It was exactly one year ago I noticed a 59 Convertible "garage find" posted here on this forum. When I went to buy the car I learned that I was buying it from the son of the original owner. He remembered riding around in the car, sitting on the front arm rest as a small child as his father drove. The heavily worn ignition key has the initial of his mothers first name, Lorraine.
It was parked since early 1978, coincidentally the same time I was born. Funny to think the car was sitting inside of a garage for my entire life until the day I came to pull it out and revive it.
Over the course of the last year I removed the engine and had it rebuilt by a friend, along with the trans and driveshaft which was also rebuilt. New set of tires (no WWW yet!), new brakes, rear wheel bearings, flushed out the top motor, polished the paint that remains, installed a rear window and lubed the speedometer cable.
I've been driving the car and it is awesome! What a great car to cruise around in. After 350 miles on the new engine it's averaging a little over 13mpg in mixed driving. I had her on the highway yesterday and she was cruising along at 80mph smooth as can be.
I also picked up a Milan straw hat from Optimo so I don't sunburn the top of my head this summer 8)
At this point I'm not even sure if I will restore the car or just continue to drive it as-is. It's nice not having a panic attack if it looks like rain or if someone parked to close.
Anyway, that's my story. Here's a few pics as found and current day. I'm looking forward to this driving season!!
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg841%2F8756%2Flmvz.jpg&hash=9f6b52e1b0da4441f716880ae29e51aefbc567b3)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg845%2F4559%2F70ss.jpg&hash=97965037391cf9a8839c0eab7f2d5187ff4de8d5)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg842%2F1051%2Fe232.jpg&hash=bfb2148a66ba3285ee3941d262e8a1f247ee35d3)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg834%2F7296%2Fw5uo.jpg&hash=2e5ce4abf4eddc3b2a67309adcec83616facb336)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg841%2F5173%2Fkggqn.jpg&hash=383cc1cf21668b7a9e001fd64e6e0dffb8f50ea1)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg843%2F424%2Fwuj9.jpg&hash=79502bc8e0bddc77d4a78cc6e27a78270ea47ad5)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg835%2F8641%2Fnwgw.jpg&hash=45e03e6c062edd4bd0c6c40a63c648e2b19ecb70)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg836%2F3764%2F3y9w.jpg&hash=f965c762ec019903c0761cb556559309f5f9cdb8)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg835%2F2952%2Fjcxl.jpg&hash=fc73fecaf75312c1214a1fd199a9b5e9086d5931)
(https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimageshack.com%2Fa%2Fimg845%2F7048%2Fuvgq.jpg&hash=70a4f8c4e83ab4859817c210bd6836054553ae4e)
Jim, I remember this car well when it was discussed many times on this forum. It is a beauty and should be conserved as it is in my humble opinion!!
Jim.
The car looks fantastic. I'd leave it as is.
Appears as if we are the same age.
It looks great as-is. Such a conversation piece! Drive it and leave it as is. Once you pull it apart to restore it, say goodbye to having any fun with the car for 5 years.
What a find! You should be proud.
Enjoy,
Brian
Agreed, beauty as-is. Fix things first-rate when you need to, otherwise, that's a sweet survivor.
While not exhibiting the initials of my Grandmother's name, the ignition key for our Calais is equally well-worn. Enjoy!
Nice to hear that it's a keeper and it's back on the road! If it was mine,I would drill the holes and put the side trim back on,but that's just me. Looks good ! What a score!!! Ken Perry
i've had much fun following the thread.
yea, the survivor look is kinda nice.
Thanks guys! I appreciate the kind words. I took my girlfriend for a ride in it today, her first time in the car.
After the initial surprise of not having seat belts (which I might add) she absolutely loved it and said it felt like we were floating on a cloud.
I would like to find and re-install the side trim, just need to set some funds aside as I've found those parts are rather expensive.
Hello Jim
Smart decision of a nice acquisition! Enjoy.
Leave it as it is. They are only original once!
Thanks guys. I have over 1000 miles on it now.
A few observations.
Acceleration is actually quite a bit stronger than I expected for a car of this weight.
I notice a bit of chassis/body flex over larger bumps. May help to replace the ancient shocks.
The car is a blast to drive! No problems at all with driving in heavy/fast traffic. Engine, trans, steering, brakes are all great.
Every time I put the top and windows down I laugh that this thing has been sitting for decades and yet everything works great. Even in it's somewhat shabby state I'm continually impressed with how good of a car they had built in 59. I would drive it every day if it pulled down a bit better mileage.
Quote from: INTMD8 on May 09, 2014, 11:18:13 AM
Thanks guys. I have over 1000 miles on it now.
A few observations.
Acceleration is actually quite a bit stronger than I expected for a car of this weight.
I notice a bit of chassis/body flex over larger bumps. May help to replace the ancient shocks.
