[ last update: 06.30.2014 ]  

The (new) Cadillac Database^©

The 1953 Cadillac Eldorado

Tabular Record of Production

Pick a chapter in the table, below
or return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page

As this is a relatively new page (January 2001).  I shall be pleased to add the details about these cars, in the table below, if the owners would be kind enough to contact me.

I got this message [in January 2001] from '53 Eldorado fan, Dave Ventresca:  Just a quick note to let you know I really enjoy your Cadillac Database Website. Last night I just logged on to your new 53 Eldo page. I just have one correction so far: the correct count of cars built was 533, not 532 as is so often mentioned. There is irrefutable evidence that #533 is alive and well and sitting in Michigan or Wisconsin. There was an article in a Cadillac newsletter several years back that contained a Xerox copy of the data plate. As I am a 25-year member of the southern California Cadillac La Salle club, and have owned many Cads, I consider myself one of numerous experts on the 53 Eldo. I have body # 337, a body off restoration, so you can imagine that I really enjoyed that page. When I buy a digital camera, I will send you a picture of my Artisan Ochre with red interior Eldo. Keep up the great work! I like your 64 Fleetwood 60 Special. I plan on getting one sometime. Dave Ventresca.

Well, it turns out that Dave is right ...and wrong!  True, there is a 1953 Eldorado with body number 533; it is currently [2004] located in Florida.  However, only 532 cars were actually built; the reason for the discrepancy is that one body number was never used.

Anyway, thanks for the information, Dave; it's always a pleasure to have contacts with other aficionados, especially those who have something constructive to bring to the hobby, in general, and to the Cadillac Database in particular.

Surprisingly, although the 1953 Eldorado is a rarer car than the combined production of Eldorado Brougham models for 1957-58 (532 units for the former as against 704 for the latter), the survival rate seems to be much lower. Whereas we have survival records for more than half the original Broughams, it seems that we know for sure of only 20-25% of the 1953 Eldorados that are still extant.  According to Matt Larson , member and researcher-emeritus of the CLC, it is highly possible, nevertheless, that 50% of them have survived. The reason for the difference is that many owners have asked to remain anonymous.

The 1953 Eldorado was not much different in general external appearance (that is to the casual observer) than the regular Series 62 convertible of the same year. For that reason, many more of the 1953 Eldorado models may have been destroyed or otherwise disposed of by persons unaware of its rarity and potential value as a collectors' car. On the other hand, the Eldorado Brougham sedan with its diminutive size (for a Cadillac!), its distinctive tail-fin treatment and its brushed stainless steel roof stood out from regular models like a brassiere on a cow. They were not easily cast off simply as "used cars".

Interestingly too, as may be seen from the listing, below, there appear to be more 1953 Eldorado survivors abroad (particularly in Scandinavia) than in the USA!

In an article that Matt had published in the CLC magazine, The Self Starter, in August 2003, we learned that at least 138 cars had survived. Matt researched EVERY build sheet of the 1953 production - that is  all 109,658 of them ! - to extract the data that is now published in the club's magazine and amplified in this section of The Cadillac Database© section: 1953 Eldorado Special Sport Convertible Facts.  Interest in these cars is very strong; a continually revised number of known survivors is listed in the facts section.

We hope to add many more survivors, as these 1953 Eldorado Web pages grow in popularity [as did the Eldorado Brougham pages in the years and months and immediately following their incorporation in the Cadillac Database] and as more cars are brought to our attention by owners and enthusiasts alike.

Remember:   Always try to get the VIN or body number; it's the only way we can begin to judge if the car is authentic or not.

 

And now the survivors of which we are sure

This is the body tag for 1953 Eldorado #241 belonging to Mano Forsman of Sweden; the
actual plate does not look quite as good as this image, which I cleaned up using MS "Photo Studio";
decryption of trim, paint and accessory codes will be found elsewhere in this section of the Database

Listing of Known Survivors In the interest of accuracy, please note that the color, trim and top codes listed below are those included on the factory build sheets;
Body	VIN	Paint	Trim	Top	Current Owner, other details
2	08900	27	38	4	BJ 1988, lot #963, sold for $ 103,000;
3	?	?	?	?	May have survived (info from grandson of Cadillac dealer who first sold the car); Matt Larson who has researched the 1953 Eldorado in great depth, has not seen this car and, therefore, is unable to confirm its existence
4	09365	27	38	4	GM show car, 1953; was owned by the late Noel Thompson in the '90s; was exported; present owner and location unknown
6	10096	28	33	1	GM Motorama show car; last owned in Brazil, 1992, by Luiz Gil Leão Filho; car is now beige with black seats and top
7	17749	28	33	4	Last known tobe in Nevada, 1992; repainted black
8	17441	29	39	1	Southwestern (US) car in 2003
9	17781	27	39	4	BJ 1996, lot #735, bid to $47,500; in prominent Midwest collection, 2004
14	?????	22	(39)	?	Acquired in 2012 by enthusiast Marc Tuwiner; restoring to 100 points.
19	19617	29	38	1	For sale in CA [5/2004], $65K, call Cliff Graubard (909) 940-4263
21	20065	28	33	4	In NY area; currently [2005] all white interior
25	?	?	?	?	Is reported to be a survivor in Brazil; details awaited
33	31610	28	39	1	Was in Western USA, 12/2004; was going to UK for resale; now has red and white interior and continental kit
39	32368	27	39	4	Formerly owned by the late H.E. MacLaughlin, Fla; long-time Eldorado and Eldo data collector; now Azure Blue with blue interior
40	35467	27	38	4	Recently [9/2004] sold to Texas for 6 figures (tip from Quentin Hall, Australia); new RM Aucion, 2008
43	31914	28	34	4	Previously shown in error as belonging to Luís Arredondo, of Mexico, in fact the car is properly titled in the USA and has belonged to a collector in north-eastern USA since 1984
46	33304	27	38	4	Luís Arredondo, Mexico
47	33413	27	39	1	Midwest car in 2003
50	34500	29	38	1	Sold at auction, in Paris (France) in December 2004. Belonged to CEO of  "Cartier"
55	33874	29	38	1	California car; now [2005] Alpine White
57	34381	28	32	4	California car; mostly original; has continental kit
62	34856	29	39	1	Was for sale in Hemmings, in 2000 in AZ (originally an OH car); has continental kit; price: $33K with CDV parts car
64	35221	1	34	4	Robert Knapp, Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum, Escondido, CA
66	35820	27	38	1	California car; now [2005] in Eastern USA
74	?	?	?	?	Was offered for sale for $7,000 (!) in the Self Starter, in the seventies.  It was blue with an after-market Continental kit.  I wonder where it is today?
75	37530	(22)	32 (now 39)	?	Original destination was Philadelphia; now reported in Brazil, 10/2012
79	39297	27	39	1	Currently [7/2002] in Sweden
80	42353	28	32	1	Sold to French buyer circa '95; has dealer installed A/C with outside air intakes, has 60 Special trim and hash marks on rear fenders
84	40491	27	39	4	Currently [9/2003] in California [thanks, Jerry Jansson]
86	42833	27	39	4	Unknown BJ auction, 1992, lot #1003; currently [12/2003] located in Bangkok, Thailand
87	43652	28	33	1	In Perth, Australia; it was the“Hero Car” in the 2009 movie “My One and Only” starring Renee Zellweger, Kevin Bacon, Logan Lerman and Chris Noth.
89	44493	27	39	4	BJ 1994, lot #662, sold for $85,000
93	44743	1	35	4	Ontario car, partially restored; was "no sale" in 9/2004; offered again on Internet, October 2004.
95	42643	28	33	4	California car; needs restoration [thanks, Jerry Jansson, for the tip]
97	44163	27	39	4	Joe Marchione, PA; presently [5/2004] still undergoing a 5-year, frame off restoration; will be Azure Blue with dark blue and white trim
99	43382	22	39	4	BJ 1992, lot #695, bid up to $80,000
107	46539	29	39	4	Authentic, fine restored, numbers-matching car
1201	48525	27	39	4	Restored by owner, Christer Hansson, Lödöse, Sweden (car came to Sweden in 1999); it was shipped new to Calgary, Alberta, Canada; has power brakes; currently [2005] yellow
139	52186	28	32	1	Located in UK, is for sale, circa 14K (unconfirmed) miles
148	55622	27	39	4	Robyn McCombe, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; has continental kit. Sold by "The Auto Collections" (Imperial Palace)?
