No Reserve Limo: 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood 75
Editors Note: This Cadillac Fleetwood 75 is not a limousine, it’s a sedan. Thanks to all who commented on that error. JO
It’s whammer-jammer time! And, our subject today is the bossasaurus of domestic luxury cars, a Cadillac Fleetwood 75 sedan, a 1957 edition to be precise. A rarity with only 59K miles of experience, this typically black-finished Fleetwood is in fabulous condition – remarkable for a 67-year-old specimen. Hailing from Nine Mile Falls, Washington, this proper and serious limousine is available, here on eBay for a current, no reserve bid of $18,001 with twenty-five bids tendered so far.
The seller tells us that this sedan is one of only 1,010 produced while the similar limousine realized only 890 copies though those numbers may be reversed. Regardless of which is correct, it’s a minimal volume. Perhaps considered a bit outlandish by today’s standards, I would still suggest that this is a refined and dignified look for a limo – especially compared to the 1959 edition. The seller states, “BEAUTIFUL ALL ORIGINAL BLACK PAINT! EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION!” and the images do present just such a visual. It’s also claimed to be a museum car but no documentation is included. The exterior images are comprehensive but none give an indication of anything other than excellence and that includes the finish, chrome, stainless steel trim, glass, panel alignment, etc.
Inside we find, what else for a stretched sedan, but jump seats. Now I don’t know how comfortable they might be for a modern-sized person but then again, they were designed for a short-haul parade or some other Grand Poobah outing attributable to whoever was positioned behind them, in the very accommodating rear seat. The gray mohair upholstery shows little sign of wear and absolutely no age-related deterioration, with the possible exception of the carpet in the driver’s footwell. The instrument panel in this Caddy is more restrained than I initially anticipated, it seems more geared towards function. It’s certainly fitting for a car of this stature but not quite as illustrious as those from a few years earlier. Optional, but included on this Cadillac, is air conditioning – no word if it’s operational.
At 5,500 lbs. and 236″ in length (thus the whammer-jammer designation), this is a BIG car. And to move all of that girth is a 300 HP, 365 CI V8 engine communicating its go-factor via a Hydramatic automatic transmission. While an impressive powerplant for its day, one has to wonder about this Fleetwood 75’s get-and-go ability. The seller says “runs great” so I guess I should leave it at that.
So now it’s what to do with it time. I can’t imagine piloting this rig around as an everyday driver or applying any kind of mods. It has done that museum thing, so claims the seller, so I suppose it could live out its days as a wedding rental or see duty in some other related service. That would be my suggestion, what’s yours?
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Comments
Bossasaurus! That’s why I love this site…
Needs Grey Poupon.
It’s not a Rolls, James……SMH
Who cares
Excuse Me! Please Don’t POOP ON us! 😉 😜
It has gray poop on the driver’s seat from when some fool back then pulled out in front of it when the Caddy driver was doing 50 mph.
Well there is one in Berwyn Alberta and I own it. So I reckon we know where at least 2 of these are.lol
Nice old Cad limo.Has 4 fan belts.Fact:Gila Bend AZ is known as the fan belt capitol of the “United States” of America.Not the divided states of murica.
Gila Bend , AZ – stopped by there years ago on the way to Phoenix ..not a lot there to be sure
There’s no divider window, so this *is* one of the 1010 Fleetwood 75 sedans built.
Those limos with divider window had the designation of ‘Imperial’ Series 75 Limousine. I think the 800 figure is closer to the truth on these.
Love at first sight.
That Cadillac would make for a great summer family vacation with the kids or grandkids. Or just a few friends. Imagine the looks, fun, and memories you’d have. Beats the hell out of wedding duty…
This is not a limousine. It is a series 75 sedan.
Am I the only person who wears glasses when they look at this site?
The interior is not only filthy, the back of the back seat cover (the only part of the car that receives less wear than the jump seats) is not only worn out, it doesn’t fit properly. The assist strap is shredded. Even the headliner is stained.
I can only imagine what the front seat looks
like.
