• Address: San Jose, CA 95118 (map)
• Date Posted: 11/07/09

VIPtuningPro - san jose, California

1952 Cadillac Custom

Price: 199000
Mileage: 0
Stock No: 148
Vin:
Engine:
Transmission: Unspecified
Warranty: Unspecified

Contact Bryan Shisler for more information
Phone: 408-768-1696





!DO NOT MISS THIS INCREDIBLE CUSTOM CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE !

NO MONEY WAS SPARED IN THIS PROJECT





http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/0908rc_1952_cadillac_convertible/index.html


Hall of Fame Builder is now taking appointments to view this Classic 50 Year Golden Edition 1952 Cadillac True Convertible that has been customized and restored professionally and not to destroy the famous original lines. Mild chop, custom padded top, soft touches of customizing, genuine Swedish leather, Rolls Royce rugs, air ride, heated lumbar seats, built in ice cooler, all new gauges and running gear. Candy brandy wine paint on a 100% flawless body. All chrome is show quality as is the entire car. This 4 year project took 5 Hall of Fame Builders helping to produce this piece of art with pride to achieve this perfection. $147,000 Frank De Rosa Customs & Auto Restoration



As Seen in Rod and Custom Magazine August 2009 issue.


1952 Cadillac Convertible - The Golden Edition

Frank De Rosa Spent His Life Planning To Build This Custom
By Tim Bernsau
Photography by Mike Chase

Fans of the television show "Monster Garage" may remember an episode from about three years ago on which a team of top-level customizers built a '51 Cadillac convertible custom in five days and nights. That team included Frank DeRosa Sr. and Frank DeRosa Jr., father-and-son builders from Pittsburg, California. Since then Frank Jr. has completed another incredible Cadillac--this '52 convertible. This time, however, the project took a little longer--like a few decades.

Frank Jr. grew up around the family auto shop, DeRosa Custom Auto Body, his famous father started 60 years ago. He remembers first seeing this Cadillac when he was a little boy. It belonged to the owner of a local bar, who had bought it new. Over the years, he continued to see it, and when he got older he began asking the owner if he would be willing to sell the car. He kept asking for ten years, with no success. After the owner passed away in 2000, his family agreed to sell the car to Frank. Several other people had tried to buy the car, he learned, but the family had decided to sell it to him because he had shown so much interest for so long.

"The most memorable part of the restoration was right in the beginning," Frank told us. "Just being able to move the car from that garage to my shop was an amazing experience. Having the Cadillac in my shop and finally knowing it was mine had to be my favorite part of the whole process."

Of course, that was just the beginning of the process--the physical process anyway. Frank had already spent years planning the build-up in his mind. There were many reasons he wanted to keep a lot of the outward appearance intact, including the fact that it was a one-owner car, the body was very straight and rust-free, it was a true convertible and it was a "Golden Anniversary" Cadillac (as Cadillac called the '52s).

Frank did much of the build, with help from his father and others, including fellow Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Famers John Aiello, Marcos Garcia, Dick Falk, and Bill Reasoner. Most of the stock chassis was restored and modified with air bags from Air Ride Technologies at both ends. Power comes from a GM factory-direct 330-horsepower small-block--dressed up to keep up with the style that's all over the rest of the Cadillac. That includes the interior, where every mechanical component and every bit of material was selected for excellence and appearance. Of course, none of that makes any difference if the car didn't make an excellent first impression.

"The first thing everybody notices is the incredible paint," says Frank. The Candy Brandy Wine shows flawless sheetmetal, the result of hours of effort by the owner. The Carson top was the hardest part of the job, he said, especially since it was the most important part of keeping the silhouette correct. The chopped top and dropped stance create the illusion of a section job, but the body is uncut.

Frank told us a story about the Cadillac that his father told him during the build-up. In 1953, the original owner brought the car into Frank Sr.'s shop with a scratch on the fender. Fifty years later, while sanding down the paint, Frank Jr. uncovered the red oxide primer his dad had sprayed while making the repair--probably the first work ever done to this Cadillac.

