1955 Fleetwood barn find project

[paulclark]

Super excited to bring home my new project: a '55 Fleetwood with factory air, 100% complete, running when parked (20 years ago).

[paulclark]

55 is such an amazing model year Cadillac, so full of charisma. Part ballerina, part locomotive, part tank.

[paulclark]

The interior is typical for the PNW, part wilted, a little mildewed. This will be a vintage driver, not a show car, so I'm going to clean everything up and see what I can do with what's here before looking for replacements for most things.

The floor pans are rusted out, not surprisingly. Nothing new. Any chance of finding a 55 floor pan, or should I plan to fabricate? Is there a repro of any nearby year Cadillac? I'd consider modifying a different year if so.

[paulclark]

Those wacky plastic tubes are still intact in the corner of the rear window, carrying cold air up to blow through vents in the headliner. I've never seen anything like it.

[paulclark]

Under the hood. Everything's here, the air cleaner is in the trunk. Were the AC compressor pulley and oil filler cap originally red or is that somebody's decorations? Where can I find reference underhood photos for 55?

[paulclark]

Peeling paint tells the story. The car was originally Mist Green, and belonged to the previous owner's mother. Mom liked a bit of a fashion change now and then, so it was repainted a couple of times, starting with a metallic yellow green. The final layer of paint looks like very weathered black, or even raw steel, but it's actually a metallic brown.

[paulclark]

Obligatory loading shot.

Moral of the story: Never plan to do anything else on a day when you load, haul, and unload a Cadillac. That will be enough. Just give those things enough time and call it a day. 

[paulclark]

Very much to be done here, but for today getting it home was enough. Paint and rust handling is obviously a high priority here, and general cleanup.

I -assume- the engine is stuck. I didn't actually check, I'd be very surprised if it isn't, but I might be surprised. I've seen good advice on these forums on getting engines unstuck, so if that's the case I'll be pursuing that line.


Oh what joy! A new (to me) old Cadillac! What fun! Details to follow.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

CONGRATULATIONS.   What a wonderful purchase.

Bruce.

[D.Yaros]

55 is such an amazing model year Cadillac, so full of charisma. Part ballerina, part locomotive, part tank.

Love the characterization and think it is both accurate and appropriate!

[Bob Kielar]

https://youtu.be/o1bnZZ0uZfA   Here is a you tube video I made of my 55 Fleetwood. If the link doesn’t work go to you tube and search for Annie 55 Fleetwood. I have a lot of pictures of Annie if you need some help give me a shout. Have fun.

Keep Cruzin,

Bob Kielar

[paulclark]

very nice!

[Roger Zimmermann]

Congratulation. It's just a shame that the RH rocker molding is so bent, as seen on the first picture. With some luck, it can be repaired; stainless steel is a nice material to work with.

[paulclark]

Yes agreed, and I'd welcome advice when it comes time to straighten it. I'm assuming that the right mandrels are the key, and possibly annealing.

[wrench]

It's funny. In the loading pic, she almost looks like she's smiling...

Good luck!

[paulclark]

Aw yeah. I have been getting smiles every time I work on it.

[paulclark]

Another shot during the cleanup process. many more pics, including underhood stuff to come.

[paulclark]

More recent pic. Tinted etching primer on for protection against the elements.