Vehicle Description
The customizing of 1956 Chevrolets to resemble the 1956 Cadillac El
Dorado was the vision of a wealthy Detroit industrialist and
automobile enthusiast, Reuben Allender. By mid-year 1956 R.
Allender & Company had designed and built the first of the El
Moroccos. The design team started by taking brand-new 1956 Bel Air
convertibles, stripping off all body moldings and cutting off
taillights, then epoxy-bonding fiberglass tail fins to the
quarter-panels, refinishing the bodies in white and adding
extensive custom moldings and door "saddle" trim to complete their
look. Many of the new trim components that R. Allender & Company
used to replicate the Cadillac look were actually from other cars
and brands but were used in clever ways to appear custom and hide
their formerly common usage. The result was a scaled-down El Dorado
available for purchase from the local Chevrolet dealer but at a
lower cost than the Cadillac it was emulating. By September 1956,
the El Morocco had made its way to the cover of Motor Trend
magazine. This rare example was discovered in a Pennsylvania
backyard among a deteriorating Chevy collection. The El Morocco
components were still complete, as all the added parts were made of
fiberglass, stainless steel or cast aluminum. Powered by a 265ci V8
engine and paired to a Powerglide automatic transmission, this
vehicle received an award-winning restoration. It has won numerous
awards since its completion, including AACA Senior and Chevy Vette
Fest Golden Spinner. Options on this example include radio, power
steering, power brakes, power windows and seat. One of only two
known to exist from an estimated total production of 16.
