I bought a 1961 Cadillac Eldorado GM factory custom off craigslist

[Nads]

OK, can't keep it a secret anymore. I punched in "1961 Cadillac" on craigslist looking for a 4 window flattop but something far more intriguing popped up, this was on August 28th.
I went to look at the car in question not knowing what it really was, the details on the car were intriguing. I went home and pored over my many books and there in the year 1962 Dream Car section of the World's Greatest Auto Show about the history of the Chicago Auto Show was that Cadillac.

There was no I wasn't gonna buy this unique car.

There's all kindsa stories I was told about this car, it was supposedly one of two built, one belonged to golfer Walter Hagen and the other Bing Crosby. All I know is I did find a Traverse City Golf and Country Club pencil and two golf balls in the trunk.
Here are some pics. The way it differs from a stock 61 or a 62 Caddy are too numerous to mention.








The rear fins are filled, the rear wheelwells are opened up, it has a center column with two bucket seats and it's floor shifted.

[Nads]

[Nads]

Here is a scan of the picture of it in the book.

[unclescooby]

way cool but I'd think that thing is worth too much money to keep? I'd think GM might want that back. Then again, they are already operating on your money.

[Dreddybear]

That thing is cool.

[HOTRODPRIMER]

Congratulations on finding such a cool ol' Caddy! HRP

[HotRodToomer]

Beautiful & good history.

[GassersGarage]

Worth restoring back to original. What a unique Cadi.

[snelson57]

What a great find and it looks to be in great, original condition, too.

[Nads]

The car has this 5 digit number on the back of all the trim pieces.
I got the car home on Saturday and me and JT got her running. I changed the oil on Saturday and other than water pump leaking and those hideous snow tires flat spotted from sitting for possibly 30 years the car runs and drives like a dream.




The lower front bumper is chrome plated fiberglass, as are the headlamp pods.

It has a parade boot which wasn't produced or available after 1960.




Pictures from the first drive




The hood is also fiberglass







It has extruded aluminum panels along the rockers, all hand made stuff.



Here's the bag for the parade boots

[Lone Star Mopar]

Rad ! Whats the plan now ?

[squirrel]

Originally Posted by unclescooby

way cool but I'd think that thing is worth too much money to keep?

Originally Posted by GassersGarage

Worth restoring back to original. What a unique Cadi.

It's so cool it's worth restoring, and driving it as much as you can...

[Nads]

I've been offered some very serious cash for it but I'm not selling it, this kind of stuff happens once in a lifetime, I was in the right place at the right time. I'll not divulge what I paid but it was about the price of a used Honda

Here's a short video JT took

[porknbeaner]

Well Nads,
That is the homeliest car you ever drug home, are you in cheap enough for me to come haul it off for ya?

Pretty neat score friend.

Hey check you PMs. I need to run something past ya.

[Perrorojo]

Awesome find. It's amazing what some people have hidden away.

[unclescooby]

Agreed. If you don't really need the money, you just bought yourself a cool car that you'd NEVER be able to get again. Enjoy the hell out of that thing brother.

[Nads]

I have written to the GM Heritage Center to find out more about the car. It has no x or xp designation in the VIN nor build plate, it has that intriguing SO 50110 number though.

Everything works on the car, I put a battery in her and I heard a ticking and looked and saw the clock was working, the car has only got 38,000 documented miles on it.

My plans are to fix the damaged areas and try to match the patina of the rest of the car, the interior is quite beautiful, the thread on the facing of the seats is getting loose, everything is covered in leather, even the inside of the center console.

Here's a flickr stream with more pics, including the unique taillights that have no markings on them whatsoever, all one off handmade stuff.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66732932@N03/

[Nads]

Originally Posted by Jeff K.

Does it have the Hurst Dual Gate shifter with the key?

Nope, it's a slider with a walnut knob on top.

[Nads]

There is very little rust on the body, the car was repainted once in a color several shades darker than the original. The areas above the wheelwells that look like rust is actually paint blistering off, there's bare metal under it on the driver's side and it has to be addressed. There are absolutely no holes under the car, it's been sitting in dry storage for years and years.
I haven't had a Cadillac since 1986, I had a 61 Sedan De Ville back then I bought for $1500, I actually got a bank loan for it, it established my credit with the $80 a month payments.
I'm one lucky SOB.

[pwschuh]

Originally Posted by Nads

I'm one lucky SOB.

Quoted for the Truth.

Did the seller have any idea what they had?