1959 Cadillac Limousine - Eleanor Roosevelt's personal limousine
She is SOLD
The car is reported to be Eleanor Roosevelt's limousine. When she passed away in 1962, the limo was her grand-nephews legacy, who lived in Colorado. The only evidence I have is the attached newspaper article posted below. It does have either a unique or rare option in that she has the 1959 60 series Fleetwood special trim, as does the car in the article. There is no special gas filler, I think the author was enamored with the standard exposed fill tube in the trunk from the outside fill to the tank. I was going to check for bullet proof glass but my wife declined the experiment. I do not believe it is, BUT, the rear may be. It looks a little odd.
It is black, blue leather front seat and blue cloth back seat. The jump seats are also blue. The car has:
The engine was rebuilt, with all internal moving parts replaced. There is now less than 500 miles on the new engine and it is still breaking in. The car drives great and handles great.
The front door panels have been cleaned up and re-done in blue leather, front seat in new tuck-and-roll blue leather, and the thread bare middle panel in the back seat has been replaced. I believe in leaving as much as possible original, as long as it is serviceable and presentable.
CONDITION of BODY:
There is a line of rust in the left rear door, vertically near the lower door hinges. I photographed this for you and it is below. It is a bizarre rust line, repairable, or if I am not mistaken, doors from all limos from 1959 to 1965 are the same. The front clip had rust in its fenders, I had a friend that wanted to use Eleanor for his wedding and rather than repairing, we parted a 59 sedan I had and put on rust free parts. Spot putty as needed. This paint looks good from twenty feet, but it is cracking on the hood. The excess trim that someone put on the hood, see newspaper photo, was from a 70's cad, or late 60's. We ripped all that off. The article refers to a remote emblem, that was the emblem that folds over from the 70's. The drivers door sill is rusted and needs to be replaced. Living in the country, I would occasionally drive down a dirt road. The passenger compartment would fill with dust. I looked in the trunk and in each well, the wells on either side of the floor, the very lowest parts was rust3d through. I asked one of my restorers to fix it, he misunderstood, I meant, fix it, he sprayed crazy foam in the wells. If you look closely at the left rear photo you can see the foam slightly sticking out by the fender skirt. In general, the good news is that the body is basically original, the bad news is that the body is basically original. You need to paint the car if you plan to do photo shoots, weddings, use as a limo. Some folks have been concerned about bondo, the car has enough small scratches when you look closer that you can see metal, thus no bondo. I did not care as we played with her as a family. We in Colorado are spoiled, when we communicate with you rust belt collectors, there is a different language and possible risk of miscommunications. Other than the RR door, this car is pretty darn clean. In fact, if you want to go to an Internet phone book and put in Loveland or Greeley, Colorado, and pick a body shop or mechanic at random to inspect the car for you, feel free. I have NOTHING to hid. One might even call it rust free if they were in say, New York, Omaha. But check it out yourself. Or hire someone. These are rare cars to begin with.
As I explain in my home page, this is not a sale to raise cash, or a desperation sale, but simply I need to reduce the number of cars I have. It would not kill me to keep her. My family is mad as it is. But if we can find her a good home . . .
The bumpers can be repaired and chromed. At one time I was quoted a little under $1,000 per bumper for repair and chrome. I am pretty sure you do not need new lower pods.
Eleanor has the 1959 Fleetwood trim, mimicking the P-38 scoops, something I have never seen on a limo. Look at the newspaper photo and the photos I shot, same car. While it does have the unique and rare option of the 1959 60 series Fleetwood special trim, as does the car in the newspaper article below, there is no special gas filler. I think the author was enamored with the standard exposed fill tube in the trunk from the outside fill to the tank. I was going to check for bullet proof glass having my wife sitting inside, but she declined the experiment. I do not believe it is, BUT, the rear may be. It looks a little odd. Please assume that it does not. I think he took some poetic license.
The car had a new vinyl top put on around 1996/1997. The top has weathered sitting outside but it still responds to vinyl top treatment. The horn ring is not complete, the glass is missing from the radio, the Autronic eye falls over when you hit a bump, needs a pin I think, electric trunk, antenna, rear radio controls, all work fine.
By the way, I was a member if the CLC for something like fourteen years, this is the first year I did not renew. I was a member of to many clubs, received to many car magazines, I just stopped it all. Excepting of course Cord.
The last time I drove her was to take my daughter and bunch of her friends to a school dance in May. She drives great and you could drive her home, wherever home may be, possibly excepting Hawaii.
$17,900.00, or, make a reasonable offer. Worse case is I'll say no.
E-mail me with questions or offers at: steven(at)medcomgroup.com
If you wish to make an offer, considering my health situation, I would be open to discussing a lower price.
As the interior is now corrected, the next major project, short of paint, would be the front and rear bumpers. I can have these knocked out in two to three weeks if you want. The last time I checked, it was around $1,000 per, to R&R and chrome the bumpers. As you know, they break down into around seven pieces each.
She is still sitting outside.
These additional photos were taken February 16, 2002 to show new interior.
I left the original photos after these for comparison purposes.
These photos are mixed in time, from a year ago, and a few years ago. There are quite a few pictures. Please remember, that the these pictures show the OLD interior.
Remember - This is the OLD INTERIOR
Engine Compartment taken October 2002
Older Photos
E-mail me with questions or offers at: steven(at)medcomgroup.com