World Famous Designer/Owner JOHN D'AGOSTINO tells Jonnie the complete history of how he acquired the Legendary "Singing Cowboy" GENE AUTRY'S '57 Caddy Seville !
You've undoubtedly seen this beautiful machine many times in Custom Rodder, Rod & Custom, and many, many other magazines, but in this exclusive Interview, John gives the documented story of this famous Seville's long history of ownership through the years.
Then, shortly after he purchased it, John had Master Craftsman "Hall of Famer" BILL HINES turn it into the chopped, molded, shaved, spectacularly-painted with crushed diamonds mixed into the Candy Apple Red lacquer paint, award-winning: "STARFIRE" !!
[In one of the most unusual places I've ever done an Interview: John & I did the Interview in the back seat of a Chrysler 300, with the air-conditioning cranked up, during a 104 degree day in July at the Kustom Kemps Of America 26th Annual Lead Sled Spectacular in Salina, Kansas ! JK]
(Above left: John's '57 Seville "The Starfire"; Above right: the brand new, stock, 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville)
(Above left & Right: An original brochure for the 1957 Cadillac showing the Eldorado Seville & Biarritz)
NOTE: Only 2,100 Seville Hardtops, and 1,800 Biarritz Convertibles were produced in 1957.
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PERSONAL NOTE: In 1960 I had my first ride in a '57 Seville. Greg Ferro was a good friend of mine and his Dad, unbeknownst to me, had purchased one. Greg called me up one Summer night back in 1960 when he was home on leave from the Paratrooper's and asked me if I was up for some Crusin' 'cause he had a surprise to show me. I had never seen the car till that night...didn't even know it existed and I was literally blown away by it !!
Those cars came LOADED with everything: PS, PB, PW, Power Seats, Air, Power Antenna, Automatic Headlight Dimming Control (Autronic Eye) etc., etc. Best of all, for a Radio Guy like myself, the Wonderbar Foot-Button Operated Radio Station Selector: Just tap your foot on the button and you can change from Elvis, to the Drifters, to Bobby Vee, Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent , Eddie Cochran, Little Richard, or anyone you want. How cool was that when these cars were produced in '57 ! (Although GM made it an option on many Cads & Buicks in those days, it was Standard on the Seville.)
And, yes, we DID Cruise that nite... covering all of the local St. Louis "Crusin' Spots": Chuck-A-Burger, Steak n' Shake, we hit 'em all ! And in that beautiful Metallic Blue Seville with a White-Grained Top , necks snapped all over the place when we pulled in, as well as at every Stop Sign we were at.
Since that night, I have always wanted a '57 Seville. It's always been on my list of "one day" cars, as in: One day I really have to get one of those ! JK
(Above: This is it ! A '57 Seville exactly like the one that I rode in on that fateful night back in 1960 ! I really do have to get me one of these !! )
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For a look at some of John's other fantastic cars, check-out his WebSite: www.johndagostinokustomkars.com
The Legenday Gene Autry was born in Texas in 1907, raised in Texas and Oklahoma, and started on the Radio at KVOO in Tulsa. Gene was 91 when he passed away October 2, 1998. To find out more about Gene and his remarkable career, visit his WebSite: www.geneautry.com