The car is a blast to drive! No problems at all with driving in heavy/fast traffic. Engine, trans, steering, brakes are all great.
Every time I put the top and windows down I laugh that this thing has been sitting for decades and yet everything works great. Even in it's somewhat shabby state I'm continually impressed with how good of a car they had built in 59. I would drive it every day if it pulled down a bit better mileage.
It's funny you should say that.
Today, it's hard to tell the difference between a Chevy and a Cadillac, but back in the day, that's another story.
I took the 63 Impala out of storage on Monday. After driving the Fleetwood for a bit, the Chevy feels like what you would expect in a bare bones subcompact today and the 61 Fleetwood light years ahead of it.
Guess that's what made a Cadillac a Cadillac and a Chevy a Chevy. My 62 Cadillac was pieced together and felt a lot like the Impala. Now that I have a good Cadillac and a good Chevy for comparison, the difference are glaringly obvious.
NOW I GET IT!
Jim: congrats, looking nice. I really can't believe it has been a year already, seems like you just got it a few months ago!
Hope to see you on a meeting and perhaps drive together to a diner for a lunch (just need to finish my old lady).
Agree with all the comments, above . . . ENJOY and appreciate! Very nice original - glad it's back on the road and has a caring owner!
The car has certainly come a long way.
No matter how many times you've done it before, it is always amazing to see the results that can be gotten with a little time, patience and elbow grease used with the right reconditioning materials.
Also impressive to see is original trunk material still in nice condition - so many have been torn out long ago.
Jim - I may have a source for some (or most) of the body side trim - if you are interested.
Again, well done. Enjoy.
Dan, I've driven similar year x-frame Chevy's and notice a big difference too.
Tibor- Of course! Making any progress?
Jon, thanks.
Eric, I will need the trim at some point. I have the 2 long pieces for the 1/4's but I'm missing the rest. Not sure if the car is even straight enough to install it.
Thanks George, it's presentable but looks a bit nicer in photo's. Whatever rust it has is just surface, the structure isn't compromised. If I do restore it one day the chrome will have to be done as it has some pitting.
Jim: Yeah, finally she is getting out of hibernation from a long cold winter - and still cold spring yet - but just recently started to work on it again, mostly still cleaning it, getting the surface rust and the 25 years oxydization from the paint and chrome. In the mean time I have also been collecting some of the missing parts (finding out how deep of a pocket you need).
Update this to 6 years with my 59.
Finally reset the odometer ;D
https://youtu.be/OGLpqOPiJcI
Don't do a restoration. Drive it, it will tell you what it needs, then give it to her. Install some premium gas shocks and it will lose a thousand pounds.
Hi Art, yeah maybe I should have started a new thread. I did end up putting shocks/ball joints/tires/etc on it.
Drives great ;D
Glad you're driving it. There is no more enjoyment to be had than driving it.
Oh, and congratulations, it would be an honor to be caretaker of that piece of rolling art/history.
Hope you weren't too far away from a Petrol Station, as the fuel gauge was reading a tad low.
Bruce. >:D
PS. Do that down here, and the authorities would book you for it. And they would have the evidence that you supplied them.
Quote from: The Tassie Devil(le) on July 12, 2019, 09:54:47 PM
PS. Do that down here, and the authorities would book you for it. And they would have the evidence that you supplied them.
Same in Europe! People who put videos in YouTube showing excessive speed have sometimes bad surprises.
Understand the concern. There was actually a police officer one car behind me. The speeds you see are the every day norm for this road. I was cruising at 105 just before this just to keep up with traffic.
Jim, you must be in Florida. The speed limit is posted at 70 MPH, but the average is 85-90 or you get run over.
I wasn't talking about the speed you were travelling at, but the fact that you were recording the event whilst driving.
I too have travelled in Florida, and other parts at well over the posted speed limits. Gee, flew over Miami on the HOV lane at almost 90 MPH, keeping up with the traffic. Do that here and the vehicle would be clamped, and a long time on shanks' pony.
Bruce. >:D
PS. I take my Odometer Rollover pictures pulled up on the side of the road.
Quote from: Big Fins on July 13, 2019, 05:21:55 AM
Jim, you must be in Florida. The speed limit is posted at 70 MPH, but the average is 85-90 or you get run over.
Truth!
That is why I maintain my vehicles to the fullest. I NEED to be able to keep up, even with the right lane traffic.
This morning, I went to meet with a couple of lifelong friends an hour north of me in Daytona Beach. I never left the right lane with the cruise set at 80 mph in a 70 mph zone, the entire time. The left lane had to be doing 100 or better.
Bruce, we don't all live in Hitler governed states, but I often wonder if that may be better.
Add resetting your odometer back to zero to your rap sheet. I have a good lawyer now.