Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Want To Buy - Cars => Topic started by: Dexfoster on December 14, 2018, 11:22:41 PM

Title: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on December 14, 2018, 11:22:41 PM
Im looking for a 1957 Cadillac continental kit. Do you have or know of anyone that has one for sale? Thanks
Dexfoster
Title: Re: 1957 continental kit
Post by: willits on December 15, 2018, 04:11:21 AM
John,

I toyed with the idea of putting one on my ’58 some years ago.   There is a place in Canada that makes both copies of the one you could order from Cadillac and the one you often see that just extends the entire original bumper.   They are pretty pricey though.  They are at www.continentalkit.com.   

Peter




Title: Re: 1957 continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on December 15, 2018, 07:58:54 AM
Yes the one im looking at from them is 4 grand. The one that doesn't extend the whole bumper. Thats to much for me. If i could get specs i would just build one.
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: willits on December 15, 2018, 09:39:54 AM
Yea, that was a big part of why I only toyed with the idea.  ;D
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Barry M Wheeler #2189 on December 15, 2018, 11:06:31 AM
I believe that the  1957/58 continental kit from Cadillac dealers was curved. There was no extension of the bumper ends. I remember seeing a grey CDV so equipped on New York Street in Indianapolis in traffic. I think it was after I came home from the service so it would have been in the mid-sixties.

This may have been an after market item, as I am pretty sure that Cadillac did not have a "stock" kit. Please feel free to make any corrections in my memory. There may be kits that were more "approved" than others.

Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: 59-in-pieces on December 15, 2018, 05:00:38 PM
John,
I was curious to see what a 57 - Eldo or not - would look like with a continental kit.
Here are some images I found on line.
Although I don't care for a kit on that year, for my taste the cut-in style is more appealing than the full bumper extension - like the rear step on a boat.

I don't know where you get such an assembly, I would suggest you consult the "low-rider" community, and their clubs and publications.
The kits on cars for 57 - Fords, Chevys - were many, and perhaps they could be modified to the 57 Cad bumper.

Good luck and have fun,
Steve B.
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: 59-in-pieces on December 15, 2018, 05:05:43 PM
John,
Since I have a 57 Biarritz, I went into the research I did before buying it, and here is what I found in the way of a brochure and parts info.
Hope it all helps.

Have fun,
Steve B.
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Mike Josephic CLC #3877 on December 15, 2018, 05:59:25 PM
That's good information Steve.  I've long heard that
1957 was the only year that Cadillac ever offered
a "factory" continental kit.

Mike
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on December 15, 2018, 06:05:45 PM
You could always make your own, like I did for my '72 Eldo.

Even with chromplating, my complete kit cost a whole lot less than 4 Grand.

The Chroming of the centre piece was only AU$550.00

Plus, by not extending the whole bumper rearwards, I didn't have to have unsightly ends that look amateurish, and I can load and unload the trunk without risking scratching the paint on the fender sides, or having to stand on the extension, or get a hernia from over-stretching.

Bruce. >:D

PS.   I would post a picture of the one I made for my '55 Chev, but as it is not a Cadillac, I cannot.
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Barry M Wheeler #2189 on December 15, 2018, 07:33:00 PM
Told'ya...




;D (I just couldn't resist!)
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Chuck Swanson on December 16, 2018, 09:32:12 PM
I believe I have one in my parts stash for 57-58. I'll check.   Location, as it's big?  Chuck
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Lexi on December 17, 2018, 02:31:22 PM
I am looking for the one for '55 and '56 Caddies with the dagmars. Let me know if any of you have one for sale. Clay/Lexi
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on December 24, 2018, 05:00:49 PM
Bruce right on i like it!!!  8) if chuck still has his ill probably get it. If not i think if i buy a second bumper i should be able to build one.
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on December 24, 2018, 05:33:37 PM
G'day John,

I just sent you an email with the picture of the Chev.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on December 25, 2018, 11:18:32 AM
Steve b. Thanks the one im looking for only sticks out in the center and goes down To factory on the sides. I found one for 950 or best offer on ebay but it was for a 56 Eldorado.
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: 59-in-pieces on December 25, 2018, 11:30:48 AM
John,
Glad I could help.

I would still check out the Low Rider Club(s) to see where they get their kits and if they know where you could have fabricated what you are looking for.

Have fun,
Steve B.
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on December 26, 2018, 10:45:01 PM
Im also looking to see who has stock bumpers for sale and how much. Might just have to build one.
Dex foster
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Bob Hoffmann CLC#96 on December 27, 2018, 01:32:03 PM
John,
I have a solid center bar. Please contact me directly at bobscads@comcast.net.
Thanks, Bob
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on March 13, 2019, 11:24:59 PM
Well....... one of the guys found me a bumper but after shipping im looking at 1000.00 bucks. Guess im still looking. Its not the price thats the problem its the condition for the price. Oh well...
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on March 14, 2019, 12:29:11 AM
Boy, looks like the back of the car was lifted by a fork lift whilst the bar was attached.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on March 14, 2019, 09:59:08 AM
Yep Bruce  that's definitely what it looks like now that you mentioned it. Reforming it wont be to bad but then re chrome and buying the rest of the parts for it to actually function. At the price he wants mines well get a new one.....
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on May 11, 2019, 10:03:02 AM
 Well thanks to this page i was informed of two different continental kits and got both.i was able to hammer out all the dents in the one i was wanting. Time for chrome. The second one i got for parts. Thanks for the help guys!!!
John
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on May 11, 2019, 06:07:19 PM
Congratulations.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on May 11, 2019, 09:42:43 PM
Thanks bruce!
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: 59-in-pieces on May 11, 2019, 10:00:58 PM
John,
I think we would all like to see when you get the kit on the car - chromed, painted whatever.
I know it would be the first one perhaps any one of us have ever seen.
Pics would be gr8.

Have fun,
Steve B.
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Dexfoster on May 11, 2019, 10:54:37 PM
Steve b
I will definitely post pics after chrome and put on the car! 😎
Title: Re: Looking for 1957 Cadillac continental kit
Post by: Chuck Swanson on May 22, 2019, 12:38:20 AM
Thanks for the update.  Glad I could help with some of the parts.  Chuck