I've been given the opportunity to buy a '60 Caddy more door for an incredible price but here's the problem. The car is sitting in a field but in relatively good shape but the PO pulled the motor and tranny, even though they were running fine, to rebuild them. He never got around to doing it so they sat under a tarp next to the car....in the field...until the tarp blew off... Haven't seen the car or motor in person so don't know how bad or good either are...just looked at pics and they don't look that bad. Problem is, I know 390's are cool as hell motors but I have very little funds to have it rebuilt and it would be fairly difficult to drop in any other caddy motor from everything I've read. Should I buy the car and just work on it until money or a motor come my way or hold off for the next great deal?
buy it! them old caddies are awsome! worse comes to worse a SBC in it now, and let the caddy engine take up space. it wont do any harm. you dont get a whole lot of chances to buy yachts for cheap though. also, just check and make sure the engine is free. we found a sbf sitting in a field once, rusted and half burried in the ground. everything on it was fine internally all it needed was an oil pan and clean up.
kinda how I'm looking at it too. I have access to a built 472 but it would be a nightmare to try and get it into the 60....
take the "4 door....no score" philosophy here Personally...I would hold off for a 2 door car.... Cadillacs are hard on the wallet anyway... I just wouldn't be willing to put the work in on a 4 door...as much as I do love Cadillacs.
if ur really in to the 4 doors go for it if not dont waist ur time. i got my coupe deville for a grand and drove it home, it took a while to find but waiting and passing op the 4 door ones payed off.
I see what everyone's saying about stick to the 2 doors, but 4 doors don't bother me. I'm a wagon and 4 dr guy and whether it's got 2, 4, or 10 doors I don't really care. I think it's cool as hell because it's a 60 cadillac...number of doors doesn't matter...
I helped a Buddy, put a 500 Caddy, in his 57 Sedan De Ville....................."Pocketed" the front crossmember, for the stock mounts, (on the 500), and for oil pump clearance, and modified an Eldorado oil pan...............The radiator, is forward of the core support, but all worked out well, no cooling problems, etc, and it runs a stock Caddy clutch fan.
I'd do a lot of balancing out in the mind, fiscally, to see how this pans out... Is it offered at such a price that when compared to one where an engine/trans is not needed, that the price difference comes close to the same to make it worth it? I'm not wording this properly, but to make an example: You have two choices of Caddy. One that is running is $2k. The one you're looking at is $1k. However, it'd cost at least $1k to get it running, and you coulda just done that in the first place if you could find one. Know what I'm saying? Then the condition of the body or interior comes into play...maybe the trans and engine are gone, but the body is in great shape and doesn't need a couple thousand in repairs (eventually) body wise (interior, patch panels, rust repair, etc.), whereas the running one would. It's all comparative, is what I'm saying. Now, if it's at such a price where you could easily justify pouring money into later (say you get this particular one for, say, $800), then that would be a possible deal, relatively speaking to its condition. I'm obsessed with keeping up on the values of Cadillacs and comparing them, even after I finally got my '60. Ebay, Craigslist, classifieds, coupes, more-doors, doesn't matter. If you're as gung-ho as I was about getting a Caddy, you're probably willing to jump at the first deal, even if it's in rough shape. But if the engine and trans thing has you wary, there will be more deals...hell, if you like, I could let you know when I find some good prices if you give me some criteria of your budget and the condition you're trying for. I just love finding stuff for people - it's a fun challenge to find a deal. If this deal isn't up to par for you, PM me and I'll keep an eye out for you and send some suitable links when I come across 'em. I also run across some engine/trans combos as well in my searches.
I'm not huge on cars (especially those built close to the ground) that have been sitting in a field. Expect lots of freeloading inhabitants and moisture related issues. The price would have to be close to free to get my attention. Bob
I had plenty of opportunities to buy 4 doors, but I waited patiently until the right '61 came along. I would hold off. There is always a better car for just a little bit more that you can afford...
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