You are correct. Cadillac wasn’t building station wagons in 1976. And yet the Pick of the Day is, indeed, a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Castilian station wagon advertised for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Concord, North Carolina.
A specialist company called Traditional Coachworks of Chatsworth, California, did the conversion of four-door Cadillac Fleetwood Broughams into station wagons for customers including Elvis Presley, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and John Wayne. The company also converted two-door Eldorados into El Camino-style pickup trucks badged as the Cadillac Mirage.
Traditional Coachworks claimed its conversions were done “to Cadillac standards.”
The dealer offering this example says it is “a terrific-looking survivor-grade” wagon that has been driven an average of less than 250 miles a year.
“That’s how you get a survivor-style machine that looks this good,” the dealer’s advertisement proclaims.
“The bold Firethorn Red is original to the car and has a nice shine to really draw attention to the special curves of this Caddy. It also helps that the body panels still have a factory level of precision — even on the special tailgate.”
The advertisement points out that the “full-length pinstripe coordinates with the special interior carpeting, and the stainless-steel hoop on the C-pillar is a callback to the hand-built 1957 Eldorado Brougham. It was quality craftsmanship, which made these exceptionally expensive.”
As you would expect, the wagon has power front seats, windows, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and door locks.
“Because this was such an expensive machine, there are also nice upper-class extras on the Castilian, like limo-style footrests for the rear passengers and plush sheep’s wool carpeting for everyone.”
Power is provided by a 500cid V8 engine, which the dealer notes is the largest ever installed in a Cadillac (1976 was the final year such an engine was offered, the dealer adds). The engine is linked to a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The asking price is $54,995. To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
I would like to purchase this vehicle… please contact me
Detroit was home to many companys that were building these custom autos,
One of the original companys,was Universal Coach on E.Grand Blvd.and Dubois in detroit, formed by Mr. Gabor ,owner of Cadillac steel products located in Florida ,California and Detroit , I began employment there in 1969, helping build the custom Cadillac De Cabelaro. can’t say it was the original co, but many folks passed through there to learn about the coach building business , then going on to start their own.
Hal Green went to Wisco co.Join with Lou Hough building Hurst Oldsmobiles and assorted custom coachs on Grosebeck highway in Roseville? Mi. Steve Harper stayed for a time and went on to form R.S.Harper custom coach builder, on Grosebeck in Frasher Mi. Producing caddie wagons and limos .Gary Forbus formed Universal Coach and Engineering north of Port Sanillac Mi. town called Forester , where he began altering autos to convertibles after the factories ceased making them, then became one of the Michigan thumb area top employers when he began building limos.
Lothar Poll a trans plant from Germany keep us entertained with his accent and wisdom while he helped establish a. German sun roof co. Who’s products we retro fitted in to many different brands of autos, I heard my friend Rudi Abish went to establish his own coach building co. Hope it went well,
Myself ?? After a number of collision and custom shops I am the historian here at the Detroit Packard Motor Car Co.
Thank You for the walk down Memory Lane .
Detroit Packard Plant@ face book.
Maurice,
Please let us know if we can assist you further with this vehicle. If you can, please reach out to us via our website http://www.StreetsideClassics.com. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this or any other vehicle listed for sale on our website. Thank you and we appreciate your support.
I would drive it. I like to embarrass my family with strange cars, but I wouldn’t pay that much just for that. Cool car, though.
One of these sold at McCormicks Auction last Feb. and it went for $12.5K, at the Hammer. In my opinion, that is what the car is worth.
A Hearse by any other name……
You have to appreciate that era to understand this oblique design, I wouldn’t.
my mother had a 1971 caddilac station wagon and i think it was built by miller meteor co my dad had a 1975 caddilac castillion pick up car/truck that was built by s&s coach builders
Hello Larry,
First attempt to comment disappeared into cyber space; so I’ll try again. Forgive me if you receive duplicates.
In 1976 I was living in the Bayshore Apartments in Newport Beach, CA. The apartments are located just outside the main gate to the Bayshore Community. At this time, four doors down was the home of John Wayne’s wife Pilar.
I frequently saw Mr. Wayne enter and leave the complex driving his white with black top 1975 Lincoln Continental MKIV ( with American Flag decals in the lower corners of the back
windshield). Occasionally I’d see a Cadillac Station Wagon around Newport. Now I know it was likely Wayne’s as well.
Mr. Wayne was one of the Apartment owner’s Poker buddies. On one occasion I got my 32 Chevy Sport Coupe out and photographed it parked behind Wayne’s MKIV. The picture is here next to my desk. Only wish I still had the Chevy too.
Best regards.
Walt Hodges
Ball Ground, GA
The car for the man who has everything.
Love love love this car! My first date with a young man named Rob his mom allowed him to drive a brown/ maroonish color jag but it was hard top fast back. We went to a Bob Seger concert. He was such a gentleman. Great memories.
In El Paso around that time 76-77 I went to a Cadillac dealer and I did see the Cadillac Station Wagon and a Cadillac El Camino.
that cadillac camino is extremely rare. Evel Knievel had one…
This wagon is super cool you had to order it through the Dealer .. Do not confuse it with he Fleetwood Kingwood wagons made ” in house”
Hi there all,
Hoping you can help. We have just purchased a Cadillac Eldorado 2 door station wagon. Believed to of belonged to Evel Knievel. We are just trying to find the paper trail. It has been in a barn for the past 27 years. Obviously converted and he also had it painted a different colour to its original colour. I have been told that only 3-8 of these cars exist. Any information is greatly received. Who converted these cars?
You should join the AACA forum and find the Cadillac subgroup. I bet someone can help you there.