THIS IS A RARE 1957 CADILLAC COUPE DEVILLE NON-AIR CAR. NOTICE MY NEW 1964 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX TO SHOW SCALE AND FUTURE DESIGN EFFORTS. THE 1957 CADILLAC FIRSTS ARE MANY. IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT EVERY 1957 CADILLAC HAD THE NEW POWERFUL 300 HP 4 BBL V-8 WITH IMPROVED SUPER FOUR SPEED HYDROMATIC. IT DELIVERED NECK SNAPPING ACCELERATION AND WOULD ACTUALLY SPIN THE TIRES. THE CAR WAS 3 INCHES LOWER THAN THE 1956 AND WAS AN ENTIRELY NEW BODY FRONT TO BACK. FIRST YEAR FOR NO FENDER SKIRTS. FIRST YEAR FOR RADIO KNOBS ENGINEERED TO BE SIDE BY SIDE, LEFT OF THE RADIO, SO THE DRIVER COULD CONTROL STATION SELECTION AND TUNES EASILY. THE WHEEL COVERS WITH THE MULTI FACETED BLADES THAT REFLECTED SUNLIGHT WERE AN ALL TIME FAVORITE WITH CUSTOMIZERS WHO COULD ACCOMMODATE 15 INCH WHEELS. THE NEW “X” FRAME ACCOMMODATED STANDARD DUAL EXHAUSTS THROUGH THE MOST ATTRACTIVE CHROME BUMPER EXHAUSTS EVER CREATED. IT WAS LAST YEAR FOR FUNCTIONAL DUAL EXHAUST BUMPER OUTLETS. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY RUSTED BADLY. IN 1958 CADILLAC RAN THE EXHAUST DOWN ON THE STREET SAVING THE ATTRACTIVE BUMPER EXHAUSTS BEAUTY ELIMINATING CORROSION.
1957 WAS THE FIRST YEAR AND ONLY YEAR
THAT THE CADILLAC FINS FACED FORWARD!
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU, ANY POWER GLIDE, CHEVYS, FORD-O-MATICS, EVEN 1957 PONTIACS, BUICKS AND OLDSMOBILES THAT PULLED UP NEXT TO ME AT A LIGHT FOR DRAG RACING GOT THEIR FEELINGS HURT.
I DIDN’T LIKE WHITE BECAUSE IT FAILED TO ENHANCE THE FABULOUS BODY SCULPTURE OF THIS GREAT ONE YEAR DESIGN, SO I HAD IT PAINTED 1964 FORD GUARDSMAN DARK BLUE METALLIC. THANK GOODNESS IT HAD THE CORRECT WIDER WHITE WALLS. FOLKS, PLEASE UNDERSTAND – NOTHING LOOKS WORSE ON A PERIOD CAR OF ANY MAKE FROM 1950 THROUGH 1961 (LAST YEAR FOR WIDER WHITE WALLS) THAN THE SKINNY CHEAP LOOKING WHITE WALL REPLACEMENT TIRES. IF YOU DOUBT THIS, HOLD THE PHOTOGRAPH OF YOUR FAVORITE RIDE FROM THIS ERA UP TO THE SAME CAR WITH THE CORRECT WHITE WALLS. WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN APPEARANCE.
I REUPHOLSTERED THE INTERIOR THAT WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO WEAR. BEFORE I COULD BARELY FINISH THE CAR, I HAD SEVERAL BUYERS WAITING FOR IT. THE REASON I COULD BUY IT ATTRACTIVELY, IT HAD MASSIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT WERE BUGGERED UP BY SOME LAME FLORIDA FISH HEAD. I CORRECTED ALL THE ELECTRICAL AND IT SOLD EASILY.