Well, here she is, the 57 Caddy

[57caddy]

Thought, I would start a thread on my husband and my 1957, Series 62 Cadillac.  His deceased dad gave it to us, it was originally one of the cars from his uncles collection.  We, been working on it in his buddy's garage.  We just began the process of kicking around the idea of selling the car.  We really need to make room at our place, if we decide to keep it.  I know some might say, keep the Caddy for sentimental reasons, but really, his dad was all for selling the car.  He just would not be pleased, if we accepted a low ball offer.  So far, got a lot of "interest" and turned down a lot of offers.  Now, I want to make clear, I am not using this forum to try and sell the car.  I do have it up on the internet, a bit tired of weeding through all the B.S. scammers.  I am going to let all these ads expire.  I really believe, if the car is meant to be sold, it will go to a local buyer that sees it on the side of road on the days we have it out there for a few hours.  We, actually, are in negations with one serious buyer, but anyone that has ever been in this position knows, until the money is your hands, there is no deal  So, who knows.

 

It really has been quite the learning process on this particular project car.  We have done our share of restorations in the past, but this one has been quite the experience.  I will post some before and after pictures of the interior, and engine compartment, etc later.  For now, here is a picture of the Caddy in its entirety.    I would be interested to hear back from others who have restored a Caddy and other cars, have suggestions, input, or just casual observations.

 

[balthazar]

Looks like a real clean ride!
Not a factory '57 color, a bit bright, but I doubt that will deter any buyers at the Series 62 4-dr tier.

'57 Eldorado Seville is in my top 10 Caddys.

 

My restoration on my B-59 is stalled at the 60% mark (frame-off), but I do know what a full-scale rest entails. A TON of work & money.

I think you are correct; most initial advertising attempts get the tire kickers and flippers out; the 'keeper owner' who really loves the car for what it is comes later.

Classic auto trader & Hemmings are good spots to advertise, not as many insincere tire kickers, I believe.

[57caddy]

Looks like a real clean ride!

Not a factory '57 color, a bit bright, but I doubt that will deter any buyers at the Series 62 4-dr tier.

'57 Eldorado Seville is in my top 10 Caddys.

 

My restoration on my B-59 is stalled at the 60% mark (frame-off), but I do know what a full-scale rest entails. A TON of work & money.

I think you are correct; most initial advertising attempts get the tire kickers and flippers out; the 'keeper owner' who really loves the car for what it is comes later.

Classic auto trader & Hemmings are good spots to advertise, not as many insincere tire kickers, I believe.

 

Thanks.  Yeah, since my dad was an auto painter for years, I learned a lot from him.  Truthfully, not having the original paint or at least the original color scheme for that year makes me cringe.  We did not paint it this color!  Yet, I am sure you know what it would take to get the color back to the original color.  Way over our budget, even if we primed it ourselves.  Quite the process!

 

I am thinking you have posted you B-59 here,  I will go have a look.

 

Yeah, I hear you on the better places to advertise, just not interested in spending any money to advertise.  Maybe even not sure gonna sell it.  Like I said, we have a price set, with a little negotiation room, but know what we value it at and what it goes for according to the "experts".  It can only be for the person who "really" wants it. lol

[G. David Felt]

Lovely car, rare to get what you put into it back out of it when selling but then we do this as a project of love. Wishing you all the best in what ever happens to the auto.

[balthazar]

No pics on the site here of my car, so here's a little snapshot. Not much to see, tho I have a lot of time in it to get this far.

 

[knightfan26917]

Oh ... my ... goodness.  Y'all have a GORGEOUS 1957 Cadillac!  The pic proved worth the wait.

 

 

Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com

1979 & 1989 Caprice Classics | pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve

"Uh, what model is it?" __ Johnny Cash __ 'One Piece At A Time'

[Drew Dowdell]

Puuuurdy!

[57caddy]

No pics on the site here of my car, so here's a little snapshot. Not much to see, tho I have a lot of time in it to get this far.

 

 

Wow!  Your project- frame-off is more extensive then we did on our Caddy!  Like I said, I wish we had the money and time to take the body down to this level.  Do you have an end color choice?  That is one heck of an engine you have there.  I take it that is the original engine you are working with and adding to?  Is that one of the original wheels that I see in front?  Were you able to save any of the original interior?  I got to say I like how your fins have this low profile look!  Thanks so much for posting.  Looking forward to more!

 

Here is a picture of a piece of our original engine off the caddy.  The engine was never rebuilt and pretty happy with how good of shape the heads are still in.  Mostly routine maintenance under our hood.

