I was out for a leisurely bike ride when I spotted this old convertible parked with the top down on a side street in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood.
I suppose it’s fair to call the owner of this car an optimist. Even on a sunny day, not too many people around here will leave an old convertible unattended with the top down. Our legendary rain often comes down with little warning.
This Cadillac had a very strange-looking luggage rack. Strangest of all, it was being used to lug something. How often do you see a trunk-mounted luggage rack actually being used?
The luggage in question was a couple of skateboards, and the rack itself didn’t exactly look like it was installed at the factory. I asked myself the obvious question: “Why don’t they just put the skateboards in the trunk?” There was plenty of trunk space in a ’68 Deville; even more than the previous year’s model, thanks to a new, higher decklid.
I used to carry a bicycle around in the trunk of my 1966 Pontiac; that was simply my normal place to store it, since I didn’t have a garage at the time. Couldn’t these skateboarders do the same?
The leather upholstery was very much worse for the wear, and there was a giant Christmas tree ornament where you would normally expect to see one of those tree-shaped air fresheners.
I love the little details on these old Cadillacs. These fender-mounted turn signal indicators are very, very cool.
I wasn’t able to get a clear shot of the front; the Caddy was parked just a bit too close to that Toyota Matrix Pontiac Vibe. I’ll admit that I could do without the cowhorns. Seattle ain’t in Texas.
This is the best shot that I was able to get of the grill. I suppose the cowhorns would make it easier to open the hood for a look at the engine. 1968 was the first year for the 472 cubic inch (7.7 Liter) V-8, and based on this car’s good overall condition, I wouldn’t be surprised if the original motor was still there.
The hood was decorated with some taped-on numbers. I stood there for a while, trying to figure out the meaning of “Four-Three-Dash-Eight.” I couldn’t come up with an answer. But regardless of the significance of these numbers, why would anyone stick them on the hood of his car?
When I got home and turned on my computer, the Internet was quick to remind me that the Seattle Seahawks had beaten the Denver Broncos to win the Superbowl with a final score of 43 to 8 on February 2nd, 2014. I suppose it’s obvious that I’m not a football fan. I was happy when the Hawks won, but I didn’t watch the game, and I’d forgotten how lopsided it was. I don’t have the time or the energy to be the fan of any sport; it just takes too much of a commitment.
When I took these photographs, it was already over a month after that very lopsided game. But that taped-on final score remained, like a tattoo of an ex-girlfriend’s name.
The sides were decorated with flower petals blowing in the wind. Why? Horns + skateboards + Christmas + Go Team! = What? How many different people on how many different drunken Saturday nights are responsible for this mess?
Please pardon me for editorializing, but a Cadillac is bold and brash all by itself. It doesn’t require any embellishments. The party’s over! It’s time to clean up.
That looks really, really B.A.D. But there’s nothing wrong that a good body shop and a pearl white paint job can’t fix.
I was thinking the same thing. Pearl white would look good on this old Caddy.
sad. somebody needs to rescue this classic from the clutches of silly.
It looks like it is ready to devour that Pontiota.
Or do something else obscene. Wonder what that unholy union would look like.
Aztec,maybe?
I cringe… this is SO sad… Gimme!! Let me rescue it!!
How unnecessary/awful. Someone should steal it and leave them a Cimarron with a bad head gasket in reprisal.
oh, +1.
+ another!
Whats in the trunk? Empty kegs from superbowl night? I have to ask, because there has to be a reason the skateboards are strapped to the trunk. I mean you could practically fit a skateboard in the glove box of one of these, we used to be able to fit 10 speeds in the trunk of my 66 Cadillac with ease.
I think the skateboards are mounted on the trunklid to make some kind of statement, just like the other modifications. Perhaps this is supposed to be like surfboards mounted on the roof of a woodie?
Statement is the word. Reminds me of a 59 Coupe DeVille driven by a psy-trance DJ with a head full of bleached dreads. Used to see it at weekend raves back in the day. Funny how music hasn’t shifted much since then. Love this 68, the only thing that really annoys me is the painted decoration.