"I have to say that this is the greatest custom that has rolled out of our shop, and my family has been in the business since 1949." Maybe he's biased; after all, he's had his eye on this Cadillac since he was a boy. Then again, maybe he's absolutely right. Either way Frank's not about to rest now; he's looking towards the future and says he'll most likely have to sell the "Golden Anniversary" Cadillac that he'd wanted for so long, in order to make room for the next project to roll into the family shop.


1952 Cadillac Convertible - The Golden Edition

Rod & Custom Feature Car

Chassis
Frank's Cadillac rides on the frame it was born with. A pair of Fatman spindles with Cadillac discs lowers the altitude by 2 inches in the front. The rear frame was C-notched and the stock suspension was rebuilt with a few leaves removed and blocks added to get the rear down. Air bags from Air Ride Technologies are used all around to drop the Caddy for fairground cruising and give it the floating-on-a-cloud ride these Cads are famous for. A Chevellepower steering box was added for easier turning.

Drivetrain
The engine compartment was finished immaculately and Joe Lamont packed it with a brand new Chevy small-block, rated at 330 horses and dressed to kill. Induction comes from a single Holley 750 on a polished manifold, topped with a polished billet air cleaner. The billet valve covers match the air cleaner cover. Custom headers and stainless pipes run the exhaust to a pair of glass-pack mufflers. The polished brass radiator from US Radiator keeps the engine running cool. A new 700-R4 transmission was installed and the stock Cadillac rearend was rebuilt.

Wheels & Tires
In keeping with the traditional custom theme Frank was after, he selected a set of 15-inch Kelsey Hayes wire spoke rims from Wheel Vintiques, dressed up with Cadillac emblem caps and wrapped up with 7.10-15 BFGoodrich wide whitewall tires.

Body & Paint
The most noticeable exterior components are the chopped top and the paint. Well-known customizers Frank DeRosa Sr. and John Aiello built the custom Carson top, and Aiello and Frank Jr. chopped 4 inches from the A-pillars. Bill Reasoner did the cutting on the side windows from U.S. Glass.

The door handles were shaved, seams molded and hidden, and the hood profile was mildly rounded, but the full bumpers and trim pieces remain, with the brightwork restored by Sherm's Custom Chrome Plating. Dick Falk created the custom molding, in particular the custom metallic scoop trim on the rear quarters. After hours of careful metal finishing on the body, Frank Jr. sent the car to Marcos Garcia at Lucky 7 Custom Shop in Antioch, California, who shot the Candy Brandy Wine, a custom mix of House of Kolor paints.

Interior
It may not be all '52, but it's mostly Cadillac stuff on the inside of the car. The seats are from an '05 Eldorado and feature lumbar support and heat. Gregg Philbrick at Contra Costa Vinyl in Pittsburg covered them with high-quality hand-selected Swedish leather done in traditional tuck `n' roll; each roll was stuffed by hand. The leather extends to the door panels. The carpet is Rolls Royce material. Even the trunk was treated to leather and RR carpet. The center console holds controls for the Vintage Air A/C system (installed by Frank, along with Larry and Lloyd Selph) and the stereo, as well as an ice box for refreshments. The dash is stock, with gauges restored by Red Line Gauges and contemporary polished billet air vents. The steering wheel and tilt/telescoping column are from an '85 Cadillac. A Pioneer CD/DVD player with Rockford Fosgate amps and Punch subwoofers was installed by Brian Hohman. The Ron Francis wiring kit was installed by Antioch Muffler.









We can sell your car... Ask how. 408-768-1696 Ask for Bryan

Testimonial from a buyer...

To whom it may concern. I want to state for Bryan my absolutely positive
and unforgettable experience purchasing my dream car ......


I purchased a few weeks ago a 1965 Mercedes 230SL from Bryan Shisler and VIP tuning.

