Inspecting A Collector Car - Points to Consider - Subject Car 1969 Cadillac

[@SnepperStepTV]

I do haggle, but I always buy on the spot because i find the repair work therapeutic and enjoyable. Have brought everything back to life, even cars with missing floors that sat in grass for decades and been crushed by fallen trees and rock wall collisions. Nothing scares me. But its still good to know these things to know what you're getting into ahead of time and can plan where to begin on the ride home with it on the trailer. Been winging it and have my own process at this point, but i am here since i'm currently working on a 1969 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in triple gold that has snarls of rust down one side and a mildewy interior. The interior is coming out and the skeleton reskinned in velour. Going with a period correct executive- celebrity limo vibe on this one with privacy curtains made using 1970s sewing patterns, installing a 1970 television for the back seat, and minor "upgrade" to put a VCR in for the TV, and a vidicon tube "dashcam" system all sourced from the early 1980s. If i've learned one thing bringing cars back to life, its that they're only original once and after that it doesn't matter....But if you don't respect & draw from the era the car came from and those around it (mix and match eras that would have gone together such as building a 1980s take on a 1950s car, but never modernize to the 21st century), you might as well not own a classic car. Its also a lot less expensive and less of a headache if you're a creative fabricator, because you'll avoids the snipe chase of original parts and come away with a car that better reflects you and has a story to tell at the car show. Original engine and trans, original radio and optional under-dash 8 track deck that will be refurbished and reinstalled. It WAS all original, last driven in 1985...but obviously with the interior and rust it wouldn't be after I did anything anyways.

[@phillipwilkerson614]

My cousin had a 1973 Cadillac brougham it was a beautiful car

[@MDSPTrooper]

I still do! Was my Grandfather’s

[@michaeloram6957]

I have the exact same car years a goal mine was white with a black top and all red interior it was a real nice Cadillac

[@fifthgear93]

You were quite thorough in your inspection. Really well made video. And the car looks awesome.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Sweet looking Cadillac. I had a relative who had one like this when I was a boy. At the time, I thought it was a cruise ship on wheels. It was huge! Anything is huge to a five yr. old. :)

[@paulpeterson4320]

No, it was huge!!! Haha!!

[@sweendog1969]

i would say the assesment of the condition is spot on. Thats a real solid car that would make a great daily(drove mine everyday for two years) or weekend cruiser.

[@starxlr7863]

This is a Great Body style of the DeVilles. My dad and I have two 1969 DeVille convertibles. One is has already been restored from the previous owner and one is a future restoration project that I would like to do with my dad one of these years. These big RWD Deville's or Fleetwood Brougham's were made all the way to 1996. Then the FWD Deville took over. I have a 2005 Deville as my daily driver and I love that car just as much. One is old school and one is new school.

[@chrishi2102]

this is my Car since August

[@chrishi2102]

I Come from Germany

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I don't mind patina, as long as it doesn't penetrate into the rest of the car.

[@mikeminici4956]

I had the Fleetwood Brougham, color is Cameo Beige Metallic, very hard to match for one panel. Only one year with “rim-blow” horn, I think yours may be correct. Yes, 8 mpg was normal but rust repair cost more than gasoline. Coupe and Eldo were the ones to keep 50 years later. Thanks!

[@cadillacnan]

What nice lines.

[@dlwatib]

If you're trying to buy an original, check the brochures at www.oldcarmanualproject.com/ to make sure it's got all the trim pieces and wheel covers that it's supposed to have. Some people like to delete some of the chrome and badges and switch out the wheel covers. They're sometimes nearly impossible to get so it's important that "an original" is intact. Don't pay for something you're not getting!

[@paulpeterson4320]

All that era Cadillac had rust in that spot and around the rear window. We had neighbors whose 70 was rusting right away and that was in CA!!! Their rear headliner got rust stains the first year. Can't understand how Cadillac couldn't fix that consistent problem.

[@bwsescal]

The steering wheel is a 1971,2 or 3

[@cadillacnan]

@@SRANTQ i own one

[@murraymules8934]

he forgot to mention that it has the WRONG steering wheel!!

[@rodneyracer]

Wheel is correct, I could have described it in detail to show the wood trim insert and how they usually fail with sun exposure. Sometimes I see home-style repairs to the insert, but not many owners choose to send in the steering wheel for a restoration costing in the neighborhood of 800 to 1000.

[@murraymules8934]

no.... the wheel is off a latter Cadillac. I own 2 x 69 cads that have the correct wheel - they dont look like that!

[@dlwatib]

www.oldcarbrochures.org/North%20America/Cadillac/1969_Cadillac/1969-Cadillac-Prestige-Brochure/slides/1969_Cadillac_Prestige-07.html It's very similar to the correct steering wheel, but should have a bright stripe on the vertical spoke as well as the two horizontal spokes. Note also that this brochure also shows a De Ville steering wheel without the wreath around the crest on page 10.

[@stardustdreamfactory1947]

Interesting car - horrible narration.