A one-of-a-kind Cadillac that combines American V8 power, Italian coachbuilding, and genuine gold-plated trim is about to become available to the public. Known as the 1953 Cadillac Elegante, this extraordinary convertible is headed to auction in Auburn, Indiana.
The Elegante was conceived as an American sports car with the comfort and refinement expected from Cadillac. Its hand-formed aluminum body was constructed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Motto and mounted over the chassis and running gear of a 1953 Cadillac Series 62.
According to the auction listing, this will be the first time the Elegante has been publicly offered for sale in its 73-year history. That alone makes the auction noteworthy, even before considering the car’s unusual design and remarkable story.
The Elegante is also fully operational, rather than merely a static piece of automotive history. Following an extensive restoration, it returned to the concours circuit and won the People’s Choice Award at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
An American Sports Car With An Italian Body
The project originated with commercial artist Harry Birdsall and contractor Joe Mascari, who envisioned building a luxurious American sports car during the early 1950s. A damaged 1953 Cadillac Series 62 reportedly provided the foundation, with its chassis and mechanical components surviving a dealership fire.
The styling was refined with input from designer Albrecht Goertz, who would later become closely associated with cars including the BMW 507. Construction of the aluminum body was entrusted to Carrozzeria Motto in Turin, Italy, with the project reportedly taking around 30 months to complete.
The cost was equally extraordinary for the era. Contemporary accounts place the total construction cost at approximately $30,000, at a time when a new 1955 Chevrolet Corvette started below $3,000.
Plans reportedly existed to build a small production run, but the Elegante ultimately remained unique. Its one-off status has since made it an intriguing piece of postwar coachbuilt automotive history.
Yes, The Exterior Really Uses Gold
The Elegante’s Pearl White body is contrasted by exterior trim plated in 24-karat gold. The brightwork gives the Cadillac an unmistakably extravagant appearance, complementing its low body, prominent rear fins, and distinctive headlight treatment.
Its most interesting engineering feature is the retractable metal hardtop. Rather than requiring manual removal, the roof uses a hydraulically operated mechanism to disappear into the rear of the car, transforming the Elegante from a closed coupe into an open roadster.
Inside, the extravagant details continue with a red cabin and a transparent Lucite steering wheel. An illuminated St. Christopher medal sits in its center, providing one of the most distinctive interior details of an already unusual automobile.
Cadillac V8 Power Underneath
Beneath the custom bodywork, we find Cadillac V8 power paired with GM’s four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The Hemmings listing describes the engine as a V8 equipped with dual carburetors.
The car was engineered to be driven rather than merely displayed, and the seller says it remains fully running and capable of highway driving. That separates the Elegante from many surviving concept and show cars that are now treated primarily as museum pieces.
Its odometer reportedly shows only a few thousand miles, which is hardly surprising given the car’s unique status. Most of its life has been spent as a special-event automobile rather than ordinary transportation.
A 16-Year Restoration Saved The Elegante
The Elegante’s survival wasn’t guaranteed. After passing through several owners, the car reportedly endured years of deterioration and was damaged after the carport sheltering it collapsed during severe weather in Florida.
Dick Birdsall eventually reacquired the car in 1997 and began an extensive restoration. The process reportedly stretched over 16 years before the Elegante returned in time to make its award-winning appearance at Amelia Island in 2014.
Now, another chapter is about to begin. The Cadillac is scheduled to cross the block during the 56th Annual Kruse Auction in Auburn, Indiana, over Labor Day weekend, with no public asking price listed ahead of the sale.
The package even includes a custom enclosed trailer built specifically for the car, complete with air conditioning and a powered tailgate. For whoever buys it, transporting this unusual piece of Cadillac history should at least be considerably easier than recreating it.
How much do you think a gold-plated, Italian-bodied Cadillac with this history will bring when the bidding begins?