Mystery '59 Cadillac Wagon & Dozens of Old Derelict Land Yachts

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg) 04/06/2014 at 18:19 • Filed to: None

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After all of these C&C posts, I think we should offset things with some less minty classics. I spotted these from a distance whilst out cycling this afternoon (no, I'm not a traitor. It really is good exercise. Just use a bike path). Upon closer examination, there were maybe two or three dozen old American cars in various states of decay sitting in the back corner of a storage-type lot. I will do my best to identify all of them for you, but let me know if I missed/misnamed one.

This is the car that has me scratching my head. It is obviously a 1959 Cadillac. But it is also obviously a station wagon. Now, to my knowledge, Cadillac did not make a station wagon in 1959. Hearses and Ambulances, yes, but no wagons, and this is no hearse. Google searches confirmed my suspicions: this car does not exist. Except it does. Can anyone tell me what it is?

This one appear to be about a '71 Pontiac Catalina Hearse. It was, in case you can't tell in the picture, enormous.

Next to the mystery Caddy was another wagon, this one a 1960 Buick LeSabre,

and another '60 LeSabre behind the Cadillac.

Further along there was a 1960 Cadillac Fleetwood,

a '70-71 Chrysler of some sort (there were a few of these),

*Correction, a 1972/3 Imperial LeBaron

a 1964 Chrysler Imperial (and Dodge Daytona/Rampage),

a '62 Ford Country Squire (sorry, bad pic),

something from the mid 30's (Ford?), another '64 Imperial,

another '70-71 Chrysler, a '66 Chrysler Newport, and a '71 Chevy Impala/Caprice.

*Correction (L to R) A 1975 Chrysler New Yorker, a 1968 Imperial Crown and a 1972 Plymouth Fury.

There were a dozen or so more cars I couldn't get decent pictures of, but it was more of the same kind of stuff.

Dunnik > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 18:36

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Are you sure that yard is within the same space-time continuum as ours?

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 18:36

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I like these pictures more than the C&C. More attainable and the imagination can run wild on what the end results of the cars looks like. Plus I have a soft spot for land yachts. The Cadillac wagon is quite odd. It looks custom.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dunnik 04/06/2014 at 18:47

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To the best of my knowledge. Unless my bike is now that weird phone booth from Dr. Who.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > JR1 04/06/2014 at 19:12

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It has to be. My grandfather, who owns an auto body shop that specializes in restoring vintage/collectors cars (which doesn't mean he can't be wrong, by any means) said that, before the CTS wagon, Cadillac never officially made a station wagon, though they did make a few for special clients. He has one that was originally made for the Jackson 5 at his shop. Again, this is the un-fact-checked word of some old dude who happens to own a really nice shop, but I've called him out on making up "facts" before so who knows. Too lazy to ask the Google.

ranwhenparked > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 19:20

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The Cadillac would appear to have the rear roof, pillars, and tailgate of a 1959/1960 Chevrolet/Pontiac/Oldsmobile/Buick station wagon body shell loosely fitted over top of the original roof. I would say you're probably looking at someone's abandoned project car.

They may have been trying to do a wagon with the minimum of body modifications, but there is no simple way of dealing with that original c-pillar.

Powersurge > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 19:22

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The Cadillac looks like a poor attempt to convert a 1959 Series 62 six-window sedan into a wagon. If you look closely at the first picture you can clearly see the sedan's roofline itself is intact but it also has a wagon roof/rear section grafted on top, tailgate included. The wagon parts appear to be from a 1959 Buick LeSabre/Invicta Estate Wagon (see below), but please someone correct me if I'm wrong. Cool find!

TheSaabguy > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 19:22

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A Chevrolet Lumina Coupe!

torchbearer > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 19:25

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There are a few places in So Cal (usually attached to unrelated businesses) that have a small fleet of decaying landyachts. I'm not sure if they were company cars (since these places have been around forever) and are still on property as some kind of tax dodge or if the owner has some compulsive behavior that makes him want to collect them.

