PRICE REDUCED $40,000!! This is likely the best 1953 Cadillac
Eldorado in existence having been restored by Pebble Beach award
winning restorers over the past five years. The quality of the
restoration is only seen on cars with restorations costing $300,000
to $500,000. Every touch of a switch, door handle and driving
experience reinforces the perfection and attention to detail that
we rarely see. This Eldorado was originally purchased in San
Francisco in 1953 and was a California Car most of its life. Owned
by Steve Hall of Novato, CA through the early 70s, it was then
acquired by Ken Gimelli of Santa Cruz, CA. Mr. Gimelli, a long time
Cadillac collector, realized how exceptional and original its
condition was in. In its original Azure Blue paint (Paint Code 28)
with white interior, it appeared the car had never been touched.
This is the 428th of the 533 Eldorado's produced in 1953, making
them the rarest and most collectable Eldorado's of all time. By
1991, Mr. Gimelli sold the car to Steve Marini, owner of GM Sports
in Stockton, CA. An Eldorado aficionado, Mr. Marini drove the car
often, and became so enamored with this particular example that he
decided to commence a complete, body off restoration. At the cost
of over $150,000, the Eldorado was thoroughly restored using as
many original parts as possible, and substandard items were
replaced with NOS parts from Mr. Marini's substantial collection.
The result was a show-winning car that made multiple appearances at
numerous concours events across Northern California. In 2008, Mr.
Gimelli sold the Eldorado to Bruce Kersey of Gig Harbor, WA. While
Mr. Kersey loved the Eldorado, he was not fond of its original
Azure Blue paint and interior combination. He proceeded to send the
Cadillac to Jerry Hjeltness of Hjeltness Restoration in Escondido,
CA. Having completed an award-winning Mercedes-Benz 300SL
restoration for him in the past, Mr. Kersey knew that Jerry was the
man for the job. Hjeltness disassembled the car and took the body
down to the bare metal. Over the next 6 months, they would repaint
the car in its stunning present Norman Gray Poly (Paint Code 8),
and re-trimmed the interior in a vast expanse of beautiful red
leather, and recondition all of the bright work. They approached
the project as they do all of their Pebble Beach winning
automobiles, and the result is a cosmetically stunning car that
wouldn't flinch being called a work of art. The chrome and
stainless steel preparation is absolutely stunning. We have never
seen such perfect chrome and stainless on a 1950's Cadillac. Ever.
Mr. Kersey continued his pursuit for perfection. In 2010, he sent
the car to another Pebble Beach winning restoration facility,
Dennison International Motorsports in Puyallup, WA. They treated
the Eldorado to a complete mechanical restoration of the driveline,
brakes, and suspension. The present condition of the car is
absolutely stunning. It is perfect, or nearly perfect, in every
respect. Yes, there is a small paint touch up here and there for
items such as the parade top boot cover. And the undercarriage,
while fully cleaned and detailed, has not been powder-coated and
over restored. You'll see in the photo gallery that the chassis
shows that it has been on various lifts, etc. over the decades. But
everything that you can see, feel, operate and touch, is
incredible. The engine compartment is beautifully detailed
showcasing the venerable 331 cu in OHV V8 coupled to its four-speed
Hydra-Matic transmission. The performance is excellent to propel
this gorgeous piece of Americana history on its 126 inch wheelbase.
The Eldorado was a result of the overwhelming response from the
1952 Motorama showcar. The Eldorado was based on the 1953 Series 62
coupe and was custom coachbuilt by Fleetwood craftsman to make it
the pinnacle of luxury and style. In fact, the Eldorado is still
considered the top American model for luxury. In a public relations
coup for the ages, the first production Eldorado literally rolled
out with the president of the United States in the backseat, as
Dwight Eisenhower used it for his inaugural parade in January 1953.
In summary, offered here is likely the nicest 1953 Eldorado
available anywhere in the world. It has undergone a color change,
but with incredible perfection. It has not been shown and would be
accepted at the most prestigious events in the world. It is being
offered at a fraction of the investment made to restore such a car
to this level of perfection. For more details and information,
please call, text or email Harry Clark at 1.602.245.7200 or
[email protected]. The Eldorado is available for viewing
in our Phoenix showroom.