153	54269	27	32	1	Original west coast car; car has been under the same ownership since 1956 (can anyone top that record?)
155	54150	27	39	4	Bought 20 years ago (circa 1984) from John Miller estate (now white with red & white leather and black top)
156	54818	27	38	?	For sale on EBay, Nov. 2005 [located near Boston, MA]
173	57337	29	38	1	Owned in the late seventies by Cadillac dealer Dave Towell of Akron, OH; subsequently owned by Cadillac parts vendor George McVey, 1980-2003 (he sold it in late 2003). I saw this car at Dave Towell Cadillac dealership in Akron, OH, in 1978; it was painted orange
174	57480	[red]	[red & white]	?	Exported to France in early '80s; offered for sale again by Christie's, at Geneva, Switzerland, on May 22, 1997.
177	58040	28	32	1	Mark Brodsky, Chevy Chase, MD
179	58320	27	33	1	Currently in Germany [2/2002]
187	59395	29	38	1	BJ 1993, lot #675,...
188	?	?	?	?	BJ 2006, lot #1051...
203	?	29	35	?	Tip from Q. Hall, Australia
212	63286	27	34	1	Currently in Germany [2/2002]
213	63042	1	38	4	Helmut Koch, President of CLC of Switzerland ($600,000 restoration in England ???)
214	?	27 (now black)	35 (now red)	4	Is reported to have survived in Brazil, 5/2011; more details awaited.
216	64511	27	38	4	Jerry Krumm, La Habra Heights, CA
222	66521	28	32	4	Another car sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 1999 for $64,000 [lot #741 - venue not specified]; this car got a total frame-off restoration
223	63619	27	34	1	Currently resides in Belgium [2/2003]
225	?	?	?	?	Currently resides in Germany [3/2009]
227	64041	22	35	4	Fully restored to original factory color and trim [2007]
2311	64241	22	38	1	Svein-Erik and Willy Mortensen from Tromsö, Norway
235	65001	22	34	4	Currently [7/2002] in Sweden
238	65536	28	32	4	Owned by Harry J. Visco of Middletown, NJ [(732) 495 1156] . Restored in the original colors; owner looking for a few parts.
241	65356	28	39	4	Restoration still in progress (12/2004)
243	66027	27	38	4	Ontario car; has new windshield; may be for sale with a coupe parts car from Texas
245	?	?	?	?	[info from former owner, John Linhardt, FL]
246	65868	27	32	1	Robyn McCombe, Winnipeg, Canada [being restored]
255	67107	22	35	4	V. Williams. Original, repainted back from red; some rust
256	66847	28	32	4	The turbo-charged special
258	66948	27	38	4	BJ 1993, Lot #457, no record of sale [used as model for Franklin Mint scale-replica]
261	67259	27	35	4	100% rust-free Califormia car; located in Western USA [12/2004] but going to England; for sale; now [2005] Artisan Ochre
263	68032	27	38	4	Dan McNamara, Merced, CA, since 1982; near original, non-restored driver in #2 condition; was sold new in Los Angeles
?	68308	?	?	?	Sold at auuction by RM, in Amelia Island, March 2005, for $110,000
285	69623	27	34	1	Seen in the corral at Hershey, fall 1997; owner unidentified; has a regular 1953 sedan engine installed
286	71361	28	32	1	Seen for sale in Hemmings, May 1999, for $125K. Current owner unknown
287	69173	22	38	4	Sold, BJ auction 1/2002 ($87,500)
288	69115	28	33	4	Undergoing body-off restoration in N. Texas [2005]; seen at Kruse/Leake auction 2004 (?)
289	70059	27	38	4	Partly restored, for sale in Colorado (Dec. 2002 - Feb. 2003); sold to enthusiast in Sweden, 5/2004. Undergoing full restoration [12/2004]
296	70650	28	32	1	Owned 1969-2003 by the late Robert Yager of  Binghampton, NY; recently sold; older restoration but still nice
297	70524	27	34	4	USA, then Switzerland, now (2003) Sweden; repainted metallic Burgundy wine
303	?	?	?	?	Autorama show car;  was exported to Mexico and is still located there (2005)
304	71489	28	39	1	Was a NY car in 1995; has been on the west coast since 2003; carries a Continental kit; seen for sale 4/2002; owner lives near Canadian border
309	73055	27	39	4	Added 12/2004 (info from Philippe Van Assche, Sweden [owner of car  #378]
3121	72065	28	32	4	Roland Bränd, Bjursås, Sweden. Bought from Dale Johnsson, Turlock , CA, in Feb. 1980. Was in good driving condition; Roland restored the car doing all the work on his own. Excellent job! Car in VERY beautiful condition.
313	74513	29	38	4	Owned since 1972 by Federico Duarte, Mexico City, Mexico. Car is in concourse condition. His son, Jonhattan, says he knows of two other '53 Eldos in his city; the car may have been sold at the annual Barrett-Jackson auction, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/2005
314	72694	28	32	4	Stewart Homan, England
323	74574	27	34	4	[info from Stephen Nadon]
324	?	?	?	?	[info from former owner, John Linhardt]
328	75594	28	32	1	Was sold at an R&M auction in 2002, for $110K; buyer not identified; car carries a Continental kit