83Caddy > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) 04/06/2014 at 19:27

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There were some off the books Caddy wagons built here and there. They used wagon parts from Olds and Buick. I'm not sure if it was done in house or farmed out to a coach builder. The only ones I have ever seen, only in pictures, were early 70's models.

Struts MacPherson > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 19:42

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You can clearly see that it's just the top of a different wagon sitting on top of the Cadillac.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Powersurge 04/06/2014 at 19:46

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I noticed that the roof seemed not to fit with well with the C-pillar. I thought that the roof looked like that of an old Buick Caballero wagon, but I really had no idea if it was a custom Frankencar or what. I agree with you, it seems like that is what it is, but I can't say for sure.

AMC/Renauledge > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 19:47

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The 5th photo from the bottom misidentifies a 1972-73 Imperial LeBaron as a '70-71 Chrysler.

The last photo is even further off. The car on the left is a 1974-75 New Yorker or 1974-78 Newport. The black one to its right is a '68 Imperial Crown convertible, and the brown car with the white vinyl roof is a '72 Plymouth Fury, not a Chevy.

hismiths > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 19:48

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Look at the Caddywagon photo closely. It is an uncompleted conversion of (I'd guess) a Series 60 sedan with looks to be a mid-seventies GM wagon wayback/tailgate just resting on the trunk and roof. It'll never be completed.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Struts MacPherson 04/06/2014 at 19:49

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I thought something was amiss about the C-pillar, but I didn't look closely enough at first to see the Caddy's roofline, so I figured the gap was just due to decay or something. You would appear to be right, though. This looks like a home conversion job.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AMC/Renauledge 04/06/2014 at 19:55

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I knew the one on the right was some kind of Chrysler product; it was the one on the left that I thought was an Impala. Corrected, nevertheless. Thanks!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 83Caddy 04/06/2014 at 20:00

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I think this particular one was not done by a coach builder. Upon closer investigation, it isn't that well-done around the C-pillar.

AMC/Renauledge > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 20:03

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Yeah, with some you had obscurity working against you. With others, condition. Cool shots, though. I think my favorite is the buff colored '72/3 Imperial.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AMC/Renauledge 04/06/2014 at 20:05

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It was the only one out of the lot (apart from maybe those 80's Dodges) that looked like it might actually still run.

Bat21 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 20:23

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That old car might be worth money.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH95UT…

stigshift > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 20:40

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Please don't take the corrections as disrespect. You don't learn unless you accept education. Cool shots of some cool cars!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > stigshift 04/06/2014 at 20:49

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I know, I did ask for the corrections in the first paragraph, and I made them when they were given. Thanks though.

Fuel_of_Satan > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 21:04

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This Caddy "wagon" looks more like a wagon roof just placed on top of the original roof. It appears that the entire rear window frame from the sedan is still intact under that wagon extension, and likely the entire roof. The rear end looks more suspicious, maybe something is just stacked up where the truck used to go?

Maybe you stumbled upon an abandoned custom project?

Either way, it doesn't look like any of the coachbuilt wagons I've seen. Those are cars made for the extremely well off, and this wouldn't cut the mustard. Most of them by S&S whom all we all know (Right?) from hearses and ambulances, but some smaller companies were involved as well.

That a Caddy wagon was exclusive comes out clear when at looking the only 59 wagon I found (Quickly) based on a 4 door Eldorado Brougham, with the Pininfarina handcrafted body and smaller tailfins. It was beyond expensive before the conversion!

Naturally there are places to find more droolworthy wagons: http://www.cadillacstationwagon.com/

I'll take mine with a clamshell!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Fuel_of_Satan 04/06/2014 at 21:13

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I agree, this looks like a do-it-yourself job. Ironically, though, my searches took me to the same site you linked to above!

My favorite one is the 1960 green woody wgon, which sold at Gooding & Co's Scottsdale auction in 2009 for a seemingly cheap $66,000 .

Ronnie Schreiber > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 21:41

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The maximum Cadillac station wagons are the 1959 Broadmoor Skyview wagons by Superior .

S&S made the '55 and '56 models the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado used as observation cars. There's a guy that's been selling three of them as a package for $125,000 for years with no buyers.