While I had been trying to find this car for a long time, at no point have I
had the opportunity to deal with someone like Bryan who has made this deal
beyond easy.

I'm based in New York and the car was based in San Francisco which had all
the ingredients of a complex transaction, mostly because I was purchasing
a car which was 45 years old.

Bryan gave me a completely thorough review of the car beyond what I would have ever expected.
He spent a lot of time talking to me by phone over several conversations helping me to understand every detail on the car. He gave me the right advise and description of the car, its strengths and all
its weaknesses.

Bryan drove several hours over the week end to bring the car to one of my
close friends to test drive and give it an over all inspection.

I have since then received the car, and all elements described by Bryan
were absolutely accurate.

I would with no hesitation do business with Bryan and recommend his
expertise and dedication to his customers.

Congratulation Bryan, you are able to turn a dream into a reality.

Hope to see you soon when I come on the west coast ...


And yes ... My little 230SL is a sweet little driver as you promised.

All the best ...

Jean-Marc


TESTIMONIAL of a person that we sold a car for under consignment.

June 5, 2009

It was through word of mouth within the local exotic car family that we learned of Bryan Shisler’s VIP Tuning Auto Consignment Sales service. We were looking to sell our Ferrari and knew we needed some help with setting the price, photographs, marketing, advertising and qualifying buyers, just for starters. Bryan and his staff delivered all of this and so much more!

We found VIP’s service professional, consultative and invaluable. Not only did he market our car beautifully with amazing photographs and a descriptive copy, but he also secured multiple buyers within weeks. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of our transaction.

Thank you again, VIP Tuning!

Bruce & Tami Corum
Aptos, California





TESTIMONIAL of a another person that we sold a car for under consignment.

June 16, 2009

I just wanted to thank YOU for doing such a great job selling my '69 Camaro Pro Street. It was refreshing working with a professional who honestly knows his business. The ability to express my needs, then back out of the picture, and have confidence that all will be handled with expedience and integrity.
I appreciate your recognizing what needed to be done, from the professional pictures to your time detailing the Camaro, which helped close the sale smoothly for both of us.
I will be proud and confident to refer you to others wanting to sell their automobiles.
Bryan Shisler of 'VIP Tuning' YOU are truly the MAN......
Thank You !
Sincerely,
Larry Nichols
West Coast Mobile
831-245-7082


TESTIMONIAL

March 29, 2009

To Whom It May Concern:

I recently purchased a lightly used Lotus Elise Sport through Mr. Bryan Shisler of VIP Tuning Pro. I’m thrilled with the car. And I was thrilled with the whole purchase experience.

I first learned of the car through Bryan’s web advertising. Upon inspection, I found the car to be exactly as Bryan had described it. Virtually mint. We amicably and matter-of-factly agreed on a price. We had none of the usual back-and-forth price drama that is sadly so common in auto sales. Just a cordial two-minute discussion and a handshake. Done.

Bryan then used his industry contacts to line up a mechanical inspection by an independent dealer for the next morning. The dealer confirmed the car’s excellent condition. Moreover, Bryan was very generous with his own time, putting the car on the lift at his facility and carefully inspecting it with me. I got the sense that Bryan would have happily spent hours with me going over the car. Again, this inspection confirmed the car’s fine condition.

I’ve lost count of the cars I’ve bought over the years. So yes, I’ve had to interact with many car sales “professionals.” Bryan is different. In the course of our inspections of my Lotus, and in our subsequent discussions, I began to see that Bryan has a near encyclopedic knowledge of exotic cars and of high performance driving. And best of all, Bryan relays the information in a gracious way, without being at all pedantic or condescending. He’s a genuine pleasure to be around.

And the little things: He picks up his phone. He is punctual. And he follows through on his commitments.

I would not hesitate to buy from Bryan again. Thanks Bryan!

Sincerely,

Martin B.

Los Altos Hills, CA

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