1959 Cadillac

[cadman]

I don't want to steal any of Rick's thunder, these are just the progress pics of one of the '59s Ben and I have been tackling.

Looks like the 200+lb grille all shined up and ready to go back on!

 

[cadman]

The backseat after pulling all the interior panels and getting down to business with the Magic Eraser. Good time to tackle some wiring as well.

 

[cadman]

Fresh battery, cables, solenoid, rebuilt carb, belts, plugs, etc. etc. And the Diamondback wide whitewalls. Hey, where's the grille!?

 

[cadman]

Dash is back together, recapped the radio and rebuilt the power antenna (and added iPod input!). Speedo cluster relamped and glistening, and relays added to the headlight switch, so now the park lamps come on with headlamps, and foglamps are independent (and fused, of course!).

 

[cadman]

All-original doorpanel after cleaning (carpet dyeing) and realigning the fabric inserts. It's a Deville so the window is power and the wing is crank.

Now for the exhaust and valve stem seals.....eh!

 

[cadman]

If only the paint job looked as spectacular as Rick's! This baby had been parked for 26 years and is still wearing her magic-mirror laquer. At least the chrome is in nice shape. Just have to keep plugging away after work-
Cory

 

[rickr]

Great 59 Cadillac

Wow Cory that is fantastic! Where did you find that original car in such great shape? Looks like a low miles one owner cream puff to me! The chrome looks flawless,and the interior looks great as well.
Valve stem seals are a bit.. no doubt! Doing those in the car always gave me a backache..
Thanks for the photos,and keep us updated please.

Ps You can steal my thunder anytime for another Cadillac! Can we see some more?

 

[kenmore1978]

Caddy's

God, 59's are just Da BOMB! But to be totally honest, my all -time favorite Caddy of the Fifties is the 1958 Fleetwood Sixty Special

 

[kenmore1978]

windshield wiper service issue

FYI, there was an issue with the windshield wipers (first year for electric wipers) in that something would get stuck in them and cause a malfunction. Just a heads up on the little "quirks" all cars have.

 

[kenmore1978]

wiper issues

Here's a link

http://www.cyclepsycho.com/caddy/wipers.html

 

[drmitch]

Thats a butiful car Cory, and the 59 is at the top of the fin chart! Ipod input? Looks like you didnt miss a thing.

 

[goatfarmer]

Nice ride!!

kennyGF

 

[rickr]

Chrome and grillwork

Cory,what did you use to clean and polish the chrome? I have to do that chore to the 55. I used to use steel wool and then regular car wax on the chrome trim. It worked well,but took lots of time. Whatever you used,that bumper and grillwork look like NOS parts.

BTW what are you doing,or have done with the brake systems in your 59? I replaced/rebuilt everything on the 55. I had two of those single stage brake systems fail on me years ago. Not fun,but very thrilling!!! ):

 

[kenmore1978]

brake systems

It still amazes me that the industry had to be FORCED to apply a simple engineering change so late as 1967 to make brakes so much safer. To their credit, Cadillac was ahead of its time with dual master cylinders in 1960, but why only Cadillac? Then AMC followed in 1962. But before that, with the exceptionof one other make, a failure of one component left you literally careening toward disaster. The only other carmaker to address the issue before Cadillac was Hudson, who retained a backup mechanical system that would kick in if the hydraulic system failed. I've never seen how it was engineered, but sure would like to.