3291	73899	27	38	1	Awaiting more info from owner Örjan Sjöström in Aland, Finland. Car believed to be in good, restorable condition.
337	74687	22	38	4	Dave Ventresca [ground up restoration]
341	75407	27	34	1	Info from Matt Larson; car has non-authentic A/C and power brakes; was on sale at Hershey, 2003.
342	75178	1	39	1	Black, east coast car; unrestored; has Fleetwood rear fender stainless steel trim
343???	75147	?	?	?	Possible tjhe catr sold at aiuction by RM; is red/red-white/black; from Don Kizziar estate
344	75988	29	35	1	Yet another car sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2000 [lot #700 - venue not specified]; it took a first place at the Cadillac Grand national meet in Santa-Clara, CA, in June 1999. One source identifies it as having been a gift from Joe DiMaggio to Norma Jean Baker (aka Marilyn Monroe)
350	75865	27	38	4	Former owner, Denis McLachlan, New Zealand; currently (2003) in a New Zealand museum [info from a Cadillac enthusiast wishing to remain anonymous]
355	76416	27	39	1	BJ 1994, lot #381, bid up to $102,500
357	79000	27	38	4	East coast car, now Aztec red with red trim; features a Continental kit and standard shift
360	76687	27	38	4	Tip from Philippe Van Assche, of Sweden [2/2003]; sold agt Amelia Island, 3/2007, for $132,000.
361	77237	12	35	1	Offered for sale on Ebay, Nov. 2007; restored car, repainted and trimmed in a shade of maroon
362	76744	27	39	4	Tip from Philippe Van Assche, of Sweden [12/2004]; car is curently in southern Sweden and in good running condition; now painted  white and has continental kit
365	78594	28	32	1	Malcolm Pray of Greenwich, Connecticut (sold to him in 2001 by Robyn McCombe of Winnipeg, Canada); for sale again on e-Bay, Feb. 2002
378	79067	28	32	1	Philippe van Assche, Sweden
379	78529	28	32	1	Currently [2/2002] in Germany
380	79815	27	32	4	Fredus "Pete" Peters, CLC car is repainted Artisan Ochre
381	78204	27	39	1	Sold at R&M auction, Houston, TX, in 2004 (lot #71) for $106,700; currently [2005] painted Aztec red
394	81073	28	38	1	Currently [4/2003] in a Dutch Museum, in Amsterdam
395	79752	22	35	4	This 100-point car was sold for $90,000 at a 1998 Barrett-Jackson auction [lot #734 - venue unspecified]; I admired it in Denver, CO, at the CLC Grand National in 2001
399	?????	27	38	?	Acquired in 2012 by enthusiast Marc Tuwiner; restoring to 100 points.
412	81587	28	32	4	Failed sale on e-Bay, 11/2003; was to have gone to Australia
416	81518	27	34	4	Ground up restoration; on sale at auction in Paris (France), in December, 2004; reserve not met
420	82229	27	38	1	To be restored in N. Texas [2005]
430	?	?	?	?	Is reported to have survived in Brasil, 5/2011; is being fully restored by Marcus Conte (2012)
433	83033	27	38	4	Recently [2002] sold on eBay, but vendor subsequently refused to honor the sale and returned the buyer's deposit; the car was to have gone to Australia
435	83091	27	34	4	Offered for sale on eBay in October, 2005; reported to have been in climate-controlled storage for the last 30 years.
437	83214	27	24	4	Sold at R&M auction, Boca Raton, FL [Lot #53] on 2/12/2005; car is now red with a red & white interior, white top; it has a continental kit
447	84055	28	32	4	BJ 1996, lot #725, sold for $135,000
448	85567	28	32	4	BJ 1988, lot #972, bid up to $75,000; sold at RM auction, Jan., 2008 for $159,500 (repaint and retrim to red)
456	84630	1	39	4	Was a No Sale at RM auction, Feb., 2008 (high bid of $181,500); top now white, interior red & white
476	86117	27	32	1	East coast car since at least 1992
483	87250	28	33	1	West coast car since at least 1980
484	?	?	?	?	Known to have survived [tip from John Linhardt]
486	86929				The car is currently Cobalt Blue [code #2]; it is on loan to the Cadillac Historical Collection, Warren. MI.
495	87157	27	35	1	East coast car since at least 1981 owned by the late Jerry Peukert]
500	?	27	38	4	Sold in 2/2006; the car  now resides in Massachussetts
502	87411	27	35	1	Part of the former Robert Crone collection, Germany; sold to Swiss enthusiast, May 2004 [gift for his daughter !]
5061	89269	28	39	1	Mikael Nilsson from Degernes, Norway. Car came to Sweden from USA in 1999; went to Norway same year. Good running condition; will be restored in coming years
513					Owned since 1993 by Ron Rydalch, Long Beach, CA. Now triple black.
519	89412	1	34	4	Was on sale in Hemmings, 4/2004
522	89137	1	39	1	Sold a couple of times by Barrett-Jackson auction group
529	89599	27	35	1	Unrestored California car (black license tags); now on east coast (2004)
533	89047	27	35	4	Currently [2004] in Florida; condition unknown

