has to say about the condition of the car, i am going to go the resto-mod route on the EB. It would take far too much work and time to get it back to truly original.
The body has been taken off the frame, and it is ready for getting stripped down to bare metal. Not much other progress has been made yet, although everything is already taken off of the car.
Hi
I hope you repaint the car Copenhagen Blue the the body tag says it was. That is a great color. Morgan Murphy repainted his car that color and it is stunning.
My 2 cents.
David
I haven't decided on what paint color, but i saw a new 300c in a metallic dark blue which could be a good choice, but i'll have to wait until more of the car is completed to see how samples of different colors look against the stainless steel roof.
As for the progress on the car, the new frame should be started on shortly, and i already have an engine in mind.
Fairfax Blue was available in 1957 - it's a deep metallic blue and gorgeous! It's my favourite of all the available colours offered for '57 and'58 Broughams. I used to like Maharani Maroon and the Dakota Red but my enthusiasm has diminished for some reason. Regards, Ross.
Nik,
I have a modern formula for Fairfax Blue that I got from another person who restored a car in that color. Morgan Murphy used that paint formulation to paint one of his cars and it wonderful.
Here is a link to the youtube page that Morgan used when he was selling the car. Great Color. One of my parts cars is supposed to be that color and that's why grabbed the paint formula when I had the chance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9g9OOzQQ5s
David
It was almost hard to notice it was dark blue at first, it looks great though, unfortunately i'll have to wait quite a while to see exactly how nice it looks on a brougham.
Hi Neil
I've attached a couple of photos of a Fairfax blue '57 Brougham. They are the best I have and even then, the lighting isn't great. It's of body 170 I believe, and has been advertised on Ebay for the last few years (off and on). My body #164 is Fairfax blue and it will be painted in that colour "one day" when I get to the restoration!
Ross.
The more i look at dark blue cars, the more i think that might be the route to go for my brougham, since it's one of the few colors that go nicely with the stainless steel roof.
As for an update on the restoration, the parts for the frame are likely already ordered, although i am waiting to hear back on what they plan on ordering for suspension and brake system parts.
I'm looking to get a more reliable and modern air suspension installed, but i still have to research what the problems and maintenance related to that setup are.
Also, if any body is restoring or planning to restore another brougham, i will end up having a decent amount of parts for sale sometime this year.
I've already posted this in a few other forums, but thought I would let you guys know as well.
My Brougham will be part of a new show called Canadian Restorers on History Channel.
Here's the schedule for when it'll be airing and a bit more of a description: http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=265636 (http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=265636)
Nik,
I can't tell from the link when you car would be featured. Is the Guild of Automotive Restorers doing the work on your car?
I have been there as I bought parts car 494 from them. It was the donor for car 627 that they restored.
David
Quote from: David King (kz78hy) on February 25, 2012, 11:23:30 AM
Nik,
I can't tell from the link when you car would be featured. Is the Guild of Automotive Restorers doing the work on your car?
I have been there as I bought parts car 494 from them. It was the donor for car 627 that they restored.
David
I didn't realize they had bought a parts car. Although it was a few years ago that they finished 494.
I think that one went overseas from what I remember.
The Guild of Automotive Restorers is doing the work.
About the show, the pilot episode airs on the 28th at 11pm.
An update! The restoration has finally been completed, and the Brougham will be coming home in the coming week.
It's been a long journey and not an easy task, restoring a Brougham.
viber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-538.jpgviber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-555.jpg viber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-467.jpg viber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-576.jpgviber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-646.jpgviber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-675.jpgviber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-693.jpgviber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-711.jpgviber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-738.jpgviber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-754.jpg
And more pictures...viber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-780.jpgviber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-800.jpgviber_image_2023-04-19_21-53-39-826.jpg
WOW Nik !! A truly stunning result !! A beautiful Eldorado Brougham !! 8)
Years of effort...WOW !!
Mike
Quote from: Mike Baillargeon #15848 on April 20, 2023, 01:05:20 PMWOW Nik !! A truly stunning result !! A beautiful Eldorado Brougham !! 8)
Years of effort...WOW !!
