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A little boys dream
As elementary school aged kids we drove our bikes along the alleys of Lapua (Finland).
One night we ended up in front of a suburb house to look at this old poor car that was incredibly huge.
The car was obviously American, no doubts about it; I had already listened to my father’s experiences from his childhood in Canada.
The gigantic wings and the smooth look was something, that wasn´t seen in those districts before.
For some reason, this particular vehicle bothered my mind and we went to look at it with my friends. Sometimes I went to see it secretly by myself.
As a teenager my dreams of a car were in another European car brand, but still somewhere in the back of my mind there was this thought about buying this car, which turned out to be a Cadillac.
Time went by, but we went to look at the car once in a while just to see it was still there.
As an adult I decided to do something about it, so I called the owner of that car.
Of course they were not selling it, although it had done nothing but lied there on the same place for over a decade.
Finally it happened in the year 2008.
I was just selling my long term hobby car and I had to get an American car instead. That American car also had to be a 1959 Cadillac.
For a long time I had watched car selling pages, but did not find anything and the financial situation didn't allow to purchase anything big.
Still it was obvious, that with the money I got from the old car, I would have enough to buy at least a blank of a Cadillac.
I asked from many dealers to import the car to Finland, but the expenses were too much.
Accidentally I noticed a small note in the Finnish Veekasi-magazine, where they said simply this: hobby cars.
It was quite a surprise that the company had a picture in their website of "a fifty nine" that was still in America.
The pictures of the car didn't give me a very good mental image of the cars condition, I was still looking for a drive able car and this one wasn't.
We kept contact with the seller for a couple of weeks and looked for better individuals from the USA.
It just didn't work although we tried.
One day a friend of mine mentioned in passing, that the car from the website was now in Finland and only 60 km away from my home.
I and my girlfriend went to look at the car, with a little adventure on our minds, on one Saturday of the early autumn in 2008, with no intensions to make a deal of it.
There we were looking at the supply of the company which was in a remote village farm, no sign of the Cadillac.
As the seller came he told us that the car was still in a shipping container that was locked.
The moment when the container doors opened and the dust landed, will always be in my mind; pink.
The whole time I thought that I was going to look at a white Coupe De Ville, that I had already decided to change to Vegas turquoise green, but the surprise that it was a genuine pink Cadillac.
My girlfriend mentioned there in a quick meeting, that if the color stays then you can buy it.
The seller dropped "a huge bomb" and lowered the price - I was sold, and so was the car also.
The dream came true!
Here's the complete restoration blog: garage59.blogspot.com (http://garage59.blogspot.com)
You can use google translator for it to translate it in english. I'm working with the english version too.
I'm a member of the Cadillac club of Finland which has made a deal of co-operation with Cadillac-Lasalle club. Maybe one day this will be ready in some european meeting!
br,
Antti Asunmaa
Beautiful car. Love the color. Very nice work too.
Roy
Great story and nice work with the restoration.
I wonder though in the case of the other car why some people keep holding on to them and many years later (in more deteriorated condition) they let them go anyway.
Great story ! I hope the other poor Caddy finds a new home someday
Thank you!
The other -59 is still there, in other location though. I'm now familiar with the owner and I've been seeing the car few times just for checking out its condition and some help for assembling my own car. The guy has regarding my own calculations 12 roof Cadillacs and 10 convertibles from years 50-59. Also -57 Eldorado etc. He will not sell anything.. I've been assembling lots of parts to the engine compartment and few days ago I attached the lower part of the dashboard. There's lot of work to do still. All the Chrome in exterior must be redone and upholstery must be renew completely. Yesterday I got mail that all chroming for the window frames are done in Poland so in few weeks I can start assembling those. The blog is slightly delayed, but I'll update it as fast as I can. I've been working with the caddy for five years now. I bought it when I was 22yrs and hoping I'll get it done by 2015 for my wedding car.
nice to see another semi scandinavian here! cheers from iceland
Antti.
