Register now to get rid of these ads!

57 Caddy Eldorado..crazy F^&#@R cut the fins off!!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by rixrex, Apr 30, 2007.

  1. Phil1934
    Joined: Jun 24, 2001
    Posts: 2,716

    Phil1934
    Member

    You need fins like that Alfa Romeo in the Blackhawk Museum tour pics.
     

    Attached Files:

    • 0009.jpg
      0009.jpg
      File size:
      39.3 KB
      Views:
      153
  2. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,875

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    I love it, Raymond Loewy designed a '59 Cadillac Eldorado without fins that he drove in Europe, it too was a fabulous car.
     
  3. eric
    Joined: Jun 4, 2001
    Posts: 1,643

    eric
    Member

    I've got a '61 cadillac. and from information i've come across is that on some '61 models Pinafarina was commissioned to give a few cars his "magical touch" and that was basically hacking off the fin. i don't know if this was only for the year of 1961?? it may have gone on longer like in your case so maybe the 50's into the 60's where he was doing this??
     
  4. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,875

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    It coulda been a 1960 but I'm pretty sure it was a 1959, lemme look into it.
    I think it's not one built by Pinninfarina.
     
  5. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,875

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

  6. Eldo and coupe/conv are two different quarters all together ;) Matter of fact, everything's different from the door jambs back :eek:

    Hubnut's got/doing one(Eldo)

    Ya might start with 61 fins if you can't find an Eldo donor---they're similar in shape, and taller than 60 fins.....I mean, if you're gonna do a custom or something.
     
  7. Durod
    Joined: Aug 20, 2005
    Posts: 809

    Durod
    Member
    from DFW, Tx

    I personally didn't like those lil shark fins they put on those 57s ...finless looks pretty good if ya ask me.
     
  8. shook
    Joined: Mar 19, 2006
    Posts: 137

    shook
    Member
    from austin, tx

  9. Hey, couldn’t you just look in the trunk and tell by looking at the backside of the quarter panel if it was a factory job?
     
  10. attitudor
    Joined: Sep 28, 2004
    Posts: 3,134

    attitudor
    Member
    from Finland

    I cryed a little when I took this photo last summer...

    [​IMG]
     
  11. 60'coupe
    Joined: Dec 21, 2006
    Posts: 874

    60'coupe
    Member

    Hey Man, Contact this guy:
    Joe Abernathy: 830.868.9080 he's in Hye, Texas
    I met him at the Round up this year and he's a real nice guy that restores Caddys here is his web-site:
    www.abernathyrestoration.com
    Rob
     
  12. Hubnut
    Joined: May 7, 2002
    Posts: 1,063

    Hubnut
    Member

    Man I just checked out that site. Go to the works in progress pages and check the beer cans in the photos! Hahaha....hamb material for sure! Damn nice cars tho!!
     
  13. Dude, you are from FINLAND:D

    Thats funny
     
  14. Hubnut
    Joined: May 7, 2002
    Posts: 1,063

    Hubnut
    Member

    Not to change the subject but over on the abernathy site they have a 53 Chrysler 331 hemi with 2-4s. Check out this intake. correct me if im wrong but it appears to be a marine type?
     
  15. Different, that's the first one I've seen like that, it will have to grow on me.
     
  16. attitudor
    Joined: Sep 28, 2004
    Posts: 3,134

    attitudor
    Member
    from Finland

    Haha I bet it is... The Cad was in WA though... :)
     
  17. Darby
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 426

    Darby
    Member

    Your car or customer car? If it's yours, I'd recommend grafting something else on--if you want fins, make 'em custom fins. Everybody else (or, apparently, almost everybody else) that has a 1957 Eldo with 1957 Eldo fins on them.

    Of course, you weren't looking for opinions, you were looking for a Cadillac to measure, but I've only got one of the two. Good luck!