Here's the maximum Cadillac wagon site:

http://www.cadillacstationwagon.com/

Frenchlicker > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 21:51

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Police Box, even though technically they had a direct phone line to the police department they were also used as mini police departments(this varies depending on the model).

greenagain > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 22:14

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the Cad wagon looks like an unfinished custom job. Look at the small rear quarter windows

jpnasto12 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 22:16

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It's ironic that while the Imperial was discontinued in 1975, the New Yorker that was essentially the same car sold well in 1976 and 1977. On the two door New Yorker, the rear quarter panels were the longest I've ever seen save for the 1976 two door Cadillac De Ville.

Bvnni > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 22:27

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My heart aches over these photos. I would quite literally be standing there crying if I saw this. And not just because station wagon. Or Cadillac. Or 4000+ curbweights. But because of Grand Americana.

-Sniffle-

Fuel_of_Satan > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 22:27

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Hadn't seen that before, that is a beaut! Though I'm still enthralled by the idea of a Eldorado Brougham wagon, it just keeps sounding more and more attractive. I've always had a weird (?) preference for wagons and four doors, and that's just the Holy Grail. Now if it only came with a clamshell...

Hearses are slightly easier on the budget though and much easier to find. Some of them have pretty elaborate casket tables as well to get them out the side or out back, which I find fascinating. Electrically operated tables, perfect to get that case of beers out of without breaking your back!

Link to bigger pic and fun brochures .

Bvnni > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 22:49

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That looks like a liftgate with a medallion from an old chevy. Check out Kingswood wagons and Belairs from around that time. They had that huge round centered ornament/fuel neck? It reminds me so much of the Oldsmobile Fiesta wagon liftback. Or a Catalina.

Cheesewhiz > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 23:48

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This really fits Pontiac's brand promise, eh?:

"Driving excitement!"

"We build excitement!"

"Fuel for the soul!"

"Designed for action!"

"We are driving excitement!"

Justin Rignall > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/06/2014 at 23:50

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The most I like is the brown wagon 1960 Buick LeSabre. With over half a century worth of memories, the earlier models of the LeSabre inspire a sense of nostalgia back to a time when life was supposed to be simplified.

Philbert/Phartnagle > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 00:05

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I see a Green Hornet car hiding in there.

SP23 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 01:47

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My dad had one of these. He misses it.

Riley Schultz > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 01:47

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Gosh, I don't think there was ever as cool a forgotten automaker as Imperial...

venivelovici > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 02:11

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This post reminds me that I ought to get a Kinja blog going. I see all kinds of unusual cars in my neighborhood. Just around the corner there is a red 1967 Chevy Impala Custom with a 327. Yesterday I was driving through Tacoma on St Helens Ave and encountered a couple of classic car dealers. (Check the 400 block of St Helens Ave on Google Street View. And there's Alfa of Tacoma at 615 St Helens.) Great cars to be seen!

Laurie > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 02:18

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The 59 Caddy Wagon looks to have started out as a 59 Six Window Sedan and has had the roof section of a 1959 Buick Wagon loosely laid on top of it. Would love to see this idea taken through to completion! Someone buy it and finish it!

Source: I have a 59 six window and would love a Buick Caballero :)

Laurie > Bvnni 04/07/2014 at 02:25

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I think you might be right actually - the sheet metal under the emblem is a much closer match than the Buick.. the Buick has a lip much closer to the emblem... I'd say the picture you posted is a perfect match.

cesariojpn > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 04:58

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And here they rust, hoarded by some dumbfuck who will rather see these cars melt into the earth than sell them to someone that will at least run them on the road.

Babz > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 05:02

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"This time on Roadkill ... "

62imperialcrown > Riley Schultz 04/07/2014 at 06:27

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I fully agree. ;)

MrBoss13b > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 06:52

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Shenanigans!

Gary Busey's Teeth > SP23 04/07/2014 at 07:57

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Dodge Daytona?

IDriveASaabAndNobodyIsToBlame > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 08:23

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kylhcky > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 08:45

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you'd think the author of this article would fact check before posting pictures of cars he can't identify, let alone write an article about them. typical day on jalopnik...