So, I guess that means you won’t be bidding…
JO
This doesn’t show a divider, which would make it a Series 75 Sedan. Interior looks plain compared to the 68 Series 75 limo my late brother once had. Can’t help but notice the similarity of tail lights to earlier Packard. James Nance told Dick Teague to DO something about those Bull nut tail lights resulting in famed Packard Cathedral tail lights introduced in 55. Overall, this could be a good buy, but I’ll say good bye 👋. Without a chauffeur and substantial work, it doesn’t drive my enthusiasm. Also 57 Cadillac rear styling made the car appear shorter, which was not appreciated by traditional Cadillac buyers. The 58 Sixty Special has always been a favorite for me.
The 7523 code on the trim tag gave it away. Also, no tracks on the B pillar for the divider. As mentioned, the rear looks like a bum lived in it!
Oh YES…!
This is Considered a “Factory Limousine”…..
It is Not a Stretch By No Means, But a Vehicle Does NOT
Have To Be Super Long or Have a Divider of Any Sorts
To Be Considered a People-Carrying Limousine.
I Do Know This For a “FACT’…
I Have Owned SIX of These of Various Years…
Even The “75” Series Was Considered,
(and Referred To By Dealers),
as Being a Factory Limousine…
You Have Your Opinions…
WE Have “Facts”…
If You Don’t Like It,
DON’T Buy It…!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What y’all think Cadillac was always top of the line I had a 57 Cadillac eldorado I should of not sold it was in perfect condition.i bought it in the 80’s. 300.00.it was money in the bank with that car.
Swap in a 1970 500ci cad motor with a cam upgrade aluminum intake headers and th400. Power, torque and nasty burnouts
😈
not
Hell NO! This Formal Sedan deserves some 🎵 R🎶E 🎵S🎶P🎵E🎵C 🎶T🎵!
At a car show, I told a couple of young guys about the name Dagmars. They thanked me and gave a lot of closer inspection! 👍
Here is the problem with this beautiful car. It was a museum car but I would want to daily drive it and that would mean a full recommissioning, ALL rubber would need to be replaced as well as A LOT of other perishable stuff. To leave it as it is and just drag it out for shows would be criminal.
In some countries (Italy?) a limousine is merely a four door version of some cars, like the Isetta limousine.
Museum cars don’t have to just static. There is a beautiful 1949 series 62 Cadillac in the collection at the museum where I volunteer. We take it to events and take museum visitors for rides in it. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/956fe0_87ef9c4a28ef4a43bbb17f7e7cfa4f48~mv2.jpg
We use this other cars in the collection as well as this Cadillac for rides and events.
AND you would need to hire a driver. No one drives one of these himself! Even Milburn Drysdale had a driver for his LeBaron, which referred to by Mrs Drysdale (incorrectly) as a limousine. Ya all come back now. Put your feet up!
“Editors Note: This Cadillac Fleetwood 75 is not a limousine, it’s a sedan.”
How many people would describe this as a ‘sedan’ instead of a ‘limo’?
I can’t say for certain, it’s a bit nuanced but Cadillac did refer to it as a sedan or a limousine. See the attached.
JO
As stated in my original post and SOME others, this is a Series 75 SEDAN. A limousine would have a fixed front seat and glass partition which was operated by rear seat passengers. I can’t quite make out the lettering below the pictured black beauty, but it looks like Sedan or Limousine!
Fleetwood 75 is designated a limousine. 60 series is a sedan to politically correct. Options were available in the limousines partitions being one of them among others.
Please do not let the car know it has a Walmart pacemaker: that just might push it over the edge
I agree. I always wanted to get a huge Playtex bra(not a car bra) and have it fitted to the car. Can you imagine the looks I’d get.
I just want tp park it in my living room and look at it.
Jim O let me chime in. I came from 3 generations of morticians me being the 4th. When my father and fore fathers purchased hearses and limousines the limos during that era were known as formals with the divider window and the informal without. Semantically speaking they are all sedans. The Fleetwoods had footrests and no jumpseats. The limos had jumpseats. So the breakdown in the numbers more than likely spoke to the formals and informals.
Liking this big caddy but don’t see the point in the jump seats, shouldn’t they be facing backwards or split in two facing each other ninety degrees to the others? The way they’re set up now if you filled every seat it would be pretty crowded. Which reminds me. I’m surprised no one mentioned the most obvious use for this car, party bus. You could fit six people in the back, perfect for bachelor or bridesmaids parties. Open up the roof over the back seats and Whoo Hoo!
