1959 Cadillac Car Couch
We restored hundreds and hundreds of items over the years—but only one car couch. Car couches are typically made by cutting off the back quarter of a very distinct collectible car. The secret, however, is that it usually comes from the less collectible four-door model of that car or one that has severe front-end damage.
What makes this 1959 Cadillac couch different from most car couches is that it was done in reverse. When car couches are made, the seat is usually placed inside where the trunk formerly was. But the customer who commissioned this piece wanted it done differently, making the restoration a bit of a challenge. The couch was to go in their basement recreation room, so they wanted to be able to see the tail light fins when you walked down the stairs, but have the seating facing away. It would be freestanding in the middle of the room. This would be the opposite of most car couches you see that are made to go against a wall.
This was a pretty involved project with lots of welding, fabrication, bodywork, paint, upholstery & chroming. We have included a few pictures of the process in addition to the finished piece. Also check out the two hassocks we made to compliment the piece. This is definitely one item I would love to still own.
This item is not for sale. We show restored items in this blog to encourage discussion, prompt questions and further the hobby.
To view more pictures of the completed restoration visit the Retroplanet.com Museum.
10 responses so far ↓
1 carrie // Feb 16, 2009 at 2:29 pm
how much would a couch and foot stools like this cost? A friend and i are thinking of buying this stuff for our bakery!!!
2 Keith // Feb 18, 2009 at 8:03 am
I would guess that you could expect to pay between 5,000 and 10,000 plus dollars depending on who was doing the job and the quality of the work.
Please note we are no longer in the restoration business. This item is not for sale. We show restored items in this blog to encourage discussion, prompt questions and further the hobby.
Thanks
3 Larry // Mar 8, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Sir: I would like to ask for your advice. I have a ‘59 Caddy being converted to a couch like yours. 90% of the rear quarter panels are salvageable, bur the extreme lower portions are severely rusted. Do you have or know of a repair kit I can buy to facilitate this endeavor? Thanks in advance for your response. LS
4 Larry // Mar 8, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Can you post any additional “restoration in progress” photos? I’m interested in learning more.
5 Rich // Mar 10, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Hello, Just out of curiousity I did a search for VV. I worked on this project with the guy in the last photo(good guy to be correct),1999 or2000.I did the metal fab.,he organized,did all bodywork&paint.We made a good team and enjoyed this build.He only accepted perfect.It had rot,sheet metal was hand formed to replace.The seat angle and size for comfort was important.Most auto restorers,or race car fab shops can do metal work.Mounts .inside metal frame are of square tube and angle.The front(seat side)is hand formed round tube.Prob. the hardest part to make and bodywork.You can see the begining of this in the last photo
6 jamie // Mar 11, 2009 at 12:49 pm
my name is jamie and i have a 1955 buick riveria car couch this is an original all metal all original chrome +all original tail lights.however my 55 is decked out in NEON BLACKLIGHT purple under bumpers with with 1940s ruby red neon lighting the tail lights this is the first ever done, its truley a conversation piece 905 487 1768 if interested
7 T. W. Matheson // Aug 3, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I work as a maintenance manager for Classic Party Rentals in Memphis Tn. I have a 59 couch that we rent out but they are breaking the tail light covers. Can you tell me where I might find some of these tail lights and about what you pay for them. Thanks T.W.
8 vintagevending // Aug 4, 2009 at 12:35 pm
T.W.
If you google “reproduction cadillac parts” there are a whole bunch of sites that sell original and reproduction parts.
9 Michael // Feb 21, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Saw you 59 cad.. nice work!! I am going to start to do this business. cars from 1950 up to 1972. Thanks for showing your work!
10 Anna // Aug 2, 2010 at 11:57 pm
I have a pink cadillac couch that I would like to sell. If anyone is interested I can send pics.
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