From Restoration to Art

Picture this: a car straight out of East Brunswick, New Jersey, covered in dust and rust, but with those signature stacked headlights and sleek, classic lines just begging to be revived; a 1967 Cadillac DeVille that’s been sitting idle for over a decade. It’s the kind of car that makes you wonder, “Can I get this old girl cruising again, or am I just pouring money into a sinking ship?”

Dust, Rust, and Potential

When I first laid eyes on her, she was a mess. The kind of mess that only a true car enthusiast could love. Dust, rust, and what looked like a bad attempt at a previous restoration job. But hey, she was operational when parked…supposedly.

The paint’s seen better days, but underneath all those layers of neglect, you can still catch a glimpse of her former glory. There’s some fiberglass patching on the floor – definitely not factory – and a missing skirt on one side. But hey, the body’s holding up better than I expected. Could be worse, right?

What about the interior? Well, let’s just say it’s seen some action. The seats are loose, the back seat is MIA, and it smells like an old factory basement. But no rodent disasters or mold nightmares – score one for me!

This car’s like a time capsule from the ‘60s, but with a few pieces missing. Every bit I find feels like a clue in this weird mystery of what happened to her over the years.

Under the hood: a V8 engine. Surprisingly, it looked like nobody’s been messing around with it. No oil spills, no weird patches, just years of sitting and waiting for a chance to roar back to life.

The big question is this: will she start? I’m cautiously optimistic. It’s like playing the lottery with a rusty old ticket you found in your sock drawer – there’s a chance, but let’s not get carried away.

Bringing Her Back from the Dead

Step One: Re-inflate the tires. It’s a small win, but you gotta start somewhere, right?

Step Two: Secure all the loose components. She’s got more wobbly bits than a jellyfish on a trampoline.

Step Three: Check the brakes and electrical systems. Spoiler alert – they’re toast. But I expected that.

Step Four: Time to dive into the engine bay; checking for spark, fuel delivery, and if the starter’s willing to play ball.

I’ve got my fingers crossed that with a bit of cleaning and a lot of swearing, this engine might just fire up. I’m ready to get under there and turn every bolt until I see some signs of life.

The million dollar question: is it worth putting money and time into this old girl? That’s the big debate. Sure, she’s never going to be a showroom beauty again, but there’s something about bringing a piece of American history back to life that’s hard to resist.

The Next Chapter

Just when I thought the journey of resurrecting this 1967 Cadillac would take the usual route of restoration, something completely unexpected happened: this classic car found a new home with an exciting twist. Drexel University in Philadelphia has become the proud new owner, and instead of just being a project for mechanical restoration, it’s now set to become a canvas for psychedelic art.

The university plans to use the car in an homage to a legendary piece of Philadelphia history – a Cadillac painted in a psychedelic style that was part of the iconic Electric Factory when it first opened in the late ‘60s. The Cadillac will be part of a student art project, bringing back the vivid, swirling colors of that era while paying tribute to the counterculture movement that the Electric Factory represented. In a strange but fitting turn, this Cadillac will soon be cruising again, not just as a restored relic, but as a moving piece of art that ties together the worlds of automotive history and creative expression.

There’s something poetic about this old car, once forgotten and rusting away, now serving as a symbol of artistic freedom and creativity. .