'55 Cadillac Fleetwood
Discussion
Hemmings and Haggerty are always a good starting point
https://www.hemmings.com/price-guide/
https://www.hagerty.com/valuationtools
https://www.hemmings.com/price-guide/
https://www.hagerty.com/valuationtools
Thanks for those replies, really useful. He's found one (and in true PH manner, I have to say, it's NOT me!) which on the face of it seems a decent deal, but for both parties' sake I won't go into detail until he's actually got it.
Does anyone know of a good information source where I could read up on them, what's good, what's bad, what goes wrong, etc? This one is running and driving but needing a few minor things tweaked.
Does anyone know of a good information source where I could read up on them, what's good, what's bad, what goes wrong, etc? This one is running and driving but needing a few minor things tweaked.
Check the transmission, the Hydramatic isnt remanufatured like TH350/400 etc and they are very expensive to rebuild, north of £2000 and only seals and clutches are availalble new, no hard parts. Vintage Cadillac parts generally are expensive compared to Chevy, Ford etc, they're isnt loads of repro trim parts available like on a Tri Chevy, huge bumpers are expensive to chrome . On a 55 be wary of any misfire, water loss , water in oil , anything like that, i've owned around 90 Cadillacs over the last 30 years and been involved in the sale and restorarion of many others, we've probably had more problems with 55 engines than any other year, but when theyre good though they're good. Also bare in mind its a huge car, wont fit in a normal garage. With Cadillacs, convertibles command the top money, then coupes, then 4 door pillarless then 4 door post, 58 and 59 Fleetwoods are making good money but the earlier years still have a way to go. Just my opinion obviously, feel free to message me if i can offer any more help
Edited by Motorama on Monday 18th January 09:14
Edited by Motorama on Monday 18th January 10:38
Motorama said:
Check the transmission, the Hydramatic isnt remanufatured like TH350/400 etc and they are very expensive to rebuild, north of £2000 and only seals and clutches are availalble new, no hard parts. Vintage Cadillac parts generally are expensive compared to Chevy, Ford etc, they're isnt loads of repro trim parts available like on a Tri Chevy, huge bumpers are expensive to chrome . On a 55 be wary of any misfire, water loss , water in oil , anything like that, i've owned around 90 Cadillacs over the last 30 years and been involved in the sale and restorarion of many others, we've probably had more problems with 55 engines than any other year, but when theyre good though they're good. Also bare in mind its a huge car, wont fit in a normal garage. With Cadillacs, convertibles command the top money, then coupes, then 4 door pillarless then 4 door post, 58 and 59 Fleetwoods are making good money but the earlier years still have a way to go. Just my opinion obviously, feel free to message me if i can offer any more help
Perfect, thanks, that's really helpful. Interestingly you've hit straight on two issues I know about with the car! The transmission is said to have a "leak", no idea what or where, and the front bumper at least is in need of re-chroming, my mate spotted that immediately.Edited by Motorama on Monday 18th January 09:14
Edited by Motorama on Monday 18th January 10:38
The current owner has had it a very long time and apparently rebuilt the engine himself, again some time ago, I can't remember what the guy's background was but it sounded like he did know what he was doing.
I may well take you up on the offer of a PM, thanks.
roscobbc said:
Re. the Hydramatic - does the fact that RR and Bentley used this gearbox during the 50's have any bearing of availablity of components - or simply 'elevates' the prices of availability etc ?
Its more a version of this gearbox than the same gearbox. It is a good gearbox if regularly used and kept topped up. The problems arise when not used much, seals dry out, leaks appear, people keep driving, things get hot and wear out. Theres an old boy down in Kent that specialises in them that i use, has a good stock of used partsSo he bought it, and I took the beastie out today (for essential Sunday roast food shopping, of course):
Someone I know saw me driving through the village, they didn't know it was me but grabbed a 5-sec video;
There's a lot to tinker with on it but it drives quite well, and picks its skirts up far more readily than you'd expect a 19ft long, 6ft 6 wide, 65 year old car to do! The deal with my mate who bought it (or rather, who I convinced to buy it! Wasn't hard!), is that I'm insured on it and can use it whenever in return for keeping it running for him - hence my original questions. It's easy enough to drive altho obv a left hooker, and the pedals have a very odd offset to the right so you almost sit at an angle when driving. Immediate jobs are to replace/repair one of the exhaust manifolds, which is cracked (could be straightforward, or could be a nightmare!) then just to go through and change consumables, plugs, leads, etc, clean the carb, look at a couple of oil leaks, and we'll see how we go from there. Seems very solid underneath so that's one less thing to worry about.
Someone I know saw me driving through the village, they didn't know it was me but grabbed a 5-sec video;
There's a lot to tinker with on it but it drives quite well, and picks its skirts up far more readily than you'd expect a 19ft long, 6ft 6 wide, 65 year old car to do! The deal with my mate who bought it (or rather, who I convinced to buy it! Wasn't hard!), is that I'm insured on it and can use it whenever in return for keeping it running for him - hence my original questions. It's easy enough to drive altho obv a left hooker, and the pedals have a very odd offset to the right so you almost sit at an angle when driving. Immediate jobs are to replace/repair one of the exhaust manifolds, which is cracked (could be straightforward, or could be a nightmare!) then just to go through and change consumables, plugs, leads, etc, clean the carb, look at a couple of oil leaks, and we'll see how we go from there. Seems very solid underneath so that's one less thing to worry about.
