OUT CRUISING ONE DAY IN INDIANAPOLIS NEAR MY HOUSE, I FOUND THIS SHAMEFULLY CAST AWAY 1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO SEVILLE COUPE IN ELYSIAN GREEN. THE REAR VIEW OF THIS CAR FIRST YEAR WHEN NOT STANDING TALL IS ABOUT AS HOMELY A LOOKING CAR AS YOU CAN GET TO THE UNTRAINED EYE.
THE GORGEOUS REAR BUMPER EXHAUST AND BACK UP LIGHT HOUSING IS POT METAL ANODIZED AND CHROME PLATED AT THE FACTORY. IN THE FIELD IN THE FROZEN WASTE LAND OF THE NORTH, THE ROAD SALT, RAINS, MOISTURE AND NEGLECT DETERIORATES THE LAYERS OF PLATING BADLY. BACK THEN NO ONE WOULD ATTEMPT THIS BECAUSE IT WOULD COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. BECAUSE THE OWNER WOULD RATHER HAVE MORE BEER MONEY THAN A NEW BATTERY, IT OFTEN FAILED TO START IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES. SOMEONE GAVE HIM A PUSH TO GET HIM SAFELY OFF THE ROAD.
THE 1957 AND 1958 ELDORADO SEVILLE AND BIARRITZ HAS A VERY THIN REAR VALANCE PANEL FLANKING THE REAR BUMPERS AND HOUSING THE LICENSE PLATE DECORATIVE HOLDER. IT WAS NEVER DESIGNED FOR PUSHING. YOU CAN PLAINLY SEE THE RESULT IN THE PHOTO. THE INTERIOR WAS IN SURPRISINGLY GOOD CONDITION HAVING A MARVELOUS AROMA OF BEER, CIGARETTES AND THE AFTERMATH OF DRINKING SICKNESS. NO ONE WANTED THIS CAR. I DID.
THE BEAUTIFUL CHROME ORIGINAL FACTORY SABER SPOKE WHEELS WERE CAKED WITH YEARS OF OIL, GREASE AND ROAD FILM WHICH INCLUDED TAR. THE APPEARANCE LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS NO CHROME OR WHITE WALLS AT ALL VISIBLE. I REMOVED THE WHEELS AND TIRES FROM THE CAR WHILE ON JACK STANDS FOR SAFETY. WITH LACQUER THINNER AND OTHER FAVORITE CLEANING SUPPLIES, THEY LOOKED ABSOLUTELY NEW. THE OIL AND ROAD FILM HAD PRESERVED THE CHROME FROM CORROSION AND PITTING.
THE X FRAME WAS NOT SO LUCKY. I HAD TO HAVE IT WELDED WITH EXTRA SUPPORT PLATES. THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WITH THE REAR BUMPERS WAS TAKE THEM DOWN TO POT METAL AND TREAT WITH WHAT WE USED TO CALL KENTUCKY CHROME SPRAY PAINT. DON’T LAUGH. WHAT DO I SEE ON THE DASH OF NEW LUXURY CARS INCLUDING 2018 BUT KENTUCKY CHROME SPRAY PAINT OR SILVER ACCENTS. CHROME IS EXPENSIVE EVEN TODAY.
I ADVERTISED THE CAR NATIONALLY WITH PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I TAKE WITH GREAT PRIDE TO ILLUSTRATE A VEHICLE COMPLETELY. THE CADILLAC SEVILLE COUPE SOLD. I NEVER MISREPRESENT A VEHICLE. WHEN THE BUYER ARRIVES, THERE ARE NO DISAPPOINTMENTS AND GREAT EXCITEMENT.