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Custom Cadillac DeVille Pickup is Nothing Like the Escalade EXT

Remember the Cadillac Escalade EXT? Yeah, that sport utility pickup truck with added luxury over its Chevrolet Avalanche sibling. Introduced in 2002 and phased out in 2013, the EXT was discontinued because it ranked 10th among the worst-selling vehicles in the U.S.A. in 2013, with 1,972 trucks sold.
1961 Cadillac pickup based on DeVille 10 photos
Photo: JalopyJournal
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Compared to the disastrous sales of the EXT and its "Look at me! I'm a luxury truck, yo!" persona, the 1961 Cadillac DeVille pickup conversion in the adjacent gallery oozes style without any braggadocio to its character. This isn't a show-off vehicle, but a "built, not bought" type of machine. And you'll definitely like what the sticker price reads: only $12,000. That's it!

If you think about it, a base Ford Fiesta goes for about $2,000 more than this blast from the past customized unlike any other 1961 Cadillac DeVille. According to the ad, the owner assures us that this big fin ute was built back in the day, although it can't be verified if it was "a flower car." Still, it's certain that it was used in California back in the extravagant '70s by a "salesman that used it to haul his product around."

Nevertheless, it's easy to see from the attached photographs that the El Camino-ified Cadillac DeVille is in good condition, boasting an excellent interior. On a side note, the paint doesn't have the deep luster from days gone past. There are some cracks here and there and rust crept on the rockers. Still, it could be worse, you know. These things can be addressed with minimal damage to the piggy bank. $5,000 and you're set!

Showing a senior 94,555 miles (152,171 km) on the odometer, the 1961 Cadillac pickup at hand is animated by a 390 cubic inch V8 (6.4 liters), yielding up to 345 horsepower when it was new. And good golly, it's paired to a Turbo 400 automatic transmission. Further add-ons include white sidewall tires, a trailer hitch, a Kenwood stereo, and a tonneau cover. Titled as a 1961 Cadillac pick up, the owner also mentions that it "runs and drives great." If you don't believe his words, he's waiting for you in Olympia to see it for yourself.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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