This One-Off Gold-Trimmed Cadillac Is Finally Going Up For Sale

From 1949 to 1961, General Motors staged its own auto show called Motorama, where it exhibited an array of concept cars from its many brands. These dream cars introduced the American public to futuristic styling, innovative engineering and luxury features, many of which would trickle down to production models in the following years.

Cadillac had its fair share of these concepts, such as the 1950 Debutante featuring gold plating and leopard skin upholstery, the aviation-inspired 1959 Cyclone, or the several Eldorado concepts, some of which reached limited production later on.

Speaking of gold-plated Cadillacs, there was also another luxury coupe that featured gold plating and would have looked right at home at Motorama—although it was never on display at GM’s show.

1953 Cadillac Elegante Combined GM Engineering With European Styling

While the 1950 Cadillac Debutante was never offered for sale, another gold-plated Cadillac was, albeit as a one-off. We’re talking about the 1953 Cadillac Elegante, which created quite a stir during its public debut at the 1955 New York International Auto Show. Mind you, this wasn’t an official Cadillac product but a coachbuilt luxury convertible coupe based on a 1953 Cadillac Series 62 chassis.

The Elegante came to be after commercial artist Harry Birdsall joined forces with car importer Joe Mascari to create a luxury convertible coupe unlike anything offered by Detroit.

Starting from a 126-inch wheelbase 1953 Cadillac Series 62 chassis equipped with a 331-cubic-inch V-8 engine and four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, the pair turned over the design part of the project to Albrecht von Goertz, who had recently opened his own design studio, Goertz Industrial Design.

Interestingly, the Cadillac Elegante is most likely the first automotive design from von Goertz’s new studio. As a side note, two years later, von Goertz would design the BMW 503 and the legendary 507.

Italian Coachbuilder Charged $30,000 for the Job

The Cadillac Elegante gained a sleek and sophisticated design, with distinct European proportions and understated elegance. Construction was entrusted to Carrozzeria Rocco Motto, a respected coachbuilder based in Turin, Italy.

The hand-formed aluminum body took a reported 30 months and $30,000 to finish, which was a fortune in the 1950s. In addition to the aerodynamic body, the chassis was lightened and lowered by 8 inches, resulting in a sleeker profile.

The Elegante brims with bespoke details such as the hydraulically-operated, disappearing retractable hardtop, lavish red leather interior, a Lucite steering wheel, custom-made bronze castings with gold-plated exterior trim, and a wraparound windshield with built-in window vents.

The Elegante was driven by Harry Birdsall until he passed away in 1960 and was then acquired by Mascari who sold it to a fellow speed boat racer. The one-of-a-kind Cadillac would later be sold to Stan Marks, a road construction executive and Orange Bowl Committee president.

Offered for Public Sale for the First Time in Its History

The Birdsall family made several attempts to buy back the Elegante, but it only managed to do so in 1992, when Richard “Dicky” Birdsall, the youngest son of the car’s creator, finally acquired it.

He subjected the car to a comprehensive restoration, bringing it back to its original form over the course of 16 years of painstaking work. The car made a return to the public eye at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where it captured the People’s Choice Award.

Now it is offered for public sale for the first time, which is kind of sad considering the efforts the Birdsall family had put in to buy it back and return it to tip top shape.

Nevertheless, this marks a rare opportunity for Cadillac collectors to score a unique concept car. Included with the sale is a custom-built enclosed Pegasus Race trailer that features air-conditioning and a power lift gate for easy loading, unloading, and transportation. Various period photos and a scale model by Brausi also come with the car.

The unique Cadillac will go under the hammer on September 5 at Kruse Auctions’ Auburn Fall 2026 sale. No estimate has been provided.