An Italian elegant style for the iconic American Cadillac

In the early 1950s, when the streamlined fighter jet shaped became part of public awareness and permeated almost every line of American society in the time, as did two fellow automotive enthusiasts, they decided to make and build a unique American-style sports car-inspired to that streamlined style.

The Elegante coupe concept was built based on the 1953 Cadillac chassis and featured at the 1955 New York International Auto Show. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/32jkLfM)

Harry Birdsall, an artist, and Joe Mascari, a famous contractor in New York, both of them then collaborated to design a futuristic-themed luxury coupe named the Cadillac Elegante, the car was built based on the 1953 Cadillac chassis.

The Elegante coupe concept was designed by the legendary automotive designer Albrecht Goertz. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Pi1xSz)

Those two friends then recruited the legendary automotive designer named Albrecht Goertz, whose aim was to provide elegance and luxurious touches in order to reach the smart customers of the high-end market segment. Goertz, who later also designed the BMW 507 and Datsun 240Z, in the time began designing the vehicle images with a sophisticated luxury touch.

Through its luxurious gold aura then made the Elegante coupe concept could grab the People's Choice Award at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Pi1xSz)

Shortly then the car's chassis and images were sent to Carrozzeria Rocco Motto in Turin, Italy to bring the car into a reality. And the Italian automotive coachbuilder needs the time of 30 months to build the body, made all specific hardware, and installed all of those on a 126-inches wheelbase of the car's chassis.

That luxurious gold aura of the Elegante coupe concept then combined with dark red wine colored Italian genuine-leather interior. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Pi1xSz)

As we look today, the car was featured a unique two-folded convertible hard roof. Interestingly, that the futuristic and unique retractable hard roof, turn out was made by using the remnants of the burned-Cadillac Series 62 convertible roof at the Cadillac's dealer of White Plains.

The Elegante coupe concept used a 331-cubic-inch Cadillac V8 engine coupled with a GM four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission system. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Pi1xSz)

The luxurious gold aura is immediately apparent in this Cadillac Elegante design. Ranging from its four-headlights house, windshield frame, door handles, convertible roof, and trunk trim, up to the hidden license plate frames are all made of bronze and then coated with 24-carat of gold. And the aluminum trim and car's hubcaps are not to forget also given a gold-gilded touche.

The luxurious gold aura is immediately apparent of this Elegante coupe concept, ranging from its four-headlights house, windshield frame, door handles, convertible roof, and trunk trim, up to the hidden license plate frames are all made of bronze and then coated with 24-carat of gold. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2wET9pH)

The Elegante body is then painted pearl white and combined with dark red wine colored Italian genuine-leather interior. The results are truly amazing; so amazing it even made a young woman cry out in public: "Why it's so beautiful it's indecent!"

It's known, that the Cadillac Elegante has been changed ownership several times after Harry Birdsall died in 1960. In 1997, Dick and his brother Bob Birdsall found back the car was in severely damaged condition after hurricane Andrew passed. Then those two Birdsall brothers spent over 16 years recovering this iconic concept car into as seen today condition, so no wonder if finally the car winning the People's Choice Award at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE OLD MOTOR]

Note: This blog  can be accessed via your smart phone

Kindly Bookmark and Share it: