1970 Fleetwood Brougham

[Rich S]

FYI:  There is a car on e-bay with extremely low mileage that is a 1970 Fleetwood Brougham:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___Cadillac-Fleetwood-Brougham-1970_W0QQitemZ160260749103QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160260749103&_trksid=p3756.m14.l1318


In the photos shown, I don't see the "Brougham" script or wreath & crest on the vinyl roof C-pillar, or all the Fleetwood letters on the front fender, yet the interior picture looks very nice. The car has that "stately" presence, so I sure hope a collector will get it!

[Johnny]

Somewhat hard to tell if the script is there.  Any comments on the color combination?  Blue exterior with green interior.  A little unusual I would think.

[Xris Laggan]

Maybe your screen needs adjusting , paintwork definitely looks green to me .

Xris

[Johnny]

My monitor is fine, its maybe my eyes that might need a little adjusting.  Upon closer examination of the pictures I do see the "greenish" hue that is there.  Which green was it  that was offered that year, that I mistook for Spartacus Blue.

-Glenmore Green Poly

-Nottingham Green

-Lanai Green

-Adriatic Turquoise

[Ted in Olympia WA]

I think it is black.  The greenish hue I think is the reflection off the grass on the front fender.

TED

[Johnny]

Not black or blue, according the seller he has described the exterior as being green. 

[Johnny]

Color aside, I think this car is as stated, and most likely has an interesting story behind it.

Take notice how different this ad is, then other ads that "tout" rare finds.

-Just 4 basic pictures
-No long drawn out description, sprinkled with the usual catch phrases, such as "the nicest one on the planet"
-Owner being in one of the pictures.

I wouldn't be surprised if it really is one of the "urban legend" Cadillacs.  You know the one I mean.  The one that was bought and in a very short period of the time the owner passed away, and the remaining family member kept the car in their memory. 

*Actually I did really see one these "urban legend" Cadillacs.  It was in the late 80's, and the owner had a '53 Fleetwood, with A/C also green, that had a thick layer of dust on it, and about 5,000 miles.

Quite possibly the owner thought it was time to "let it go", and some family member suggested putting it on ebay.  Note that the starting bid is $10,000.  Not that the price is out of line or unreasonable, but for some reason $10,000 seems like the magic number when putting a price on a unique older car.

[wrefakis]

The car is geen,the original 4 11 lady backed it into a tree around 71 or so,then parked it and bought a smaller car to drive,although keeping the cadillac her husband bought for her. She could not see over the high back seats! The car was kept plated and insured till 1981. The lady kept her garage door up,so that her 16 or so cats could use it as a home. When pulled from storage by the current owner,he proceeded to repaint it,and install a new top and tires,as the cats had clawed and destroyed the top,and paint,tires had dry rotted. Safe to assume the oversized underhood pad was installed at that time as well. On these low mikle 'mint' cars,just look for door edge guards before you get pumped up,the never put them back after paint and body work. The owner,ray,is a nice fellow.

[Johnny]

Bill, many thanks for the background, and as suspected there is an interesting story behind this car.  It appears as though you have answered the posts concerning the script on the C pillar and the color.  Possibly with the new top, they didn't replace the scripts, and with the paint, they didn't use the original or even a factory color.  Now the debate begins as to the "value" of this car.  Let's take a look at what we know so far.

We have a 38 year old, top of the line Cadillac, a Fleetwood, with less then 5,000 original miles, that is all original, except for the exterior paint and roof, which in itself, I suggest is a somewhat unusual situation, and also not that detrimental to the car itself.  I think the "value" of the car to a prospective buyer would be the "needs" of the buyer.  Do they want to have a "trailer queen", pleasure car etc. etc.  Regardless of "needs" I am sure some mechanical updates are needed, hoses, belts, tuneup etc.  Those that would want a more original car, would need to have it repainted and a most probably a new roof, with appropriate script, crest and wreath, which depending on the quality of the paint job, could be somewhat costly.

While not that enthused about the interior color, if I was in the market I would be interested in this car, but not at the reserve that is being asked.

[wrefakis]

Johnny,Ray is the owner,my first name is Bill,sorry you do not like it @10k,he needs 20K,and by the way,I will pay 25K for a real one like this having owned or passed every super low mile original 64-70 that has popped up over the last 30 years,even have files on the one or two that may have slipped thru,just sold the last production 70 covert with 5k original miles,a car with new paint,new tires,new top,is not 'all original',and as far as buying the clock,the 57 plymouth pulled from the fish tank this year has less than 100 miles,lowest on the planet(yes,I love that one also) and it is JUNK!!!!! The car needs to be the equal of the odomater.

[Johnny]

It doesn't matter what price I like the car at, as we all know that the fact is a car is worth in real money, what price a buyer and seller agree to on a particular car, and while it might be a guideline for similar transactions of the same or similar models in the future, it by no way guarantees what a car will sell for.  The car market works like the stock market, in that past performances (prices),  in no way guarantees future performances (prices).

Could you explain, what you mean when you say "He NEEDS 20k?"  Is it really more of a situation he WANTS 20k?

May I ask what you sold the last 70 convert with 5k miles for?  Also, what was the story behind that car?

I do agree with you about "buying the clock", as again with many collectibles, age sometimes  really isn't the key factor in determining the worth.

[wrefakis]

Thats local slang for what the buyer wants,the 70 was purchased by me from the original owner in 1982,from 82 to 07 it went from 5,842 miles as of my arrival home with it ( I drove it home to NYC from new england) had 5,905 when it left in 07,sale price is not meaningfull as this is one of one the only last production car documented by cadillac,I kept my red 10k mile one,photos are on our photo galley,take a look!

[Rich S]

Interesting discussion! I'm glad to learn the facts surrounding that beautiful, classy Fleetwood Brougham. Your discussion, Johnny and Bill, makes me glad I've restored the car I chose to restore, which had 46,000 miles when I acquired it. Its history is known to me, and I know it was never in an accident (and I liked the colors, options and car). Unfortunately, without the most fastidious custodian, age will take its toll on these precious metal/leather/vinyl/plastic/rubber works of art. 

Now I'm curious, what color was the "last" 1970 Deville Convertible built?

[wrefakis]

The car is Bayberry tan top tan leather,has stereo air 6way tint,no tilt/cruise,it was documented by GM historical,also had all 5 uniroyals,like my red one,needed  the space for my 59 BIARRITZ,as I have cut way down,still working on my 59 rsearch,take care,Bill

[Johnny]

Bill, one of the problems with communicating via online, is that sometimes thoughts get lost in the translation, as it did with "wants/needs", added to the fact that I have a tendency to take things too literally at times.

I respectfully disagree with you saying the price is not meaningful, as the car would be, besides a antique/classic/historic, take your pic, would be somewhat of a special interest car.  Throughout the years, I have seen and heard of many cars being of a "special interest", because of its past history, but never because it was the last one to come off the assembly line of a particular model year.  Of course if you choose to keep the price private, then I will respect your privacy.

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Auction is over! The owner may "need" 20K but it didn't get above 10K. Maybe shilled at that?  To me, just another abused car that the condition doesn't match the miles. As you said,Bill. Bob

[Johnny]

Once again the market place has won.