1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO BROUGHAM,,quality questions?

[gtx6970]

Looking for some feedback on whether this kit is any good or not.

This one

[sjordan2]

I built that one back in the Fifties, and I recall that it builds into a beautiful model, but I really struggled with the multipiece body.

[59-Desoto]

Finishing one up , with some time invested makes a nice display piece but by today's standards very crude.

[howsthat1959]

With a little work it can become a fine model. But I believe it's based on the Eldorado Brougham show car rather than the production model. Still nice though.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'm building one as a chopped custom. All the remarks so far are accurate. It's definitely NOT a shake-the-box-self-assembling kit, but with skill and patience, it will make a beautiful model. It's very short on detail though, so depending on what you want from it, a lot of kitbashing may be required. I haven't measured it out, but I think the wheelbase and rear doors may be a little short. It also has hard plastic tires.

Edited February 13, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ramfins59]

I bought one of these kits several months ago for my "Class of '57" but I've been reluctant to work on it due to all of the horror stories I've heard regarding the multi-piece body. I keep hoping for a diecast or promo to appear on EBAY but the only 2 diecasts that I've seen during the past year went into the stratosphere price-wise.

[Junkman]

It's rubbish. We need a newly tooled one.

[59-Desoto]

I did a lot of reworking and filling to smooth out the body , removed the door handle and bought replacement among other things. Gotta get brave to do one LOL

[Art Anderson]

I'm building one as a chopped custom. All the remarks so far are accurate. It's definitely NOT a shake-the-box-self-assembling kit, but with skill and patience, it will make a beautiful model. It's very short on detail though, so depending on what you want from it, a lot of kitbashing may be required. I haven't measured it out, but I think the wheelbase and rear doors may be a little short. It also has hard plastic tires.

Somewhere I have a line drawing created by Bob Clidinst out of Indianapolis, giving all the measurements of the real '57 Eldorado Brougham (once owned and driven by Anton Hulman Jr., long time owner of Indianapolis Motor Speeway, and housed in the collection of the Speedway Museum. Bob did all the critical measurements--here's what he found:

Wheelbase, width and height are extremely close to correct for 1/25 scale, but the overall length is 18" too short on the model, that being in front of the front wheel arches (3 scale inches). The rest of the body is correct for length. What throws most people off is that the actual '57-'58 Eldorado Brougham is a shorter car than any other Cadillac. The rear doors are short on the real car, just as they are on the model, due to the roof being "close coupled" as it is. However, the rear doors are "suicide style", hinged at their rear edge, and there is NO B-Pillar whatsoever in that body. Instead of a B-post, there is a short, slightly angled pillar that comes up only about half the height of the door, that has only a latching plate. As such, the rear doors didn't need the length normally thought necessary, when hinging those doors to a B-pillar.

The wheels and tires are much too large in diameter--those cars rode on 14" rims, just like very other Cadillac of the era. There are some anomalies with regard to body surfaces, they don't exactly match up side to side, but nothing that cannot be corrected if one wants to make the model more accurate. The tops of the front fenders are missing the pairs of narrow air scoops, and the cowl vent isn't all that great as well. On the plus side, the interior is actually pretty decent though.

The actual car rode on a shorter version of the X-shaped frame that Cadillac pioneered, and was used by both Cadillac and Chevrolet through the 1964 model year.

Art

[Bob Ellis]

I have that kit and was looking at it recently.

When I build it, I will assemble the top and bottom of the body together to make sure the side fit is good. Then I will cut the frame away as a separate peace. This is necessary to freely install the interior.

[ChrisBcritter]

Wheelbase, width and height are extremely close to correct for 1/25 scale, but the overall length is 18" too short on the model, that being in front of the front wheel arches (3 scale inches).

Did you mean 1/8"?

The wheels and tires are much too large in diameter--those cars rode on 14" rims, just like very other Cadillac of the era.

I thought those were 15" rims?

[gtx6970]

Many thanks for the feedback.

There is one on eBay built and it looked out of scale to me.

I think I may wait and pick one up at a show when I can do an inspection first.

I am really getting into these 50s and 60s big cars.

[MrObsessive]

This is just me, but I always thought that kit had some proportional problems. The width, length, relationship/shape of the roofline in proportion to the rest of the car, just never appeared correct to me. I tried building one back in the mid '90's with some corrections, but gave up on it. Might try to attempt it again someday.

