Just curious if anybody put eyes on that particular Eldorado at Mecum Kissimmee and saw the details that led it to sell for so much money? Looks really well done on the photos I've seen, but hard to say without a first hand look. Who did the restoration? Dare say it's a record for a Cadillac at auction, much less a 1960. Thanks. See link to lot below:
https://www.mecum.com/lots/1134492/1960-cadillac-eldorado-biarritz/?aa_id=641727-0
Is it me or is the steering wheel upside down? Exceptionally clean.....prices for the 59s-60s have been going ape$hit.
The steering wheel argument is as old as the cars are. Which way is correct? I never saw one roll off of the assembly line.
Gorgeous car no matter. Even if it is a '60! ;) I wonder if it was triple white, if it would have brought the same money?
Steering wheel grips are in the correct position. The car was purchased by a CLC member who specializes in 59/60 Cadillac restorations on behalf of a client. He said it was one of the best he'd ever seen- clearly money-no-object. Triple white would've brought significantly less. Nothing tops triple black (or black w/red leather) on the desirability scale. In forty years in the car business, I've seen it countless times- especially with Cadillacs.
Eric, that's true. Triple black brings the money for sure. That car is probably the best example I have ever seen. Would love to have an idea just how much the restoration cost. It has little small details I've never seen before on any other 1960. Amazing restoration and sell price!
I'm a huge fan of the dash pad redo. I wonder if that was a Just Dashes job? Mine needs to be redone but its still too crisp for all original. Perhaps I'll source a core and have it redone.
Quote from: ItsZackRay on March 11, 2025, 01:47:55 PMEric, that's true. Triple black brings the money for sure. That car is probably the best example I have ever seen. Would love to have an idea just how much the restoration cost. It has little small details I've never seen before on any other 1960.!
Zack,
As a student of this and the 59, what were some of the small details that caught your eye.
Have fun,
Steve B.
59-in-pieces, the small paper tags on the power antenna knob, headlight knob, AC compressor, the shock tower braces under the hood, correct bypass valve for the AC, and the perfect dash pad. They usually sag a bit in the middle from the factory but even that has been remedied. Could truly look at that car for hours. The epitome of a 1960.
Fantastic looking car. I just saw something which is not 100%: the LH bumper end don't hide the lower molding's end flange at its lower point; the RH side is better.
Quote from: Roger Zimmermann on March 12, 2025, 09:08:42 AMFantastic looking car. I just saw something which is not 100%: the LH bumper end don't hide the lower molding's end flange at its lower point; the RH side is better.
That's it! The buyer wants his money back now. Take the whole car apart and redo it and make sure the LF bumper is corrected to Roger's specifications. ;D
Quote from: ItsZackRay on March 12, 2025, 08:38:27 AM59-in-pieces, the small paper tags on the power antenna knob, headlight knob, AC compressor, the shock tower braces under the hood, correct bypass valve for the AC, and the perfect dash pad. They usually sag a bit in the middle from the factory but even that has been remedied. Could truly look at that car for hours. The epitome of a 1960.
Good to know the sag is a factory thing. I thought mine was just starting to fail.
Absolutely outstanding! I'd love to see it in person.
As for the selling price, I'm sure the restoration
cost to obtain that level exceeded $300k. There are
no shortcuts to that level of perfection. The black
color really dazzles.
Does anyone know which shop did the work?
Spectacular car. Well bought for the money. If I were devoted to, and desired a car of that quality and had unlimited discretionary funds I would have purchased it for whatever it took. That is the buyers world this car lives in.
Every detail looks like it was addressed. It is obviously upgraded from a factory example. I.e., A polished stainless steel exhaust system, a finish on the undercarriage as good as the front fenders. Anything less would take away from the overall look of the car. Done to the level it has,it's gone from ordinary to the level of fine art. I can't imagine the amount of work done researching and sourcing all the parts an pieces to achieve the result, to say nothing about the work to achieve the finished product.
Not knowing a lot about the early sixties Eldorados, I can't see the defect on the front bumper noted above. However I did notice that there are four white spots on the left rear bumper. Dirt, artifact or spots on my monitor?
I doubt that if it were painted resale red it would have sold for more money. Triple black is understated elegance.
tony
Quote from: Cadillac Jack 82 on March 11, 2025, 01:53:47 PMI'm a huge fan of the dash pad redo. I wonder if that was a Just Dashes job? Mine needs to be redone but its still too crisp for all original. Perhaps I'll source a core and have it redone.
Anyone using Just Dashes won't be disappointed. We had the dash in my sweeties' '71 240Z done by them. It returned looking better than an original.
Quote from: tcom2027 on March 12, 2025, 06:53:46 PMNot knowing a lot about the early sixties Eldorados, I can't see the defect on the front bumper noted above. However I did notice that there are four white spots on the left rear bumper. Dirt, artifacts in the picture, damage to the bumper, specks of dirt on my monitor? OMG! How declasse'.
Tony, I wrote to quickly: it's the LH rear bumper end / rear lower molding which are not well aligned.
That's okay, Roger. Tony wrote too quickly also. Datsun never made a 250Z. It was either a 240Z, a 260Z or a 280Z. ;)
I have to get more sleep....along with using the preview and quick edit function more.
I corrected the the typos. It was a 240Z. We replaced the engine after thirteen years at 256K miles with a recon 260Z motor. and.... Roger, you are correct. It's there.
No matter the model, all black 1960 Caddies look like a Batmobile prototype.
Quote from: jwwseville60 on March 19, 2025, 04:14:04 PMNo matter the model, all black 1960 Caddies look like a Batmobile prototype.
They do look as IF they could, but that luxury goes to the Futura
We all agree it's exceptional. But what now? Would the owner show it? Ever dare to drive it? Or will it be pushed into the collectors chosen spot in his temperature controlled light controlled collection storage with white cloth gloves only to be looked at occasionally and sold by his widow or family 10 years from now?
I obviously don't play in this sandbox but if I had the ability to buy this car I would prefer a driver. Drive it!
Bryan,
Great question... the late Charles Crawley, who had a large collection of vintage, beautifully preserved Cadillacs, had one of his employees drive his cars during fair weather days around Camden, Maine. I surmise that there are ways to pickle a car and store it for permanent indoor display, but items such as the hundreds of flexible seals require a regular oil bath to extend service life. One data point: We own a very well maintained 1988, Allante that sees the light of day perhaps ten times a year, and even though it's a low mileage garage queen, the transmission has developed a drip. So service life, maintenance, and use are factors, and a beautifully restored car will age (and become less than ideal) over time. As someone on the forum has stated more than once, "it's only new once."
A number of exceptional high condition original cars were irreversibly butchered at the hands of Charlie Cawley. On an impeccable original 1967 DeVille convertible with rare Special Order interior, he had holes drilled into the rear quarter panel to mount one of those huge whip antennas. There are many other stories where that came from.
One of the Laws of Thermodynamics, (Entropy), states that all matter will eventually fall into disorder. In short, nothing lasts forever! Given a few million years our Cadillacs are doomed! Clay/Lexi