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UPDATE: Ridler Winner 2019!!
For all the folks out there that love Caddys, brace yourself for a kustom “Wreath and Crest” tsunami of epic, proportions. Check out this “Fifties something” Cadillac station wagon that’s holding court right now at the 2019 Autorama in Detroit. Owned by Steve Barton and built by Super Rides By Jordan of Escondido, California, this kustom with a “K,” is quite an achievement. It is one of the “Great Eight” this year.
If you’re familiar with late fifties Cadillacs, you can spot styling elements from several different models, including regular 1959 and 1960 domestic models, as well as several nods to the rare and exotic Pininfarina-built, Broughams of the same vintage. All were deftly combined to bring Cadmad to life.
Clearly, a Tri-Five Nomad roof and tailgate were grafted onto to a late-fifties Cadillac, but it took us a minute to figure out where the rest of the elements were sourced. Whatever the stepping off point, we dug a bit and our suspicions were confirmed.
Could this have started life as a rare 1959 Brougham? The taillights and fins look like a dead ringer for the Pininfarina unicorn Caddy. No wraparound windshield is also a clue. Upper Left: 1959 Eldorado, Right: 1960 Eldorado, UPDATE - Yes, this started out at ultra-rare 1959 Pininfarina Cadillac Brougham Bottom 1959 Cadillac Brougham. UPDATE -Yes, this began life as a 1959 Pininfarina Cadillac Brougham.
The front and rear treatment are lifted almost entirely from the 1959 Brougham (pictured above) and the surgery to combine all these Italian and Detroit flavors into one harmonious car took some doing. The only question mark for us is the tear-drop rear wheel cut-outs, but sometimes great art takes awhile to reveal itself.
The car is rolling on a custom-built chassis, with a twin-turbo, 632ci, 1025hp big-block Chevy running through a 4L60E transaxle.
Sprayed out in a show-stopping, 1961 Cadillac color dubbed “Fontana Rose,” the grey top is the perfect punctuation to finish to the exterior. Ron Magnus stitched up the custom interior in matching dusky rose leather with all the trimmings.
Classic Instruments handled the gauges and be sure and check out the woodwork on the dash and cargo floor as well. The gigantic Eldorado wheels were crafted by EVOD, of course.
The 2019 Detroit Autorama is going on through this weekend, stay tuned to Rod Authority for all the Great 8 cars and what lucky owner with take home the coveted Ridler Award.
UPDATE – Ridler Winner 2019!!