Is the car for sale,??
Thanks,,svein in Norway
Quote from: Thule on December 03, 2013, 02:03:59 AM
nice to see another semi scandinavian here! cheers from iceland
Cheers! :)
Quote from: sjocad on December 03, 2013, 02:14:45 AM
Antti.
Is the car for sale,??
Thanks,,svein in Norway
If you ment my car, no it is not and will not be for sale and if you ment the other -59 no it will not be for sale as long as the owner is alive. ::)
Lot's of new stuff added to the blog. Check it out! There's a translate pop-up-box in the right. Some words will not translate but I think you'll get the main points.
-Antti
Hello Antti
You have exhibited a great amount of dedication, devotion and persistence for the Standard of the World. This is a example for others to follow. Thank you very much.
WOW!!! Crazy attention to detail. Inspiring work, that is a gorgeous machine to be proud of.
Thanks guys! I appriciate your comments. I added two posts regarding windows and weatherstrips. It was a major work to do with the rear sidewindow plastic rollers. I need to buy new windshield and rear window now. I was willing to use my old rear window but it has some bad scratches and other marks. Within few months this car will run first time in decades. It's only matter of money to get it finished. There's lot's of expensive restorations to do like both end bumpers, interior, dashboard etc. There's a 25th. annual Cadillac club of Finland meeting at summer and I've heard that there will come people from US too? Unfortunately this car will not be seen in there.. unless I win in lottery 8)
I designed and manufactured a set of Wheel centercaps for my wirewheels. Check it out!
http://garage59.blogspot.fi/
-Antti
Very nice! Fwiw I've had good results with flowing in a gold leaf paint pen vs using actual gold leaf.
Yes, in my point of view everything else looks good except the gilding. I have thought to mediablast the rear sides with glassballs and try use only paint. Actually one of the caps turns out to be quite good with the real gilding, but the three others are not so admirable. The picture of "ready" is from first one made.
Lot's of new stuff in the blog. Sorry about the lack of english texts..
Impressive work and attention to detail! From what I could understand from the pictures and google translate you've had some of the trim (like the V's) gold and chrome painted? Did you get this done in Finland? How was the cost and how does the finish compare to original?
Antti,
Your restoration efforts are to be commended.
Incidentally, what color is that?
Quote from: 57eldoking on October 21, 2014, 12:28:25 PM
Impressive work and attention to detail! From what I could understand from the pictures and google translate you've had some of the trim (like the V's) gold and chrome painted? Did you get this done in Finland? How was the cost and how does the finish compare to original?
Yes it is a Finnish company, it is called Vacuum metal coating. It is a aluminium which has gased and transferred to the object. The finish depends how you do your preparations for the part. It can be prepd like anything when using a normal car paint. So you can use bondo, fillers etc. The last step is a solid fille which is watersanded with 600-1500grit paper.
These "Vees" were something like 150â,¬, but they do have a minimum order of 250â,¬, but officially you can plate more parts for that too. You can see the other plating from the blog too. Almost every "chrome" in the interior is plated with this method. Exterior parts I have Re-Chromed with normal ways. The finish is quite durable, as car paint as it can be described. It shines as chrome if the preparations are succesful. The "Gold" color is done by adding a thin coat of colored clear coat.
Quote from: ericdev on October 21, 2014, 07:05:47 PM
Antti,
Your restoration efforts are to be commended.
Incidentally, what color is that?
It's a BMW special color Used in Late 90's. Quite similar to GM Desert rose.. It was quite hard to find a color what works with the other pink variations in interior.
Quote from: 49er on October 22, 2014, 11:05:01 AM
Antti. I looked at your work. The package shelf work is the best ive ever seen. A tip of the hat. Art
Thanks Art. It was very pleasant work to do.
Lot's of new stuff added to the blog again. Trunk lining, dashboard etc..
http://garage59.blogspot.fi/
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The body of the Caddy starts to get together. Only seats and new tires installation left to complete the restauration!
http://garage59.blogspot.fi/
To say I am impressed is an understatement.