1968 is my all time favorite year for Cadillacs with 1967, 1969 and 1970 not too far behind, I love how it’s the last year of the stacked headlights and the first year of the 472 high compression V8, I do hope this car won’t rust out soon.
“Clutches of silly”
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
I’ll have to remember that one.
I had to take the front wheel off to fit my bike in the trunk of my ’64 Impala. The bike isn’t huge, but it’s big in all the wrong places.
Well this is interesting, but I would have expected to see a Caddy of this era being treated like this 20 or so years ago when they were cheaper. More power to them, this is quite interesting looking and I do not care much for these late 60s Caddies. I bet that repurposed roof rack also holds snow boards and leaves plenty of room in the trunk for other items such as Weed, beer, camping supplies, and who knows what else. Am impressed the rear view mirror has not fallen off from that heavy ornament. Perhaps someday I will buy a Solara Convertible and do something like this.
This is a whale of a car; so I think they were trying to paint other whales swimming with it.
I too am struck by the – randomness of this car. While “themed” cars aren’t my thing, I at least understand them. This one, though, has more themes going on than I can track at once. I thought the things painted on the sides were feathers. I’m thinking that there may be more than a touch of ADHD going on here.
Someone on here once said they thought the 68 Cadillac was the best all around model. Having owned Cadillac’s from the 60’s to the 90’s I completely agree. Engine was the best and interior pieces didn’t fall apart.
I always liked the 1968 Cadillac’s the best due to the interiors not being cheapened out, the high compression 472ci V8 engine and the stacked headlights, I consider 1967-70 to be the pinnacle of the Cadillac’s.
I like the horns
i love it the way it is, its a rat rod, it can only be original once. Its fun and cool, get over it people
@ Troy ” i love it the way it is, its a rat rod, it can only be original once. Its fun and cool, get over it people ”
Hey you damn kid ! GET OFFA MY LAWN ! .
(just kidding) =8-)
-Nate
There, fixed it for you
Ah… much better.
I hate to see nice cars in the hands of gadflies…
Yeah, it sucks when these classic cars fall into the hands of less-than-caring owners.
I’d bet its owned by some teenage or 20some year old hooligans who think they’re cool with their skateboards and other nonsense.
Hopefully it’s not run to the ground.
Gotta say though, they must have fairly deep pockets to feed that awesome V8.
Seems the person had some sense and installed the aftermarket radio hidden in the glove box. The cracked door arm rest hurts though.
Did those fender signal indicators light up? I’ve always wondered. Love those details too.
Yeah, they blinked along with the with the turn signals. Chryslers of that same era had the same feature. Almost as cool as the 1-2-3 rear turn signals on Cougars and Thunderbirds!
Maybe the trunk is full of amps, ain’t no room for a
spareskateboard.If memory serves me from my last trip to Ballard, I think that Caddy may belong to the owners of the BBQ joint right around the corner from where this pic was taken. But don’t take me to the bank on that.
Someone in a different world was once very proud of that splendid car. Very sad to see it so degraded.
I’m pretty sure this is the same Cadillac that was featured in the Music video for Macklemore’s “White Walls.”
my girl friend found this old post and sent it to me. With the caption this is my car. in 2019 I bought her a car to restore. at first I didn’t think it was the same car but the license plates match. So if anyone wants an update the car is currently in bare steel getting ready for new paint. the horns are hanging on my shop wall where they belong. Hoping to have the car totally restored mid 2020. The caddy lives on!!
The car appears to be in nice shape, but the wire wheel covers on the ’68 body don’t look quite right. Cadillac didn’t offer them in ’68 did they? The “Cadillac” script in the lower right corner of the deck lid is missing, as is the DeVille script on the rear quarter-panel. The tail pipes don’t do it justice, either. I think deviating from the Cadillac design studio’s finished product detracts from the car’s beauty. Unlike today’s Cadillacs, the 1968 Cadillacs made a bold statement.
Were I Zod, the owner of the subject car in the article would be forced to drive a Smart4Two for the rest of his or her days. My wife thinks I’m opinionated – I like to think I’m open-minded.