Restore Or Rat Rod? 1959 Cadillac Coupe de Ville
Without a doubt, a ’59 Cadillac, in any body-style flavor, is always an attraction. Nothing encapsulates America’s late ’50s hubris like the endless chrome and fantastic fins of a ’59 Cadillac DeVille. And for your review here’s a two-door, model 62 example, located in Porterville, California, and available here on eBay for a current bid of $11,100, twenty-two bids tendered so far.
Cadillac had a bang-up year in 1959 with 142K copies of all body styles leaving showrooms and headed to new homes. Of that total, the Coupe de Ville rang up about 22K in sales volume and was the second most popular body style behind the series 62, four-door hardtop. The good news is that this example is in a bit better shape than the ’59 convertible reviewed here on Barn Finds back in February. The less than optimal news is that this car is a hard-top model and not a convertible – though any ’59 Cadillac is iconic. And there are scant few details surrounding this subject, so the pictures will have to tell the story.
Surface rust abounds but the body is straight other than a crease in the driver’s door and a smasheroo in the rear trim below the trunk lid edge. This fuselage of a car would seem to have spent a very long time out in the California sun based on the burned patina look. The endlessly extensive stainless trim looks pretty good, other than the aforementioned rear trim piece. The laconic description does mention something about a solid frame and if this de Ville is, in fact, a life-long California resident, there is a good chance that the underside is still solid.
There are no images of this Cadillac’s non-running 390 CI, 325 HP V8 engine. And there is no mileage referenced in the listing and the 2019 California DMV title doesn’t record it either so it’s a complete gamble as to what the new owner will be acquiring motivation-wise. Anyway, what’s under the hood should like this image provided courtesy of Wikipedia Commons. GM’s famed Hydramatic four-speed automatic transmission was the only gearbox offered in ’59.
There are no images of the interior either. I have included this one image that gives a hint to the totally trashed condition of the backseat backrest and the split dash pad – not a great image, I’ll admit, but that’s the best that is available. It’s probably safe to assume that the rest of the interior is in similar condition as a result of extreme outdoor sun exposure. So no inside, underside or under the hood images included…consider that for a bit.
The seller correctly states that this Coupe de Ville needs a complete restoration – that’s a safe bet. He also suggests something about converting this big coupe into a rat rod. I’d say it’s in too good a condition for that fate, but there are many unknowns, not helped in the least, by the weak listing. And ’59 Cadillacs of any stripe are known for being very expensive restoration projects – there’s just so much to them and the fact that they are a one-year-only model just adds to the register total. There are twenty-two bids of interest, however, so someone has some tentative plans. What do you suggest, what would you do with this most conspicuous example of Americana automotive regalia?
Auctions Ending Soon
2006 Ford Mustang Saleen S281 SCBid Now3 hours$17,000
2002 Subaru Impreza WRXBid Now3 days$333
1975 Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleBid Now3 days$3,000
1964 Ford F-100 Camper CustomBid Now3 days$2,000
2006 Jeep Wrangler SportBid Now5 days$10,500
Comments
Totally the zeitgeist of its era.
I will be sooo glad when we get past this rat rod stuff. If it is worth saving, it’s worth doing right.
Reminds me of the car in Deer Hunter.
Same ’59 model 62, used in The Deer Hunter.
…
I was working in the transportation dept. at Universal Studios, at the time(1978) & I drove that car. Interestingly, we shot the movie in Weirton, WV.
Fast forward to ’83 & I moved to western Pa., 2 1/2 hours north of Weirton, where I still live.
We actually shot the movie in ’77 & it was released in ’78.
Rat rods are the worst. “hey let’s take this vehicle and see how crappy we can make it!” Even if this car doesn’t get a full on resto I hope whomever gets it fixes up the damage and cleans up the interior (even if you use blankets on the seats to start) gives her a coat of paint and drives it. After making sure it runs good and is safe for the road of course. That’s what I’d do and have a gas driving it.
Rat rods are fine if you have a bunch of odd old parts you just want to play with. An example this intact deserves better.
Can we open the trunk please?
Some took my Prius out snd hid it somewhere and it just could be there….😂😂😂😂
Seriously cool car and leave it original please 👌
It wont fit on my garage for sure…
This car takes a lot of real estate up in your garage!! More parts than most cars of the era!! It’s worth restoration but you have to have the facility to do so!! It’s a shame the rear bumper is damaged so bad!! The bumpers on this car are heavy and have tons of chrome!! I don’t know if there reproduced but it would take a guy with the right skills to straighten that out!!
Fresh Navy paint with a white roof…biscuit interior. Tasteful retro-modern wheels…new airbag suspension. Crate LS motor…sound…freshen the chrome. Restomod…absolutely. Rat rod…ABSOLUTELY NOT.
This isn’t a Coupe de Ville, it’s a Series 62 Coupe. The de Ville had rear fender scripting (which this car lacks) and no front fender crest (which this car has).
Thank you tiger66 for pointing out this is a Series 62 (code “G” from the data plate), not a Coupe deVille. The title of the article says Coupe deVille, body says Series 62, but it can’t be both. Not sure, but I think Cadillac referred to the deVille cars as Series 63. There is a picture on eBay of the data plate, but unfortunately none of the interior of the car. And, for the record, “rat rods” need not apply!
I had a neaf perfect original example in 1986 with a white hardtop over metallic grey and a white/ gray interior. There is no personal presence of that period as good.
I’ve regretted selling my 1959 series 62 coupe ever since it rolled out of my driveway. Good God don’t rat rod this car. It has factory built glamor in ever inch of its design, the likes of which we’ll never see again. Some hate these, but please don’t mess with something so bold and solid that could only have been produced at that one moment in time. When I drove mine I felt like it embodied the American dream.
Let Foose take it and play with the lines.
When I was about 11 or 12, a co-worker of my step-fathers stopped over to our house. I was in the front yard looking east because I heard it turn the corner. That sound of those mufflers he had on it rattled my soul. I had not see it before, but that 59 Caddy was something we seldom saw on our streets. When he pulled into the driveway, hit the gas a bit then turned it off. I was a mile of smiles! That triple black beauty stuck out like the Queen Mary! I asked him how he got it to sound like that and he told me he has a pair of Harley Davidson mufflers on it! I never for it nor did I ever forget that sound. When ever I see a 59, my mine goes back to that day that I got an up close and personal look at that GM wonder.
I can hear her screaming to me across the many miles! “An Art Morrison full chassis set up, Wilwood brake system, a big new Connect & Cruise LSX, a big new GM eight speed tranny, full resto-custom treatment, and of course it’s gotta be black on saddle tan buffalo leather/ Alcantara interior!”
Some body with deep pockets rescue this beauty!
I’ve restored several ’59 Cadillacs, including 2 Coupe DeVilles and an Eldorado Biarritz Convertible. Last one I did in the late 1980s cost more than $8,000 for the chrome work.
Finally I see folks expressing the same feelings I have regarding rat rods. I’ve been to many car shows and have yet to see a rat rod I would permit in my driveway. The only “skills” represented in their building seems to be welding.
Most the time even imagination is lacking. Thankfully, I really doubt the buyer of this beauty will rat-rod it.
IMO, No Caddy should ever be converted to a rat rod. That would be sacrilege….
I say bag it and drive it. Or do a resto mod like the copper caddy here.
https://images.app.goo.gl/Ph5sTaYkkShmKCm67