Another "What is it"

[not2slow]

I don't know caddys very well. Can anyone tell me about what year this car is and if it is worth anything. No engine/trans/interior. Where can I find a vin/serial number. This car may be for sale in the near future.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-5/1018365/4791.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-5/1018365/4792.jpg

[lux hauler]

I don't know these cars too well but my guess would be a '53 or '54 Series 75 Fleetwood limo......whether or not it's worth anything, I couldn't tell you. I think it'd be cool to have a nice one though.

[not2slow]

After doing some research on the web, I think you are right. 54' or 55' Series 75 fleetwood. Now... I still need to find a tag with vin/serial#, and if it is worth anything without the motor. I may list on E-Bay with no reserve.
Checkout these links
http://www.car-nection.com/yann/Dbas_txt/Phocad55.htm
http://www.100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1950/cad55f.htm

[MilesO]

The side trim shape makes me think it is a '54 model year. '55's had a different side molding trim on the sedans, not sure about the 75 series.
I just looked at the web site from above post and it could be a '55 model !

[curtis73]

If it does not have gold trim accents on the "V" crest and other places, you can rule out 52 since that was the golden anniversary year. :) Otherwise I'll tell you what I know was different between the years. I know its at least post-53 because of the wraparound windshield. That was a 54 and up thing. The few pictures I've included below aren't all limos, but the grilles are why I included them and they would be the same or similar for the limo.

52: Grille had one horizontal bar and five vertical. It had auxiliary lights located just inboard and below the headlights and a broad chrome trim directly under the headlights.

53: Grille got an additional vertical bar totalling six and the turn signals got moved to directly under the headlights. Headlights also got the "eyebrow" treatment.
http://carnut.com/photo/contrib/fors/53flt1.jpg

54: Grille got the "cellular" treatment with many more bars making many small cells; about 2"x3" in size. The exhaust outlets were integrated into the rear bumper, and it was the first year of the wraparound windshield like yours has... so its at least a 54. A distinctive design characteristic of the front grille in 54 was the use of tapered oval front bumper "bullets" located on gullwing arms that pointed upward at a 45 degree angle. The turn signals also were NOT under the headlights for this year, instead they were in a direct line between the headlights and bullets. Also of note; the bullets were not smooth, they had a step in them.
http://www.ohioconcours.com/Photo%20Galleries/CPW/images/IMG_3421.jpg

55: Turn signals moved back to directly below the headlights. The bumper looked very similar to 54, but 54 didn't have the turn signals under the headlights like these 55 pictures show. Take note also of the smooth bullets.
http://carnut.com/show/01/star/star289.jpg
http://carnut.com/show/04/wfo/wfo273.jpg
http://www.ohioconcours.com/Photo%20Galleries/CPW/images/IMG_3416.jpg

56: It can't be a 56 because of the fins.

In summary, it has to be 54 or 55 and the grille will give it away. Both bumpers will have the angled part with the bullets on them, but the turn signals will be under the headlights on the 55; not on the 54. The bullets on the 54 were also stepped, while the 55 had smooth bullets.

Your VIN should be on the right side of the frame just behind where the motor mount is. Yours should start with either 5475 or 5575; the first two indicating year and the second two indicating limo. The next two digits should be either 23 or 33 indicating 4dr sedan and 4dr imperial sedan, respectively. The two were most easily distinguished by the presence of the partitioning window in the cabin on the imperial. It could be followed by an "L" for livery or an "X" for hydraulic windows. The rest should be serial number with the possibility of other letters thrown in to indicate trim level.

[not2slow]

Curttis73: very helpfull information!!!!
Sounds like you know your caddys. Checking the vin # should be easy since there is no engine. Is there someplace (other than e-bay) on the internet to market old cars like this one? I hate to cut it up for scrap metal. Car is located in Jay OK. No title (I may be able to get one) Is $500 a fair price? Buyer will have to pick up in Jay.

[curtis73]

Curttis73: very helpfull information!!!!
Sounds like you know your caddys. Is $500 a fair price? Buyer will have to pick up in Jay.

I would say shoot for $1500 but take $1200. Those are published numbers, not mine. If its in particularly bad shape, 500-800, but it looks pretty good. You probably won't get many takers since its such a specific project, but the publications like NADA would agree with those numbers.

I would love to say that it was all my info, but I've recently been reading my standard catalog as a passtime. The credit should go to Ron Kowalke, the editor of the book :)