     
  18. raven
    Joined: Aug 19, 2002
    Posts: 4,707

    raven
    Member

    I like it.
    Real smooth look, sleek.
    r
     
  19. rixrex
    Joined: Jun 25, 2006
    Posts: 1,433

    rixrex
    Member

    Thanks again guys..the one (two?) post said they thought the finless look was somehow original, rare model, I don't think so. Someone please tell me yay or nay because I sure don't want to be putting fins back on some rare factory issue..What the Hell, I'm going to be lowering it,changing the wheels, maybe shaving door handles, etc..I still like those little fins...Rick
     
  20. HHRdave
    Joined: Jul 31, 2006
    Posts: 1,068

    HHRdave
    BANNED
    from So Cal

    I wouldn't buy or own a Cadillac without fins...... move on and wait till you find the car you like, don't buy someone eles's nightmare.
     
  21. MIGHTY
    Joined: Sep 18, 2006
    Posts: 448

    MIGHTY
    Member

    any fin would look better than no fin. Phat Caddy has stude fins looks f*@kn killer.
     
  22. Low
    Joined: Jan 28, 2002
    Posts: 477

    Low
    Member

    I kinda like it. Reminds me of a really huge 56 corvette.
    [image]http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1950-1959/1957-Cadillac-Eldorado-Seville-white-re-2.jpg[image/]
     
  23. 8flat
    Joined: Apr 2, 2006
    Posts: 1,392

    8flat
    Member

    That looks like what happens to some captive whales (or is it Orcas?), they get depressed and their dorsal fin sags over to one side....hahaha:D
     
  24. PhatCaddy
    Joined: May 31, 2005
    Posts: 1,453

    PhatCaddy
    Member

    Thanks Mike
     

    Attached Files:

  25. JimA
    Joined: Apr 1, 2001
    Posts: 4,795

    JimA
    BANNED

    I have a nice pair of '58 Caddy quarters with the fins if somebody wants to talk me out of them. Jim
     
  26. Prop Strike
    Joined: Feb 18, 2006
    Posts: 651

    Prop Strike
    Member

    I've got 57 eldorado seville with the fins if you want to measure them. There was a pic in a book somewhere of a factory special order without the fins. I'll see if I can find it.
     
  27. caddydave
    Joined: Nov 12, 2002
    Posts: 192

    caddydave
    Member

    Do the 57's and the 58's have the same rear sheet metal? if so there is an entire 58 rear clip on ebay right now....
     
  28. CadillacKid
    Joined: Oct 15, 2002
    Posts: 1,507

    CadillacKid
    Member

    It just isn't a Cadillac to me without the fins. I even went so far as to write Cadillac's design department an email a year or two ago and tell them that they ought to be ashamed of themselves for doing away with the fins...even my 95 Fleetwood Brougham still has a short pair of fins on it. The fins on my '59 Coupe deVille were the reasons I fell in love with that car in the first place...Anyway, good luck!
     
  29. DRD57
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 4,349

    DRD57
    Member

    I have heard that the 57 Eldorado could be purchased without fins as an option when new. I've never seen one without in person but I have seen several pictures from shows and at least one for sale on ebay that supported this story.
     
  30. Hubnut
    Joined: May 7, 2002
    Posts: 1,063

    Hubnut
    Member

    Ok guys, I have been searching the Cadillac LaSalle Club website about info on these finless conversions and lo and behold i found a post of the exact same question. The question was brought up bc of a car like yours that was listed on ebay. Yann Saunders, who is the compiler of the Cadillac Database and the clubs all around technical/historical expert, answered the question as follows:

    I have been studying Cadillachistory and production since 1955 and have NEVER come across any mention of a production Cadillac "sans" fins (Eldorado or otherwise). However, I have seen a few conversions over the years as well as photos of clay styling bucks prior to the addition of the signature fins. First thing to ask for is a copy of the original build sheet as well as the "SO" number located on the body tag.

    farther down he states:

    On my website (Cadillac Database) I have listed and photographed 4-5 of these modified caddys. These are NOT factory original creations. All of these cars were modified susequently.

    Hope this helps out.
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.