Autojunkie > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 08:45

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Imperial

Autojunkie > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 08:47

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Goddamnit! It's a Rampage and a 1st gen Daytona right next to each other!

Autojunkie > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 08:49

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You MUST tell us where you found all of these treasures!

DrivenChannel > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 09:01

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That 68 Imperial Crown Convertible at the bottom.....I need parts off of it, is this a used parts place? Business name? Location? My shop is doing a mechanical restoration on one just like that (im sure nicer) and some parts would come in really handy.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Philbert/Phartnagle 04/07/2014 at 09:06

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I thought that, too. A coat of paint, a set of wheels, and some sidewinder missiles in the doors, and you're good to go!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > SP23 04/07/2014 at 09:09

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If I remember correctly, Frank Sinatra drove one in the second Cannonball Run. Also, I should point out that I saw my first one of these a month or so ago in a grocery store parking lot. About a minute later, leaving the store, I saw my second one. And now here's my third.

Swagmasterflex > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 09:10

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The caddilac is An ambulance

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Laurie 04/07/2014 at 09:11

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If I only had the money (sigh)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > cesariojpn 04/07/2014 at 09:12

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Sad, I know. You have to wonder if he's some kind of hoarder. Otherwise, he could make good money by selling these.

tapzz > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 09:16

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I'd guess a 1936 Chevrolet

anacanapana > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 09:36

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Cadillac station wagon? I assume Elvis was involved.

xequar > Cheesewhiz 04/07/2014 at 09:40

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In fairness, though, this looks like it was pre-Excitement era. I don't know what Pontiac's thing was in the early '70s, but the Catalina and box Bonneville and Grand Ville never struck me as exciting. I mean, the Catalina was every bit an old person's car, but without the Oldsmobile cachet.

My question, though, is what funeral home thought so lowly of its clients that they had a Pontiac hearse instead of a Cadillac or Lincoln hearse? I mean, what does it say about the deceased that they don't even deserve the traditional and luxury-make hearse for their final ride? Unless someone was taking that really terrible racist Pontiac acronym joke to heart or something.

deekster_caddy > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 10:18

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That cadillac "wagon" sure looks like a partly finished project to me. It looks like the roof of a wagon was cut from something else (mid-60's buick of some kind?) and the leading edge welded to the roof. If you look close you can see the original cadillac roofline still there underneath the wagon roof.

edit - here's a pic of a '59 Buick wagon the tailgate reminded me of:

Ptrope > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 10:18

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That black sedan in #10 appears to be a 1938 Plymouth or Dodge; definitely not a Ford or Chevrolet. Not enough detail to get any closer than that, but the body is definitely Mopar (which seems to be a common thread in that yard ;-) ).

deekster_caddy > Fuel_of_Satan 04/07/2014 at 10:22

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Love the clamshell back wagons!

Z-animul > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 10:33

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Not a 71 Impala/Caprice

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > kylhcky 04/07/2014 at 10:45

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I did my best, and the entire point of this article (which was originally just posted to oppo, and not to Jalopnik) was to have people check and make sure I ID'd them correctly. People said I made mistakes, so I made changes. No need to be rude.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Autojunkie 04/07/2014 at 10:48

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I will see what I can do.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > DrivenChannel 04/07/2014 at 10:49

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They appear to be in some sort of private storage. Nevertheless, I will see if I can get some info for you. It may be a week or so, though.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 11:17

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I can tell you it's in Omaha, NE.

DrivenChannel > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 11:28

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Sweeet, parts for those cars are either easy in stock or made of unobtanium and coated in kryptonite and priced accordingly

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Swagmasterflex 04/07/2014 at 11:47

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Not sure about that…

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > tapzz 04/07/2014 at 11:48

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It could be

turkish68 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 11:59

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Its called a 1959 Cadillac Broadmoor Skyview

http://www.conceptcarz.com/events/eventVe…

Murphie > Fuel_of_Satan 04/07/2014 at 12:07

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I'm with you on this. I see two "D" pillars there...somebody was thinking about a Cadillac wagon, thats all.