Now as Art said, with some time and patience, it can be built into something very nice. Gunze Sangyo did a 1/32 scale version years ago and while it's not the "correct" scale for many folks, it looks light years ahead in appearance as opposed to the Revell version.

Might be worth checking it out...........

Edit: Some pics for comparison..........

Revell's builtup as swiped off of Photobucket:

And the 1:1.......

Jus' sayin............

Edited February 14, 2015 by MrObsessive

[72 Charger]

I have found that the 59 caddi chassis and engine bay fits quite well after a bit of shortening . Ive still not finished mine but im on the home strait . The rear edge of the hood is the wrong shape . Also the parcel shelf is wrong too. The front end needs a bit of work around the top of the bumper as well.

Bill do you know who build that one you showed ? I would be interested in finding out where or how the badges where done

[unclescott58]

Who ever did the build above, did a great job. Yet the proportions are little off. But, it looks like it can be built into a decent representation of an Eldorado Brougham. It's got me thinking. I've had pretty good results building multi-piece bodied Revell kits in the past. I may need to add this one to my collection.

Scott

[Ace-Garageguy]

The real car comparisons and Art's dimensional references are helpful.

The slightly-off proportions of the model and the many minor but obvious errors are what prompted me to build the thing as a custom rather than trying to go stock. I'm also using Revellogram '59 Caddy chassis and guts.

If you look at the rear comparison shots, you'll notice the real decklid tucks under a little, while the model slopes to the rear. The model's Dagmars are too big and not pointy enough. The rear window is wrong, especially the corners being sharp on the model and round on the real car. Side glass appears to be slightly too tall. And somehow, the tail of the model looks to me more Plymouth than the iconic Cadillacness the real car represents. The shape of the top of the rear wheel arches is flat on the real car, rounded on the model. Etc.

I also think the model body could benefit from a minor sectioning job just over the line of the front chrome side spear.

That built blue model looks awfully good though. Methinks I'm needing a few more of these for rocketship customs.

And now that I've figured out how to do a durable brushed-metal finish (for the Caddy roof) I just MAY have to build one of these as a stocker.

Edited February 14, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[Bob Ellis]

It appears that the body should be sectioned maybe 3 or so scale inches. Not sure how that could be done.

[DrKerry]

I built that years ago, it does build up "ok" but not the best....... I need a set of bumpers for mine....

[Ace-Garageguy]

It appears that the body should be sectioned maybe 3 or so scale inches. Not sure how that could be done.

Just like you section a real one...very carefully.

Edited February 14, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy

[MrObsessive]

Bill do you know who build that one you showed ? I would be interested in finding out where or how the badges where done

Dave, I have no idea. I just did a search for Revell '57 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, and that's one of the pics that turned up. You might want to check out the '59 Cadillac PE set from Model Car Garage. I have a set (not in front of me at the moment---packed away in the attic), and those badges and letters look familiar.

[72 Charger]

Thanks Bill

[Edsel-Dan]

I have Both kits, The Revell SSP, And Gunze's 1'32

I can tell you that the Gunze kit, while having a 1pc Body, uses

the 59 Biarittz Chassis, seats, dash & Steering wheel UNALTERED

The Sombrero caps are the same too, but were on the Actual cars!!!

(At least in the pic's above)

here is one of my Gunze 1/32's:

and the second

You might even see the 59 Biarittz's Boot cover is Still on the tree too!!

[Lagib]

It's rubbish. We need a newly tooled one.

I seriously doubt that will ever happen.

[tim boyd]

For those who are interested, there is an extensive feature article on the '57/'58 Eldorado Brougham i(with lotsa pictures) in the new issue of Hemming's Classic Car magazine (April, 2015), it just showed up in my mailbox on Thursday so it may not be on the newstand yet. TIM

[gtx6970]

Isnt the Gunze kit a 1/32nd scale kit ?

Here is a I think a revell kit built,,,and it looks off to me in a big way

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-CADILLAC-CUSTOM-CONVERTIBLE-BUILT-MODEL-CAR-BOX-DISPLAY-OR-JUNKYARD-PARTS-/251830562346?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3aa2456e2a