1948 Cadillac Eldorod custom street rod (based on 1948 Series 62)
- Engine
- 8.2L (502 cu in) V8 with electronic fuel injection (1,375-cfm EFI kit), paired with TH400 automatic transmission
- Colour
- Huntington Blue (deepened with black)
The 'Eldorod' is a heavily customised 1948 Cadillac notable as the first automobile designed for legendary hot-rod builder Boyd Coddington by designer Chip Foose, and originally Coddington's personal vehicle. Built on a custom steel chassis with C4 Corvette suspension and a 502 cu in Chevrolet V-8, it was the final car completed before Hot Rods by Boyd's 1997 bankruptcy. Foose later restyled the car at his own studio, realising his original vision with extensive bodywork revisions, custom fabrication, and a Huntington Blue finish.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$802,500
- Date unknownFactory deliveryBoyd Coddingtonpartial documentation
Coddington commissioned and funded the original build at his shop, and the car served as his personal vehicle; it was the final project completed before his company entered bankruptcy in 1997.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownWayne Davispartial documentation
Part of a noted collection prior to being acquired by Paul Andrews; no dates or transaction details provided.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPaul Andrewspartial documentation
Acquired from Wayne Davis as part of a broader collection that included historic street rods and customs admired for their design and engineering.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1997RestorationHot Rods by Boyd
Original build on a bespoke steel chassis with C4 Corvette independent suspension, a 502 cu in Chevrolet V-8, and TH400 automatic transmission. Extensive body modifications included reshaped rear quarters, tailfins, wheel mouldings, hand-formed body mouldings, custom bumpers, grille, windshield, aluminium top, and billet wheels. Custom interior with billet steering wheel and specialised gauges.
This was the final car completed by Hot Rods by Boyd prior to the 1997 corporate bankruptcy.
- —RestorationFoose Design
Comprehensive restyle by Chip Foose at his own facility, incorporating donor front bumper and grille components reworked with period bumper guards, a sectioned and lengthened hood, extended front fender peaks, frenched headlight extensions with hand-made chrome bezels, sectioned door tops and rear quarters blended into a reshaped decklid, custom tail lenses, and reshaped wheel openings. Much of the exterior hardware was hand-formed in brass and then chrome-plated.
This second build realised Foose's original design intent for the car.
- —BodyworkFoose Design
Exterior painted in Huntington Blue deepened with black by Freddy and Jed Valdez; enamel pinstriping applied by Dennis Ricklefs.
- —BodyworkMarcel's Custom Metal
Removable hardtop hand-formed and covered in Haartz cloth; side and rear glass cut to fit.
Glass cutting carried out by Eddie Kotto.
- —Mechanical
Engine updated with a 1,375-cfm fuel injection kit, an aluminium radiator, and stainless steel exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers. Custom one-off wheels machined and fitted with Pirelli tyres.
Radiator supplied by Mattson's; wheels machined by Mike Curtis Design.
- —MaintenanceRedline Gauge Works
Interior refreshed with updated leather upholstery, German square-weave carpeting, and reworked gauges.
Gauge work carried out by Redline Gauge Works; seating and trim updated as part of the Foose restyle phase.
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