√Evel Knievel’s custom Cadillac wagon is heading to auction

Owned by motorcycle stunt rider Evel Knievel at the height of his fame in the mid-1970s, this custom-made Cadillac is looking for a new home in the UK.

A unique, custom-made Cadillac Eldorado wagon – which was once owned by legendary motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel – is heading to auction in the UK.

Listed by UK auction house Bonhams, this 1972 Cadillac Eldorado first rolled off the production line as a black coupe but was soon converted to a wagon body style by the American Sunroof Company – a General Motors-approved third-party firm.

According to the listing, this example is just one of eight Cadillacs which received ASC’s wagon treatment, finding its first home with a PB Burnett until the businessman sold the custom car to Evel Knievel in 1975.

At the time, Knievel was a household name in the US – having failed in his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon in a rocket less than a year prior, while he was soon to break his pelvis after a crash landing while jumping 13 buses on a Harley-Davidson in Wembley Stadium.

Shortly after taking delivery of the Cadillac, Knievel had the Eldorado resprayed in white – matching his iconic bikes and uniform – while his son, Kelly, and first wife Linda secured its unique ‘1-1’ registration plate in the family’s home state of Montana.

The listing does not say when it was sold by the Knievel family, but in the mid-1990s the Cadillac was exported to the UK and stored in a barn, where it remained until recently.

On top of numerous exterior flaws, the Eldorado’s massive 8.2-litre V8 does not currently have its carburetor or passenger-side cylinder head attached to the engine.

Inside, the wood-trim dash and steering wheel are accompanied with red leather seats and tim – surrounding a wide instrument cluster.

Despite its celebrity connection, Bonhams estimates Knievel’s Cadillac could sell for anywhere between £8000 and £12,000 ($AU15,400-$AU23,000) – owing to the repairs needed – with the auction due to close on 21 October 2023 at 7am AEDT.

However, as the Cadillac measures 5.64m long and weighs almost 2200kg, whoever buys this Eldorado will certainly get a lot of car for their money.

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