The 1953 Cadillac Elegante was sold at a Kruse Auctions event in Auburn, Indiana, for $1,275,000. This result establishes a new record for the highest price ever paid for a Cadillac at a public auction, surpassing the previous record of $940,000 set in 2023 by a 1934 V16 Fleetwood Aerodynamic Coupe.
The vehicle is a one-off custom model built on a Series 62 chassis. Its aluminum body was hand-formed by Carrozzeria Motto in Italy over a 30-month period, with construction costs reaching approximately $30,000 in the 1950s. The design was penned by Albrecht von Goertz.
The car features 24-karat gold plating on components including door handles and the windshield frame. It is powered by a 5.4-liter V8 engine producing 210 horsepower and includes a retractable hardtop. The odometer shows 4,331 miles.
The Elegante debuted at the 1955 New York International Auto Show. Following damage from Hurricane Andrew, the vehicle underwent a 16-year restoration process that concluded in 2014. It had remained out of public view for approximately 73 years prior to the recent auction.
