Now we all know that Cadillac made a short-deck version of its Series 62 sedan from 1961 to 1963, the Park Avenue. But there was never a 1959 version. Or was there?
Here is a standard Series 62 four-door hardtop. Familiar proportions, yes? Well, this is most likely what our featured car looked like once upon a time…
Cohort contributor Flat-Black66, who posted some very cool photos back in February, also ran across this very unusual Cadillac during his visit. As many cars in Cuba are modified to carry as many passengers (and thus fares) as possible, this ’59 now looks to be a seven or eight passenger vehicle.
If you combined a 1959 Series 75 and a 1961 Park Avenue, I think this is what you would get. Thanks for sharing these pics, Flat-Black66!
Just when you think you’ve seen it all….
Sedan deCastro
Castro Convertible
Looks like I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue…
.
If only the embargo covered cheesy aftermarket wheels…ah, well. I’m sure the steelies and hubcaps are long gone.
I’m having the hardest time trying to figure this one out, it was a regular sedan at least at one point in its life, it has the regular rear sedan doors, not the limousine doors, which have different openings, but the long wheelbase and roof have me puzzled.
Both doors are shorter than the standard Caddy doors, and they have full window frame. Which makes me wonder if the wheelbase really is longer than stock; maybe a wee bit.
The door skins do sort of jive with the picture of the standard Cadillac sedan from the brochure, down to the cut out on the lower corner, but the rest, I dunno……
I’ve combined three pictures and taken some rough measurements:
The Cuba Caddy does sit on a Series 75 wheelbase, but the upper body isn’t from that in anyway at all, as the 75 has a taller roof and taller windows. And yes, the Cuba doors are the same size as the sedan’s. But where those fully-framed doors came from is the mystery. The bobbed rear deck is what it is.
Its like a sedan with a wheelbase stretched by moving the rear axle back, but without stretching the body, with a pillared roof from a 4 door sedan like a 59-60 Chevy or something, with the rear section of a 2 door sedan grafted on to that.
I blew up some details here… It does start looking a bit crude. Unfortunately, I shot this the day I was leaving and was in a rush. So I did not get closer or shoot a different angle.
@educatordan
It’s coming right at us!
That made my day!
There is a whole lot of custom fabrication in that car! It’s probably a Sedan deVille body on a Fleetwood 75 chassis, but it could be some entirely different long wheelbase platform. The upper door frames are entirely custom, as there were no standard wheelbase post sedans, and the Fleetwood 75 door frames were cut into the roof. The roof is longer than a standard sedan roof. It looks like it has three rows of seats which was probably the goal. It would be interesting to see the rear view and trunk compartment.
Something about the general shape says 2008 Chrysler Sebiring to me. And this is not a good thing.
I agree. It’s got the same “awkward roofline + rear deck that’s too short” look. I think this would have looked better if they’d taken the roof all the way to the back and made it a wagon.
The frame looks like a either a homegrown extension, or perhaps maybe it’s the Caddy body on a truck chassis. Most likely not a Fleetwood chassis. Sits kinda high in the rear. And the roof line looks to be possibly something other than Cadillac from the B-pillar back. (Buick, Olds, Pontiac?) There’s some very creative body guys down there in Cuba, thats for sure. Looks like a lot of effort was put into this poor old car to keep ‘er going. Let’s just hope there isn’t a Lada engine under hood LOL
I’m thinking it was a ’59-’60 Chev or BOP airport limo that got cut down with Cadddy bits tacked on. The roof and door tops definitely remind me of the contemporary 6-door airport limos.
Loks like a custom cut and shut that used several cars somebody getting creative in a wrecking yard.
Yeah, Bryce, that’s my thought too.
I was wishing that the pics showed more of what looks like a 1957 DeSoto Firesweep.
I think this is the only other shot I have of the Desoto, but it’s interesting none the less.
Wow, that is one seriously visually challenged creation…
yuk horrible poor 59
I. LOVE. This. This fixes two of my all time MM luxury car fantasies. A 59 Caddy, and a DS. Its got it all! Enclosed body, loooong wheelbase, the imposing Caddy front, (very) short overhangs, extremely graceful and trim rear, and yes, HUGE tailfins! Now just for a Buick straight 8 with Dynaflow, a glass partition, tinted glasses, aircon, two-row seating, and a chauffeur! Nobody is going to get the hell in the way of this… this… Monster of a car. The very extravagance of wealth! A ride fit for the Lord of R’lyeh Himself.
I nearly had a heart attack when I saw this picture. Its straight out of my dreams/nightmares. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
PS: Where’s them damned fender skirts!? Oh my goddess you…
PPS: I feel like I’m the only one who likes this car to a very, very, very, great degree (or at all). I really regret not being able to travel to Cuba and getting it for me. Damned lack of money. Curses.
I love it every bit as much as you, if not more, if that’s possible! But your expression of it is certainly better, so you deserve first crack at it. Better yet, let’s go in on it 50-50; wait a minute, where did you say you lived?
Fender Skirts, Ahoy!
This isn’t the best photo mod, but I added 1959 Cadillac wheel covers and whitewalls, as seen below.
The Standard of the World (maybe the world turned upside down). Ahhh, Cuba, the ultimate repository of Fabulous Fifties cars. BTW, looks like a ’57 DeSoto Firesweep parked behind?
Could it be an ECTO-1 Ghostbusters-type ambulance or professional car that’s been cut back into a sedan shape? That would give you the custom-fabricated doors and odd proportions.
I’m leaning towards CARMINE’s thoughts: That this is started as a standard ’59 Cadillac 4-door of some description.
At some point, the roofline behind the B-pillar of the Cadillac was damaged/removed for whatever reason, and a donor 1959 Chevy, Buick LeSabre, or suitable GM product provided the majority of its roofline from the B-pillar back (one can just about make out the curves in the roof that don’t quite line up, though it’s influenced by the cockeyed rear door window frame).
This donor car was probably pillared, and its pillars were welded to the front doors of the Cadillac, while the rear doors received pillars made from the remains of the donor car and scraps.
Presto, a three-row 1959 Cadillac taxi – two more fares to pay the gas/diesel/fuel bill with.
I suspect the wheelbase was probably a function of the three-row redesign and not necessarily a frame replacement – based on what we’re seeing here, whoever built this would have had access to at least two of these cars; one would think that one frame could be bodged together from two.
Also, while the larger rims and tires indicate a taller ride height, I’m not seeing a massive difference in where the front hub is sitting vs. stock.
I’ll bet this was built with the express purpose of creating a three-row taxi while retaining all 1959 GM exterior sheet metal – just enough to remain cool when you have jack to work with but have the skills to build it.
Whoever built this clearly has/had the skills to extend the rear end to create a home-brew Fleetwood 75, but I’m sure the practicality of parking a taxi daily took precedence over 23 feet of cool.