This car is a tribute to Elvis and his love for the American Cadillac. It was custom made by John D’Agostino, a California custom car designer. The car was auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 20th.
Elvis owned over 200 Cadillacs in his lifetime, many of which were gifts. He had a great love for Cadillacs. Elvis and Cadillac were almost synonymous, when you thought of Elvis, you thought Cadillac, and vice versa. The car is associated with Elvis in 1959, when ducktail hairstyles, white suede shoes and peg pants were in fashion. The 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Cabriolet was the most EXPENSIVE American-made car in the United States at the time.
Only 975 1959 Eldorados were produced at a then-staggering price. This will be the ONLY 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Seville in the world, and the only convertible Seville (only one in existence) The custom bodywork included a 3" chopped top, cockpit shortened 18" with kustom scoops above the rear seating area, chrome bullet grille, and a perfect air ride suspension.
This stunning car consists of over 100 carats of pavé diamonds and crystals and 10 carats of amethyst stone set in solid silver custom cast Cadillac crests all inlaid in metal on this "Elvis" tribute Cadillac.
Hand-cut and hand-shaped out of solid bronze metal were 2 Landau irons on either side of the cabriolet top, which are then set with solid 14 carat gold Signature D’Agostino crests, surrounded by diamonds and amethyst stones. John D’Agostino has designed 3 tributes to famous movie stars of our era — Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe and now Elvis, this being the 3rd of a trilogy and also being the most expensive and elaborate ever being designed to date.
There is over 19 feet of lush diamond dust, pearl lavender paint and diamond-studded jeweled automotive art on this kustom. Dual crystal ash trays and a princess telephone are some of the accents designed into the gorgeous kustom-dyed pearl lavender leather. This true masterpiece and work of art features kustom-dyed brocade cloth inserts with silver mica thread woven throughout.
The engine is an original 1959 390 cubic inch Eldorado with 345 horsepower and tri-power six pack carbs restored to original Cadillac specs.
Source: Topspeed