¹  Info from Mano Forsman, Sweden

Paint Codes for the 1953 Eldorado2
Paint Code	Color
22	Artisan Ochre
27	Alpine White
28	Azure Blue
29	Aztec Red

²   These were four "special" colors for the bespoke Eldorado model; however, other paint codes appear on factory build sheets including #1  black (35 cars),  #2  Cobalt blue (7 cars),  #3 Forest green (1 car),  #4 Emerald green (1 car),  #5 Tunis blue (2 cars),  #6 Phoenix beige (1 car),   #7  Pastoral blue (5 cars),  #8, Norman gray (9 cars),  #9 Burgundy maroon (4 cars),  #10 Court gray (3 cars) and  #12 Crystal green (2 cars)

 

Trim Codes for the 1953 Eldorado
Trim Code	Color
32	Blue leather with white leather
33	Blue leather
34	Black leather with white leather
35	Black leather
38	Red leather with white leather
39	Red leather

 

Top Codes for the 1953 Eldorado
Top Code	Color
1	White
4	Black

 

Introduction

1953 Eldorado Special Sport Convertible - Facts page

Miscellaneous page and description of survivors

Tabular roster of survivors

Pick a chapter in the table, above
or return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page

© 1998, Matt Larson, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.
[ Background image:  the Golden Anniversary Eldorado prototype ]