Hey guys, I have a '58 Caddy Eldorado Seville, and I'm unsure what I want to do with it. I don't have a ***le for it, it needs quite a bit of front fender work (both sides), it needs both bumpers, and a grille. Other than that, it's essentially a running, driving car. It's got a decent black vinyl top, all of the gl*** is good, the power windows work, the interior's really cool silver leather with black fabric inserts. Most/all of the trim (other than what I listed above) is there and in good shape... All of the brakes are rebuilt. And, it has a great running 365 tripower! My plan was to yank the motor/trans to put in my '34 Ford 5 window; and either sell or part out the rolling ch***is. It's so close to a "driver" that I'd kinda feel bad about parting it out! If I had the time/space/money, I'd love to put a Northstar or something in the body to make a *****in' cruiser! This car has WAY more character than anything built in my lifetime! Anyway, I had a guy ask me how much to buy the whole car as is, motor and all... I didn't know what to tell him, so I checked on the interweb. It turns out they only made 850 of these cars. That makes me even more hesitant to part it out! Now here's my main question: Would the motor and trans add more value to this Caddy body, or to the coupe? eg: (I'm just pulling these numbers out of thin air) If the the caddy as a roller is worth $3500, and with the motor it's worth $5500, the motor/trans has a value of $2000. Would it potentially make the '34 worth say $5000 more to have a tripower caddy in it? Or would it only add the same $2000 as above? I have NO idea which direction to go... Let me know how you guys would handle it! Thanks! Steve
That is a tough question. I'd say you bought it for the motor for your ride but dang, that'd make a tough *** car either way. I'm for keeping the boat and finding another tri-power down the line. How tough is it to find the parts you need to save it?
I'd leave the Caddy motor in the car and keep THAT car whole. If you don't have any desire to keep and/or finish the Caddy into a driver...then sell it COMPLETE and I think you'll be further ahead financially, the guy who buys the car will be happier, and the car itself will get to retain it's original drivetrain, as it deserves to! (You said yourself how much character the car has...and that you are hessitant to part it out...follow those instincts, Man!!) Your 34 will be cool with any number of engines in it...and the cash you'd get outta selling the Caddy as a COMPLETE car would allow you to buy a cool Nailhead, Olds Rocket, early Hemi or other sweet vintage mill for your hot rod project without laying waste to a perfectly salvageable, original Caddy!! Just my half-penny's worth...take it as you will!!
Ok, Yes they're rare. Bear in mind that 58 was a recession year, production was down for everyone though, but it's still rare none the less. The tripower setup alone, ***uming its complete with air cleaner is worth the 2k. Personally I wouldnt seperate the engine from the car, its worth way more as a complete unit. I wouldnt let the ***le deal scare me either, but its pretty easy to get a ***le from the dmv here in Ar.
A friend cut up a two door to get the need parts for a convertable restoration. I've been trying to sell off the leftovers after the carcus was sent off to the crusher. I haven't been impressed interest in these leftovers, and will probably s**** them too. These boats are popular in Europe, and an eBay listing will be your best place to list it. If you have your hart set on a Caddy in the '34 go for it and don't worry about the hulk it came out of.
Thats why I'll never part out any "old" car that still resembels an vehicle. If it had been laying on its roof in a creek for 40 years....yeah...but other than that, I try to keep them together.
find a 70s caddy motor/trans to set in the 58 before you sell it (don't bother connecting anything, just set it in there), and then you won't feel so bad about swiping the motor from the 58. That three deuce motor needs to be out where people can see it, not stuck in some old boat that won't be on the road for another 20 years. btw I got a 58 365 long block for $20 a couple years ago.....too bad it's missing all the tin and stuff or I might be tempted to do somethign with it.
Knock it in the head, Steve---it's just an old Cadillac Part it and don't look back...... So, now that it's settled, I need the right door gl*** and the stainless moldings for the vinyl top Seriously, Hubnut's right. The air cleaner will fetch big money alone. Eldo Seville's didn't grow on trees 50 years ago. Find that car a (loving)home.
I'd keep it in one piece. It would be easier to find another engine for your 34 than another 58 Caddy. Once it's cut up it's gone. There are slews of engine choices for the '34.
I'd start checking the Caddy sites and Caddy parts suppliers. I bet you could find a Caddy nut that would fix you up with another good running engine along with some cash to put into the coupe. Don't forget that supply and demand relies on demand to be greater than the supply. Several years ago there as a big demand for that car. Is that demand still there or have all those once interested souls now gotten to old to take on a project like yours? Peak demand can be a moving target. It's possible that you could get stuck with a builder car that nobody wants to tackle. The chrome you are missing will be big ticket items. Take the engine away and then how much will it cost a restorer. They have to justify cost too...usually. I'd try to get a drive line and cash in trade.
I would think the only value to that engine is the tri-power setup. So it may be worth 2k? I doubt it unless it was all new and plus its on a oddball engine(I think).
Alright guys... a pretty even mix of "Yank the motor!" and "Keep it together!"... Thanks for all the help!
What's that car worth in that shape? $15,000? $20,000? I'd eBay it and send it down the road whole, and buy a cheaper vintage motor to run in my hot rod. If you want a builder Caddy I have a '60 motor and trans I'd let go for $100. But you can find 62-68 Cads that run, pretty cheap, that are just plain old sedans no one cares about.
Test the market . Put on on E-bay with a high reserve. You can always drop the reserve if the price gets right.
Is it about the money or just building a car that you are p***ionate about? Follow your gut... I could sell my cars for plenty of money, but then I wouldnt have my cars. I'm not rich, but what good would money do me and no car? My head hurts. I'm not even drinking...
I knew a fellow who owned a Caddy dealership and had one just like that. It is a collector's car and he didn't sell it in 1985 when offered $10,000. I know that the price has skyrocketed since then but my subscription to Old Cars Price Guide expired. Don't be foolish and part it out. That engine and ****** need to go with the car for the value to be there. Check out Old Car Price Guide at the store. You don't even have to buy it. It has a value of from 1-6depending on condition. Be objective and rate it according to the description at the front of the magazine. If you buy the magazine there are all sorts of vendors there and I'm sure that one of them or a Google search will produce someone who would love to have the car. There are plenty of Caddy engines around. I have a 55 Olds with an Edlebrock tripower manifold that I am going to use in my 34 5W if someone doesn't talk me out of it before I get that far. I am putting my rebuilt 312 Y-Block with rams horn manifolds in my 34 3W. There are also lots of Buick nail heads out there for not much money. Engines are easy to come by but a 58 Caddy Eldorado Seville is a rare automobile.
you know what i think about this. i agree with the test it on ebay with a high reserve and see what happens. but try to talk with some collectors. i think a purchase of a hemings would help you as well.
Leave the caddy whole, sell it to someone who can appreciate a 58 caddy, and use the jack to buy the motor you want for the coupe. You could also do some resto work on the caddy increasing it's value exponentially and then sell it for a nice profit. fyi...58 caddy's are quite valuable and highly desired in certain circles.
matching numbers mean added value. don't separate the motor from the car. There is a Cadillac forum. I used to be a member. Troll the board and get some values before swimming with the sharks on ebay.
All the early Eldorados are very valuable cars..make it your own, wheels and or caps,paint, lower it, nice stereo..try not to cut on it and mess with its value either way, they are way cool cars as they sit..Hell, chop it, french all the lights, smooth all the bumpers, hydraulics, whatever blows yer hair back..I still argue with my Dad about the 39 Chevy sedan I built for him..I did it as a period 39-40 Army Air Corps military staff car, OD with Ball and Star, all the black-out stuff, stencils and rank flags..his buddies tell him I ruined its value by swapping in a 56 235 12V six w/alternator and cooling fans for parades..Well, they can jump in on a cold winter morning and actually fire it up and go someplace with proper oil pressure! they don't complain about that, besides I saved the ol babbitt 216....
Actually, according to most Cadillac books the serial number is *on* the engine. Now 59-60 has a little plastic tag in the doorframe with the same number on it, but some of the older ones have no other serial number on them. Motors manuals don't even mention the door tag, into the late 60s they tell you to check on the engine block for the serial number. While that's good news for guys using old ***les to register one, it's bad news for this car - if you sell it less motor it's going to be a lot harder for the next guy to get a proper ***le/registration on it.
Bahhhhh. No one is into old Caddies. I'll haul it off for s**** metal and do you a favor. If it still resembles a cl***ic leave it . Some one WILL appreciate it for what it is give up some good coin for a *****in motor and other stuff for your 34
Chances are, some guy has one that was hit in the back and has a nice front clip to put on your car along with his own ***le. You could find him on that big online auction site.
Those old Cads are popular even with Hambers, it'd be a sin to separate it unless someone was going to upgrade the power plant, and by our standards it needs a 500!
we are building a 57 eldo baritz 'vert at the shop. The LADY that owns it knew the car was trashed. There was nothin left..... so she bought a complete builder off the internet for 20 grand and still has her original. So now we have 2 of 900! Both complte! Dual Quad engines and the whole 9 yards! Even more rare! we paid 2 grand for a air cleaner! Simply sell it as a whole acordingly
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