1953 Eldorado Biarritz on Ebay (SOLD)

[dinhnguyen57]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-Cadillac-Eldorado/153939439325?hash=item23d7816edd:g:49EAAOSwkelexIAt

[Cadman-iac]

That's a beautiful car, even in its current condition. I have one question though,  I've never really looked closely at one of these before, and I noticed that the, what I guess is the parade boot, is permanently hinged to the body. So does it sit down behind the top when it's in the raised, or closed, or up position then? It just opens to allow the top mechanism to work? It almost looks like it also sits under the top when it's up. Does the rear of top have to raise up to allow the boot to drop back down,  then the rear of the top drops down over it?
Another question is then does the top have to have another set of latches to hold the rear portion down, and was all of this encompassed in an automatic system?
That's what I see, I think,  but I don't know. What a complicated mechanism that must be.
Even in its condition now,  i suppose that's not a bad price,  but to get it to a show car status, it's going to take probably 10 times that amount.
Still,  what a gorgeous car! It just looks so massive and commanding doesn't it?
Thanks for posting.

Rick

[Lexi]

Certainly looks like a doable project especially if you can do most of the work. Not sure about the price, though probably in the ballpark for it. Clay/Lexi

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Guys,
That price is only a starter!!! It will go way up. Hold on to your hats. I'll buy as many 53 Eldos  like that as I can for $25K.
Bob

[G Pennington]

Key questions to ask:
1. Does he have a title?
2. Does engine number and frame number match?
3. Does it include all parts specific to the Eldorado?
A lot of work but a very valuable car restored.  Rust can be repaired.  Mechanical parts not particularly hard to find.  This is one I would definitely be checking on if it wasn't 1500 miles away.  Will be interesting to see where the bidding goes.

[rwchatham CLC 21892]

With the eldo specific pieces there should do around 70k for it .

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Ray,
I was gonna say 75K.
Bob

[rwchatham CLC 21892]

Bob I’m with you on the 75 , I took a few dollars off for the metal work it will need and that people are a little scared of full blown restorations due to the cost nowadays , if it was a rare color I’d add another 10k .

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

Despite the seller's enthusiasm as to how much it will
be worth when it's done, you'll be well underwater when
all the bills come in.

I agree it's rare, desirable, etc.  If you have money to
burn then go for it.  Something to do "just because you
really want it".

$75k estimate for purchase plus $250k+ for a professional
restoration -- assuming he has all the rare parts with the car.

P.S. to the OP:
There was no "Biarritz" in 1953 -- it was just "Eldorado".

Mike

[chrisntam]

Some pics for your viewing pleasure.

[chrisntam]

Despite the seller's enthusiasm as to how much it will
be worth when it's done, you'll be well underwater when
all the bills come in.

I agree it's rare, desirable, etc.  If you have money to
burn then go for it.  Something to do "just because you
really want it".

$75k estimate for purchase plus $250k+ for a professional
restoration -- assuming he has all the rare parts with the car.

P.S. to the OP:
There was no "Biarritz" in 1953 -- it was just "Eldorado".

Mike

So spend $325k to have a car worth what, $150k to $180k?

What's it worth when done?

[G Pennington]

Looked at the pics on the listing.  What's going on with the body tag?  It it just my imagination or is the body number is blurred out?

[chrisntam]

Here's the tag.

Yeah, it's blurred out.

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

So spend $325k to have a car worth what, $150k to $180k?

What's it worth when done?

I've seen excellent restorations (100 points) go for
$225 - $250.  One I personally judged at a Grand
National about 10 years ago went for that.  It was
the nicest I've ever seen and a true 100 point car.

From the pics in an earlier post, it looks like a very
rusty example.  Lots of expensive fabrication ahead
for the buyer.

Mike

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Here's the tag.

Yeah, it's blurred out.
Chris,
That's to prevent the people that do nothing but collect body tag  info on certain cars from seeing it . They NEVER share the info .
BTW... how many 53 Eldos have you owned? I've owned  5 or 6.
Bob

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Call me a skeptic, but I would be going to look at in person before doing anything if I was a genuine buyer, and checking that the ID Tag is correct, and that the car is actually there and touchable and the one for sale.

Then, with that information, check with the Members Roster of vehicles as to its' history, if known.

These cars have to stop coming out of the woodwork eventually.

Bruce.

[chrisntam]

BTW... how many 53 eldos have you owned?  I’ve owned 5 or 6.

Bob, what is the point of your question and statement?  It appears to be a stab at me (or you’re bragging), but the reason escapes me. The only thing I can figure is something to do with my guess of the cost of restoration or valuation. I copied Hagerty’s valuation, I wasn’t too far off for a guess. The cost of the car and restoration were taken from prior posts.

Your comment is not appreciated.

Current Values

#1 Concours$224,000
Condition #1 vehicles are the best in the world. The visual image is of the best vehicle, in the right colors, driving onto the lawn at the finest concours. Perfectly clean, the vehicle has been groomed down to the tire treads. Painted and chromed surfaces are mirror-like. Dust and dirt are banned, and materials used are correct and superbly fitted. The one word description for #1 vehicles is "concours."
#2 Excellent$146,000
#3 Good$106,000
#4 Fair$76,000

[Vince Taliano #13852]

Read about and click links to videos on how CLC member Larry Good is currently handling the restoration of his '53 Eldorado in similar condition at http://clcpotomacregion.org/forms/CLCPR.2001Newsletter.pdf (pages 5-7).

[rwchatham CLC 21892]

I believe a 100 point fresh car , one that was just finished to perfection will bring 250k
Most of the ones you see at auctions are not fresh cars , that is why you see them at 150-175 . Will you be underwater if you pay to have this car restored ? Of course you will as with most any car you pay to have restored. If someone can do a large percentage of the work themselves than they will be able to recoup their investment minus time of course . 

[wrench]

I have nothing against an honest car with a lot of rust, but every once in a while a topic comes up about a collectible car that is a total rust bucket being restored to 100 point condition and worth a quarter million dollars.

I’m sorry, but a rusty bucket is still a rusty bucket even if you do a frame off.

If you have the hatchet that purportedly George Washington used to cut down the cherry tree but at one time the handle was replaced and then 100 years later the head was replaced, do you still have George Washington’s axe?

No. The Ship of Theseus is a logical fallacy and I see it all the time in the collector car world.

Once a machine deteriorated to that condition, no amount of costly restoration work makes it worth what a well preserved example would be.

My opinion. Harsh, I know, but that’s what I think when I see some of the valuations on some of these cars that get posted.

Yes, I see 100 point cars and I understand how some of the OCD types out there can get, but none of that changes the underlying logic that thousands of man hours and a hundred thousand dollars will not make that car any less rusty in a real sense.