CAPP0 said:
So he bought it, and I took the beastie out today (for essential Sunday roast food shopping, of course):
Someone I know saw me driving through the village, they didn't know it was me but grabbed a 5-sec video;
There's a lot to tinker with on it but it drives quite well, and picks its skirts up far more readily than you'd expect a 19ft long, 6ft 6 wide, 65 year old car to do! The deal with my mate who bought it (or rather, who I convinced to buy it! Wasn't hard!), is that I'm insured on it and can use it whenever in return for keeping it running for him - hence my original questions. It's easy enough to drive altho obv a left hooker, and the pedals have a very odd offset to the right so you almost sit at an angle when driving. Immediate jobs are to replace/repair one of the exhaust manifolds, which is cracked (could be straightforward, or could be a nightmare!) then just to go through and change consumables, plugs, leads, etc, clean the carb, look at a couple of oil leaks, and we'll see how we go from there. Seems very solid underneath so that's one less thing to worry about.
Just being curious ,did the Caddy come from the Andover Hampshire area if so your mate has bought himself a great car, believe it was the Someone I know saw me driving through the village, they didn't know it was me but grabbed a 5-sec video;
There's a lot to tinker with on it but it drives quite well, and picks its skirts up far more readily than you'd expect a 19ft long, 6ft 6 wide, 65 year old car to do! The deal with my mate who bought it (or rather, who I convinced to buy it! Wasn't hard!), is that I'm insured on it and can use it whenever in return for keeping it running for him - hence my original questions. It's easy enough to drive altho obv a left hooker, and the pedals have a very odd offset to the right so you almost sit at an angle when driving. Immediate jobs are to replace/repair one of the exhaust manifolds, which is cracked (could be straightforward, or could be a nightmare!) then just to go through and change consumables, plugs, leads, etc, clean the carb, look at a couple of oil leaks, and we'll see how we go from there. Seems very solid underneath so that's one less thing to worry about.
sellers wives car and they would tow their Airscream caravan to car shows all over the uk and Europe . Hopefully we will have some shows in
the summer he can take it to .
rat rod said:
Just being curious ,did the Caddy come from the Andover Hampshire area if so your mate has bought himself a great car, believe it was the
sellers wives car and they would tow their Airscream caravan to car shows all over the uk and Europe . Hopefully we will have some shows in
the summer he can take it to .
Yes, it's that car, well spotted! We got all that history from the seller. He's slowly selling up due to age, sadly. He has a few other cars which will probably go up for sale soon I believe.sellers wives car and they would tow their Airscream caravan to car shows all over the uk and Europe . Hopefully we will have some shows in
the summer he can take it to .
My mate is definitely planning shows when we're allowed to again, I'm hedging now on whether I need something similar too!
CAPP0 said:
rat rod said:
Just being curious ,did the Caddy come from the Andover Hampshire area if so your mate has bought himself a great car, believe it was the
sellers wives car and they would tow their Airscream caravan to car shows all over the uk and Europe . Hopefully we will have some shows in
the summer he can take it to .
Yes, it's that car, well spotted! We got all that history from the seller. He's slowly selling up due to age, sadly. He has a few other cars which will probably go up for sale soon I believe.sellers wives car and they would tow their Airscream caravan to car shows all over the uk and Europe . Hopefully we will have some shows in
the summer he can take it to .
My mate is definitely planning shows when we're allowed to again, I'm hedging now on whether I need something similar too!
rat rod said:
Amazing how this mad disease spreads, That would be great you can go in convoy to the shows, great time to start looking.
I have a strong hankering for a late 60s El Camino, would maybe run to the '71 model, but not much later than that. I keep hovering over the listings, trouble is I'm at 4 cars and 8 bikes currently and, well, you have to stop somewhere - don't you? 
CAPP0 said:
rat rod said:
Amazing how this mad disease spreads, That would be great you can go in convoy to the shows, great time to start looking.
I have a strong hankering for a late 60s El Camino, would maybe run to the '71 model, but not much later than that. I keep hovering over the listings, trouble is I'm at 4 cars and 8 bikes currently and, well, you have to stop somewhere - don't you? Then a 59 on air ride, owned it twice but sadly not the third time as it's gone to Paris,
Then 64 resto-mod built by a California Hot Rod shop for their shop truck.
Don't know why but El camino sounds so much more exciting than Ranchero.
Have you watched the film "The Mexican" with Brad Pitt
rat rod said:
No , one more won't hurt ,who's counting, Good choice ,I had a 75 El Camino .daily driver, nicely sun burnt care if Arizona desert,
Then a 59 on air ride, owned it twice but sadly not the third time as it's gone to Paris,
Then 64 resto-mod built by a California Hot Rod shop for their shop truck.
Don't know why but El camino sounds so much more exciting than Ranchero.
Have you watched the film "The Mexican" with Brad Pitt
I went after an Elk about a year ago and missed it, people were trying to persuade me towards a Ranchero then but (for me at least) they're just not comparable looks-wise.Then a 59 on air ride, owned it twice but sadly not the third time as it's gone to Paris,
Then 64 resto-mod built by a California Hot Rod shop for their shop truck.
Don't know why but El camino sounds so much more exciting than Ranchero.
Have you watched the film "The Mexican" with Brad Pitt
I think I have seen that film, yes, and that's exactly the model I would like. The one which Bruce Willis drove in the Gorillaz video was also cool although I'd probably lose that scoop:
The one I missed out on went back on sale elsewhere in the country for about 50% more very shortly after
There was also a really nice '71 in Devon not long ago, with a really honest-sounding advert, I wasn't in the market then but I've seen one which looks very much like it this week and, yes, you guessed, it's up for loads more money. Must move more quickly! But Covid etc etc etc.Gassing Station | Yank Motors | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff