Octane Magazine - Modern Classic

Modern Classic
story/photos: dan hankin

When John Christenbury decided to build up a project car he knew exactly what he wanted; a 1957 Coupe DeVille.

Fifty-seven marked a major style change for the DeVille. It was the first year of the X-frame member cars and was longer, wider, and lower than previous Caddys. The '57 is also unique. In 1958 the DeVille got quad headlights, making the '57 a one year only body style.

Christenbury followed up on numerous leads looking for a car worthy of rebuilding, but it seemed all of the rust free cars were out in Arizona. After a year of chasing dead end leads he found his car at Carlisle. The Caddy was an unrestored survivor, worn out, but solid.

The car as you see it here took three years to rebuild, with Christenbury taking painstaking measures to bring the DeVille back to as new a state as possible, incorporating a number of modern conveniences to the finished product..

Once the car was disassembled, Christenbury did his own body work and covered the metal in primer before Alfred Vaughn shot the brilliant three stage Ford Laser Tint Red. Royal Silver in Norfolk plated the bumpers and other chrome work.

The smooth stance was achieved with drop spindles in front and lowering blocks in the rear. The sled was dropped over a set of vintage looking 15"x7" steel wheels by US Wheel wrapped in wide whitewalls from Coker Tire. Stock Cadillac drums on all four corners drag the beast to an eventual stop. Without an aftermarket bolt-in kit available, Christenbury will soon start working out his own disc brake conversion.

All that steel needs some healthy motivation to move fast. Christenbury opted for a 1975 vintage Cadillac 500 motor bored .030 over for a total of 507 cubic inches. The heads were massaged for better flow and the Caddy rockers were tossed in favor of more reliable Buick pieces. The blueprinted motor was filled with ARP bolts, Keith Black flat top pistons, a mild cam, and topped with an Edelbrock Performer intake and Quadrajet carb. The owner estimates torque numbers in excess of 500 ft.lbs. and cites 14 mpg with conservative use of the go pedal. The torque monster 507 feeds a GM Turbo 400 transmission turning a 3.08 gear in the stock open diff Cadillac rear.

The interior is all classic look with a modern touch. Earl Edwards of Virginia Beach did most of the interior work with Christenbury bringing him one piece at a time to finish at his home workshop. Christenbury's wife, Donna, was also a huge help in finishing the combined leather and cloth upholstery, carpet, and trunk interior. For some additional luxury, the Caddy was updated with air conditioning, and power seats, windows, and door locks.

Christenbury credits a number of people with helping him put this outstanding car together, and with making integral services available to hobbyists building cars that can't be pieced together from mail order catalogs. John thanks his wife Donna for her help and support, the No Name Car Club for ideas and pointers, Keen's Machine Shop in Smithfield, Royal Silver of Norfolk, Alfred Vaughn, Earl Edwards, and anyone else who helped along the way.