About 2 months ago I bought a 63' T-Bird from a friend of mine. It was a good solid driver and I had it nearly ready to paint, but I just wasn't feeling it - even though I've been wanting to do a Bullet Bird (like Toast's)for quite a while now. At a recent get-together I got to talking to a fellow club member, who owned a '56 Caddy Eldorado I'd traded off to another guy about 3 years ago. Several beers later I was back in possesion of the '56 and a running '57 more-door parts car. I think the guy I'd traded the Eldo to beat the living shit out of it, and threw a rod in the engine. He sold off the factory dual quad carbs & intake and a few other pieces before selling the car. Maybe I'm crazy to trade a nice driver for another project, but what can I say, I've got a weak spot for Cadillacs. Plans are to pull the 365 out of the '57 and transplant it into the Eldo. Once I get it back roadworthy I'm going to try and repair the rust and amateur body work on the car, shave some of the trim, and eventually, shiny paint. It's pretty solid overall except for the drivers' side rocker and the bottom of the rear quarters. The '56 shortly after I traded it away: And now: And the parts car:
Too bad about the intake system.....that is one of the hallmark's of the Eldorado. So now's your chance not to worry about originality of the car so that you can build your dream. I know what it is like to let a car go because I wasn't feeling it.....but then finding "the one" and the fun is on! That's a cool Cadillac that you now have,,,,keep us all updated on the build
Eldo's are resonably rare... and that one looks solid...cool score... Have you seen my '55 Caddy Coop DeVille build...??? Check it out... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329070&highlight=the+best+55+caddy+build R-
Couldn't have went to a better home - now FINISH that beauty! Oh Hell yeah, I check in on every update. Very cool ride. And yer right Billybob, the skirts are the first thing to go. I think my buddy Kent was just trying to cover the bad areas temporarily with the skirts and lake pipes.
is that the car you drove down here to the get together? you do like those caddys don't you. but dang i did like that t-bird. see ya in a couple.(if it don't rain)
Yeah, I drug it home from Arkansas - rebuilt the carbs, flushed the gas tank, got the brakes up and drove it to Jason's deal in Alabama. That's where Poorboy Pumpkin decided he had to have it, and traded me his flatty powered 'A' coupe, which I wanted bad at the time. I didn't think about crawling in and out of that thing with my broken back. The last owner just scuffed it and shot it with some red paint he had on hand, just kind of messing around. It needs to be stripped and smoothed out but the majority of the sheetmetal is actually pretty nice.
You done good. No doubt, both of 'em are way more desireable than the 'Bird. I should know, I have a '59 'Bird, and miss the '56 Caddy that preceded it.
Thanks for all the comments guys, glad to be back in a Caddy. I got some good trade fodder in with the deal too, an extra set of brand new Coker classic wide whites, three '57 Caddy hubcaps in decent shape, a brand new set of lake pipes I probably won't use and the cruiser skirts I definitely won't be using. I'll also try and sell what I can off the '57 to make a few bucks.
A little update - some of my Poorboys club brothers came out last weekend and helped me get the motor out of the parts car: More pics here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=407301 Since the motor came from a documented low mileage car I decided to just clean it up a little. I scraped 50 years worth of grease off of it, pressure washed it, and sprayed on a little fresh paint. Before: After: Next is to clean and paint the accessories - I'm hoping I can get the motor in sometime this week.
i think you did great on that trade...i love caddys, and i know you'll do it up right,,,,engine came out nice,,,,,,ill be looking for your updates
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