 

 

 

 

Lovely car, rare to get what you put into it back out of it when selling but then we do this as a project of love. Wishing you all the best in what ever happens to the auto.

 

 

Yeah, I hear you and thanks!

 

 

Oh ... my ... goodness.  Y'all have a GORGEOUS 1957 Cadillac!  The pic proved worth the wait.

 

 

Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com

1979 & 1989 Caprice Classics | pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve

"Uh, what model is it?" __ Johnny Cash __ 'One Piece At A Time'

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

Puuuurdy!

 

Thanks!

[balthazar]

• End color is still under consideration, but I am partial to 'metal' colors: gold, silver, bronze. A million possibilities.

• Entire power train has been upgraded. Original 401 came out, that's a Buick 455 with aluminum Stage 2 heads. Aiming for 550 HP.
• That is an original front rim, tho it will go. I have aftermarket rear rims on it obviously, tho I am going to change them to another design. Yes; all 4 will match.
• I have the original interior (seats/ panels) but those will get redone in a period but non-original material/pattern. Original seat frames will be used; no buckets/console here. Some of the most amazing patterns came out in U.S. cars '56-58, IMO- will look into maybe getting some of that. 

[57caddy]

• End color is still under consideration, but I am partial to 'metal' colors: gold, silver, bronze. A million possibilities.

• Entire power train has been upgraded. Original 401 came out, that's a Buick 455 with aluminum Stage 2 heads. Aiming for 550 HP.

• That is an original front rim, tho it will go. I have aftermarket rear rims on it obviously, tho I am going to change them to another design. Yes; all 4 will match.

• I have the original interior (seats/ panels) but those will get redone in a period but non-original material/pattern. Original seat frames will be used; no buckets/console here. Some of the most amazing patterns came out in U.S. cars '56-58, IMO- will look into maybe getting some of that. 

 

Sorry, did not catch your response sooner.  Thought I had this post tagged to get a notice....

 

Oh, yes you have big plans going on! I like the idea of a metal color, seems to fit and you can't go wrong with whatever color you end end choosing.  Are you learning toward a flat or metallic finish?

 

Well, figured you would be matching all your tires, but i really like to see those old rims, so glad it was in the picture.  I kind of like the rims you have on the back right now.  Kind of understated bada** esp. with your fins being the spot light bringing in the details of the whole rear of the car.  I hope you share a picture when you get the front-end on.

 

Good you have the seat frames!  No matter what material or pattern you decide on, sure it will give it a clean, sleek look inside.  Are you going to do it yourself or hire the job out for the upholstery after you decide on what you want? 

 

For sure, I agree with you about the amazing patterns that came out in cars during this time period.  I don't know may seem a little overboard to others, but I could spend hours looking at the littlest details.  I am kind of into the diamond pattern these day.  i saw one on the new 2016 Nissan maxima coming out.  But it seemed a little too muted in the tan color scheme, but it seems diamonds are coming back.  Well, not that I am on top of everything that has or is coming out, just happened to come across the article and  image on the front page of this forum the other day.  Well, you have a clean slate to work with, so whatever you choose, it sounds fun to look at all your options!

 

Speaking of reading articles, I read another one about how cars use to be inspired by clothing trends (esp. women's) like the fabric, style lines, and hue colors and on the flip side how fashion was inspired by cars and how they combined the two into advertising.  Don't really see that too much these day.  I mean sure cars the two still have promote prestige, power, and style, but it is on a different level.  Well, that is just my opinion, and a little off topic.

 

And - NO DOUBT - your end result is going to have some power behind it!

[balthazar]

I was not aware Caddy ran shaft rockers on the 365; nice.

 

Have not made my mind up on the paint, am still open to mattes, satins, pearls, etc. I used to be hot on silver pearl metallic.

 

but more recently I have been looking at all sorts of bronze and golds.

[57caddy]

I was not aware Caddy ran shaft rockers on the 365; nice.

 

Have not made my mind up on the paint, am still open to mattes, satins, pearls, etc. I used to be hot on silver pearl metallic.

 

but more recently I have been looking at all sorts of bronze and golds.

 

 

Yeah, my husband was pretty darn happy, for it being the original engine the rockers were in such good condition with no sludge or no ticks for almost 102,00 miles!

 

Oh, lol, I forgot about the pearl option, too.  If I were too paint, the caddy, I would go with the satin and paint it black and keep the roof white.  But back to your project, I do like the color choices you narrowed down to, it is going to look good in any of those color palettes. I would have never thought about bronze or gold.