Chevrolet produced car-based El Camino pickup trucks, but the conversion of Cadillacs into more work-ready vehicles was done in California by a company called Caribou Coach Builders, and thus the Pick of the Day, a 1976 Cadillac Coupe DeVille pickup being offered for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private owner in Portland, Oregon.
“The car is fully restored and in excellent condition, it is a number matching car, all original except the drop-in fiberglass bed that starts at the A Pillar and goes to the back of the car,” the owner proclaims.
“These cars in this condition are very rare, they were originally designed as ‘Hay Wagons’ to be used on horse farms.
“Evil Knievel was the spokesperson for this company.”
Apparently, Knievel would show up for his stunt shows in such a vehicle with a pair of motorcycles riding in the truck bed.
Such vehicles also were used as flower cars by funeral homes.
Caribou was based in California and did such pickup conversions from the mid-1950s into the mid-’80s. They were sold through Cadillac dealerships.
“We have owned this car since the mid 1980s, everything works on the car, cruise control, wiper washer, air conditioning, light sentinel, telescoping steering wheel, leather interior, AM/FM 8 Track (upgraded speakers), unleaded fuel with catalytic converter, power windows, power locks, dual outside mirrors, factory wire wheel covers, Coker White Wall Tires,” the seller adds.
“This car is perfect.”
The advertisement notes only that the engine is “running.” Base engine in 1976 Cadillac Coupe de Villes was a 500cid V8 rated at 190 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque and linked to a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The ad says the odometer shows 41,000 miles.
The coupe-to-pickup Caddy conversion is being offered for $44,900. To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
