Cadillac and camping aren’t two things you’d normally expect to find in the same sentence. During the 1950s, the brand was busy building some of America’s most extravagant luxury cars, complete with acres of chrome, powerful V8s, and unmistakable styling.
Yet someone looked at a Cadillac Sixty Special and apparently decided what it really needed was a kitchen and a bed. The result is the wonderfully unusual machine you see here.
Built in 1956, this Cadillac trades much of the Sixty Special’s traditional passenger compartment for a substantial camper body. It looks like something dreamed up for a family vacation in an alternate version of mid-century America.
Now it’s searching for a new home. According to Mecum Auctions, the rare Cadillac camper will cross the block in Nashville on September 25 with an estimated value of $30,000 to $40,000.
A Cadillac Built For Camping
Mecum says the conversion was completed by a professional coachbuilder in Elkhart, Indiana, and required 14 weeks to build. The camper section begins behind the front compartment and stretches above the cab, giving this Cadillac a profile unlike almost anything else wearing the crest.
Inside, there’s a 48-by-75-inch bed along with a stove, sink, refrigerator, and a small dining area with a table completing the setup, while a screened camper door provides access from outside.
The interior has an appropriately vintage appearance, with plenty of wood finishes and period details. A rear-mounted spare tire adds another practical touch for anyone brave enough to take this nearly 70-year-old Cadillac on a proper road trip.
There’s Still A Cadillac Underneath
Despite the enormous camper body, the Sixty Special still has plenty of the equipment expected from a luxury Cadillac of the period, such as power steering, power brakes, power windows, and a radio.
Under the hood sits Cadillac’s 365-cubic-inch V8, producing a claimed 285 horsepower and paired with an automatic transmission. That should provide a suitably old-school soundtrack while hauling what is effectively a tiny house down the highway.
Its green exterior is complemented by full wheel covers and wide whitewall tires. The tan camper interior continues the period theme rather than attempting to turn the vehicle into a modern RV.
Your Next Road Trip Could Get Very Weird
The Cadillac comes from the Schroeder Family Collection, and Mecum doesn’t specify how many similar conversions were produced. Considering how rarely Cadillac campers surface for sale, however, finding another one would likely take some patience.
Its $30,000 to $40,000 estimate also puts it in an interesting position. Similar money buys plenty of newer campers with far more space and modern conveniences, but none will attract attention at a campground quite like this.
Whether its next owner actually travels in it or preserves it as an automotive curiosity remains to be seen. Still, a 1956 Cadillac with a V8, a refrigerator, and somewhere to sleep makes a surprisingly convincing argument for taking the scenic route.