Murphie > Fuel_of_Satan 04/07/2014 at 12:07

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I'm with you on this. I see two "D" pillars there...somebody was thinking about a Cadillac wagon, thats all.

Bvnni > Ronnie Schreiber 04/07/2014 at 12:17

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Wow. 125k? Three? I feel like I totally need to re-evaluate my life plan now. They must be saved! Thank you for posting the info.

Fuel_of_Satan > deekster_caddy 04/07/2014 at 12:40

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Me too buddy, me too! First time I saw one (I'm in Norway, they aren't all over the place here) I had to have it. I wound up with a dilapidated, oil dripping, smoke belching, 455-powered 73 Pontiac Catalina Wagon.

I just had to have it in my life, and the car is still in storage with me having no clue what to do with it...

Fuel_of_Satan > Murphie 04/07/2014 at 12:41

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Hah, well put! Just thinking about a Caddy wagon.

deekster_caddy > Fuel_of_Satan 04/07/2014 at 12:54

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I wonder if that's the one my friends and I used to bomb around in. A good friend had a white one, stick on wood paneling I believe.

If it all works, rebuild that 455 and let er rip! I know there are a bunch of early 70's Buicks in Norway, the big wagon would fit right in!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > turkish68 04/07/2014 at 13:11

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love those, but I doubt that's what this is.

Ronnie Schreiber > Bvnni 04/07/2014 at 15:12

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If I had the money, I'd buy them, get Art Morrison to build a custom chassis, put in a modern drivetrain and give tours of historical automotive sites around Detroit. From the photos, you might need all three to make one complete car. The price is nuts, though.

Fuel_of_Satan > deekster_caddy 04/07/2014 at 16:12

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Wagons are big here indeed, not many clamshells though! I prefer Pontiac over Buick though.

It had the 455 engine from my Trans Am for a little while, but it got ripped out and sold with the T/A. First and last time I attempt changing felt gaskets on the rear crank bearing though (The engine it came with), tricky little sucker!

It runs and shifts (Relatively) fine now, but its gonna cost a fortune and many weekends of work getting it through inspections and I'm not sure it's worth it. Well, I'm sure it's not worth it. Just about the only thing that works flawlessly is the electric clamshell.

So, storage for now.

SP23 > Gary Busey's Teeth 04/07/2014 at 17:45

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Yep. His was the Turbo Z.

SP23 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/07/2014 at 17:57

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There's a couple in "The Wraith" as well. The cheesy ghost driver starring a young Charlie Sheen.

I especially like this scene with the dubbed over V8 noise:

Cheesewhiz > xequar 04/08/2014 at 05:47

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Nope, they were into the "excitement" era by then. John DeLorean created that positioning for them in the mid-60's... But yeah, good question, what sort of evil would think a Pontiac would make a good hearse?!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > DrivenChannel 04/12/2014 at 17:56

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I have a few additional pictures and information on the business that is storing the Imperial convertible, however, I don't wan't to just post it on here as these people are not car dealers. If you still want more info, and you are serious, I would like an email address where I can send it to you.

DrivenChannel > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/17/2014 at 23:18

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bonevilssei@aol.com

Sorry phone acting crazy just realized you replied. Thank you so much for researching this. Parts for those cars are rarer than hens teeth.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > DrivenChannel 04/17/2014 at 23:33

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No problem. Just sent you the info. Good luck!

IDriveASaabAndNobodyIsToBlame > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/13/2014 at 01:38

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I've had a soft spot for these Daytonas ever since a mod enabled you to change the cars in GTA Vice City. See here.

Denis62 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/19/2016 at 12:52

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I have been looking for an affordable 1960 Buick wagon for years.

Or a 2dr like in one of the pics.

I used to have a 1960 LeSabre years ago. And a 1960 Oldsmobile wagon that I wish I had never sold.

any chance that you could email me where these cars are?

denyo@sympatico.ca

thanx

just a car nut

Denis

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Denis62 01/19/2016 at 15:54

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Since I made this post a few years ago most of the cars have been removed. Sorry :(

SupraMario59 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 02/12/2016 at 02:00

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Could I get the name or number of this establishment so I can find out more about the Caddy wagon please?