Thanks Bill!
Finally I got the new tires to the Car. I've been struggling with project budget, but I managed to buy these, phew..
http://garage59.blogspot.fi/
Annti,
The work you've done on your car is amazing! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
Thanks Aaron,
It's my pleasure to share the experience.
I can proudly announce that the project is ready! After working many hours with the carburator and the brakes everything seems to be fine now. The interior is completely assembled and I have driven the car for 20 miles now.
I just need to get the car inspected and get Finnish license plates. After two weeks it hits its first car show.
See the rest of the project here: http://garage59.blogspot.fi/
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Absolutely beautiful!! Congratulations, Happy touring
Ah, fins in the land of Finns!
I love it! Fantastic!
Very nice! Get out there and enjoy it.
David
Congratulations! Beautiful work.
Dennis Akerman
CLC 3676
Thanks to all! The D Day is close. Today the car will be packed to lorry and it starts it's journey to Helsinki. The 38th American Car show will start friday at 12.00. Minor finishing to do, but everything seems to be allright for the showtime.
First carshow went pretty well 8)
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Antti,
What a journey.
I have enjoyed watching your progress from the photos you post.
You certainly deserve a top 10 award for the detailed work you have done.
So, what is your next project.
Have fun.
Steve B.
Thanks Steve!
Next project..hmmm. Well first of all I would like to have a garage a bit closer to my residence. It is now 250miles away, so.. ;) Then I can start to wonder what I'm going to do next. It might not be a Cadillac but if it is I'm interested of -58 to -62 convertibles and maybe older too. Somehow -60 coupe or convertible is quite high on the list. The next project will not be a restoration so basically just good body and frame will be enough. Somekind of restomod is in my mind but can't say for sure. I also like -59 Chevy impalas or apache pick-ups, but also late 30's ford rods would work. -59 Caddy was and is my alltime favorite car so it is actually quite hard to decide what would be the next. Of course I can't pay lot of money for a project so I need to forget some models. Maybe some coupe bodied LaSalles would be quite nice too..
nice! 8)
Congratulations
Looks great Antti.
Congratulations on your award.
Gorgeous!! Superb work you have done. :)
Nicolas, Eric and Jim, thank you very much! I have the second show next weekend, let's see what happens there 8)
Show went really fine! Peoples choice II & Old classic (dollarsmile) Top5. Not too bad!
http://garage59.blogspot.fi/
-Antti
Few new pictures from last weekend.
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No sweating for the wedding anymore! The Marriage has now started 8) See pictures from our important day from my blog!
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http://garage59.blogspot.fi/
Nice car and lucky lady! I also like the rocket container you created for the wedding shown on your blog! The translation on your blog did not come out very good, but I thought this portion was interesting:
" Cadillac Wedding cars. 07.04.2015 was marked on the calendar for one and a half years ago, the final hääpäiväksemme with Minna and it was to live according to the Cadillac with respect to the project."
I'm not sure how that was supposed to translate, but "live according to the Cadillac and respect the project" probably should have been included in my wedding vows; my wife and I met because she heard I was restoring a '59 Fleetwood and was intrigued. Fortunately, 25 years later she is still willing to live according to the Cadillac, and she still respects the project!
Hi David,
Actually the translation goes like this:
"Six years and thousands of man-hours. It is in its simplicity, the formula, which was carried out dream of own -59 Cadillac Wedding car.
07.04.2015 was marked on the calendar for one and a half years ago for the final wedding day with Minna and I. Cadillac project was to proceed accordingly. Car project was thus forced to be completed by the date. Fortunately, everything was done nicely."
But, as it can be red from the bad translation, basically my fiancé did and still does respect the Cadillac project. In the end, she was waiting the whole six years to get married because I was told that the car will be our wedding car. So all the respect for my lovely wife for that. She had said that if she would have knew how big and long project the car has been she wouldn't never let me to buy it in first place. ;D