Mike
Thanks! I am looking forward to finally driving it and getting some final touches done slowly.
The hood release mechanism decided to not stop working as soon as I touched it, so for now engine and trunk pics are missing.
An interesting bit of information; the wheels on this car where custom designed by MHT Wheels, and are the design they have listed for order as El Dorado, under their sub-company, US Mags.
Congratulations Nik. Good things come to those who wait. Your car looks amazing! The Guild of Automotive Restorers do incredible work. The Trillium Chapter of The Professional Car Society had a tour of their facility about 15 years ago or more and we were all duly impressed with their craftsmanship.
Hopefully we will see you at a show sometime. David Knowles is having his American Luxury Car Show again this year in Delhi, Ontario on August 26. I went last year and it was great. Clay Foley was there and took some pictures and did a write-up on it which he posted here in the forum. Perhaps I will see you there if not sooner.
What a beautiful car!! I can't imagine how hard it was to wait for it to be completed, but well worth the wait. That's a gorgeous ride.
I'll bet you'll have a grin on your face that matches the grille when you finally get to drive it. I know I would!
Rick
Quote from: Scott Nellis on April 23, 2023, 04:31:11 AMCongratulations Nik. Good things come to those who wait. Your car looks amazing! The Guild of Automotive Restorers do incredible work. The Trillium Chapter of The Professional Car Society had a tour of their facility about 15 years ago or more and we were all duly impressed with their craftsmanship.
Hopefully we will see you at a show sometime. David Knowles is having his American Luxury Car Show again this year in Delhi, Ontario on August 26. I went last year and it was great. Clay Foley was there and took some pictures and did a write-up on it which he posted here in the forum. Perhaps I will see you there if not sooner.
It's an interesting shop to see; always something new to look at, and sometimes a car or two that is rare to see, especially in Canada.
Interesting show to keep my eye on; I've yet to get into the show scene, with work and family taking priority lately, although i hope to get the Brougham out at least to one show this year.
Quote from: Cadman-iac on April 23, 2023, 05:24:48 AMWhat a beautiful car!! I can't imagine how hard it was to wait for it to be completed, but well worth the wait. That's a gorgeous ride.
I'll bet you'll have a grin on your face that matches the grille when you finally get to drive it. I know I would!
Rick
Thanks! I drove it for the first time with everything in place and working, only a short drive though. Definitely a big steering wheel and a totally different feel inside the Brougham than anything else i've driven so far. Very spacious and bright inside, and has a feeling of being well grounded on the road.
Look forward to updating soon when the rain stops here and I get it on the road for an actual drive.
Quote from: 57cadillac on May 03, 2023, 01:30:31 PMThanks! I drove it for the first time with everything in place and working, only a short drive though. Definitely a big steering wheel and a totally different feel inside the Brougham than anything else i've driven so far. Very spacious and bright inside, and has a feeling of being well grounded on the road.
Look forward to updating soon when the rain stops here and I get it on the road for an actual drive.
When you finally do take her out for the shakedown cruise, you need to take a video of it. I for one would love to see that.
Keep up the great work on that beautiful car.
Rick
As with almost every newly finished project, i've run into a few roadblocks this past week; the license plate didn't fit, so i had to create a bracket from scratch due to not having the original Brougham bracket. Also, the brake lights need troubleshooting, either the switch or a fuse went wrong today, meaning the brake lights didn't work.
1st version of the bracket, which was too tall to fit in the license plate enclosure:
viber_image_2023-05-08_22-28-15-507.jpg
viber_image_2023-05-08_22-28-14-716.jpg
And the second version, fixed up on the spot. Starting to look more like the finished product i'm hoping to create when time allows, and when the Brougham's at home so i can do test fitment instantly.
viber_image_2023-05-08_22-28-14-634.jpg
Where did you get the seats? Nice match for original design. Also, I see you put in a new memory seat control. did you attempt to see if the old controls were adaptable to a modern memory seat module?
Beautiful job.
Wow!
Any pics of the engine bay?