1960 Station Wagon

[Blade]

Is this real or just a one of a kind?

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Definitely a custom job, and looks very beautiful.

Bruce.

[russ austin]

That roof line doesnt look anything like a CC coach builder.

[INTMD8]

I love it!

[P Cedergren]

Hess & Eisenhardt.

$66.000 Scottsdale 2009

http://www.goodingco.com/car/1960-cadillac-four-door-hardtop-station-wagon

/Per C.
4218

[Blade]

I got a couple of more pictures of it and some other rare beauties:

[TonyZappone #2624]

The black car is probably a factory picture of the '56 Custom View Master that I owned for many years.  In my conversation with Bill Hess, he remembered my car as being car #6.  Someone had removed the body plates, ( one is pictured here).   These plates were mounted on the bottom of each side of the front seat , and I had several sets made.  I still have one set if someone would like to purchase it.

[Blade]

How many of those were made all together Tony?

[TonyZappone #2624]

I believe there were 13 in 1955, and 12 in 1956.  Bill Hess was still alive when I got my car, and he sent me copies of the original plans for these cars.  I asked him what model he had modified to make the wagon.  Quite indignantly, he replied he was a custom body builder, and not a customizer of cars.   These cars began life as a "short sill cowl".  Front clip, rear fenders, etc.  much like a commercial chassis, except on the 125" (or whatever the wheelbase was that year for series 62 cars.)  The roof was from 54 b body wagons, trim above the doors from a 60 special, the seats, and all inside trim was full leather, in a pattern unique to the wagons.  The headliner was the white vinyl with perforations and chrome strips, like the sedan devilles.  When the guys in my shop broke the rear window, (which was electric) I found out the hardway that it was from  '55 and '56 Nomads.  This car was a 26,000 mile pretty much original car.  I am truly sorry I sold it.

[jwwseville60]

My 63 Vista Cruiser custom wagon.
In Resto now. It was Burgundy.
It will be silver blue with a white vinyl top.
Billet saber wheels.
429/Turbo 400 upgrade.

[bctexas]

Gentlemen, the '60 and '63 are nothing short of spectacular!  I only hope I get to see them in person some day.  Thanks for preserving them!

[veesixteen]

Is this real or just a one of a kind?

Station wagons (British "shooting breaks") were never part of the Cadillac model line-up.
Nonetheless, many were built by independent coach builders ("Hess & Eisenhardt" being he most well known) and so-called "customizers".

Many are mentioned in the "Cadillac Database" I created and compiled in the 80s and 90s. You will find them in the section of the web site dealing with "Dream Cars". Searching on "wagon" should bring up a few.

Here's one by Peter Stengel (USA and UK) on the 1959 Cadillac "Series 62" chassis. It has survived and is currently undergoing a lengthy restoration.