Jim O I have to take my poke stick out about your “modern sized” comment. 🎉🤣🐸
With 70 percent of adults clinically ‘obese’ he’s right on the mark.
Leaving aside the rear compartment its a beautiful car.I had a ’60 division window limo that I used in a one car limo business back in 1980…long before limo businesses proliferated in San Diego. Just a beautiful car and in near perfect condition having been owned by a Mexican President sent into exile.
This is even prettier as its not as bulbous as the ’60
You are correct Mountainwoodie. Fast food restaurants have dominated over the homemade sit down at home with family AND socialize meals. Add to that the couch potato gamers and it all equates to a recipe for disaster. In my era we played outside with steel toy cars and trucks used our imagination walked biked ran played ball sports etc. I got what you mean Jim O. I like how you paraphrased your remark. Truth is truth and we all sooner or later must take a sip from its cup.
This IS a limousine, not a stretch limo, but a limousine none the less. These were the original limos before they started stretching them. The car carrying pallbearers in a funeral rode is this. It is a minor stretch with the extended car and jump seats.
Why so serious, Will?🫤
I saw your comment retracting limousine.
If you refer to “Encyclopedia of American Cars 1940 – 1970”, on page 51 the Cadillac in the ad is pictured and described as “1957 Fleetwood Series 75 nine-passenger limousine”.
Series 7523, 1,010 produced
Series 7533, 890 produced
I believe you where correct!
Uncle! I give up!
Generically I’d call it a limousine, but specifically, in Cadillac speak, maybe not (it’s that blasted glass divider thing) and that’s often the case, we get into auto model semantics. Looks like a limousine to me but feel free to call it what you will.
JO
What HAPPENED to that REAR SEAT??? I am not in the market for this one; but if I were, I’d want to leave all of the windows closed-up for awhile, then open it and stick my nose into the air inside to take a careful whiff. Something doesn’t add-up, here. Did MICE get in there and shred it’s upholstering for nesting-material? — would not be the FIRST time! Beautiful exterior!!! But restoring that interior could be a CHORE — since nothing would colour-match unless you had it ALL re-done… As to the 1957 power-plant: with such safe low mileage, I would let it be. Why the quest for extra “muscle”? — 1950s cars all had adequate power to run them on any sort of driving road within legal speed-limits. When you simply DRIVE somewhere, do you really CARE how long it takes to get from zero to sixty? So long as the car is fully capable of highway or city driving in real-world conditions, what else do you need? One doesn’t buy a sedan, and then expect a sports-car. I drove a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe flathead V-8 with Columbia Overdrive, and for many years it held its own on most any roadway — whether all day long on the Interstate, or simply around town, or over to the next town. Since no speed-limit is that high, what would be the point of seeing if it would do 100 m.p.h.? Cars are for driving to-and-from, not for the phantasy of being on the speedway! There! — I got THAT off my chest!!!
geez – i think everyone has missed the point –
this would make for a GREAT CAR in a ANIMAL HOUSE remake – flounders brothers car that was turned into the DEATH MOBILE
In 1969, I had a 1959 Series 75 sedan. I never had another car since then that I had more fun with. ( yes, I believe that sentence ended with a preposition, so sue me). I bought the car from a funeral home for $40.00 because it was stuck in low gear. Half a quart of kerosene and some runs up and down the highway and she shifted just fine. I think the most people we ever got inside was about 15. Tremendous memories that I’ll have forever.
To A DD: WHAT “point” might that be?
And who would do an “Animal House” remake? — and WHY? The original is a classic product of its time — and Jim Bulushi likely being stoned to the hilt throughout his entire performance simply adds an authenticity which no-one could copy. He LOOKS “wrecked” and ACTS insane — and that is the one-time magic which brings such zanity off with total believability.
The actor was John Belushi, not Jim Belushi.
JO
John Belushi. Not his brother Jim.
Sorry, Jim ODonnell. I can only beg pardon, because, although I saw “Animal House” but once, at a friend’s house (since passed) years ago, that was not my generation in films, generally. That same friend (who was only 71 when he left us, and younger than I even then) also exposed me to “Blazing Saddles” — which I found brutally-offensive and uproarious funny at the same time! But I probably could name only about one or two of the actors in it. Things slip from my mind too easily now.
SOLD for $32,100.