Added on August 26, 2016  The News Wheel   , , , ,
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1952 Cadillac Formerly Owned by President Eisenhower Nabs $55,000 in eBay Auction

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Former president Dwight Eisenhower’s old Cadillac limousine just sold for more than $50,000 in an eBay auction

The 1952 Cadillac Fleetwood was well-known for its luxurious interior and powerful V8 engine
Photo: © Tap Tapzz

It’s not uncommon for a car that was previously owned by a famous celebrity to pop up on eBay, but when the vehicle posted online turns out to be a classic Cadillac that was formerly owned by President Dwight Eisenhower, things become a little bit more interesting.

Unfortunately, for those people just hearing about this news for the first time, bidding closed on Eisenhower’s 1952 Cadillac Fleetwood back on August 1st. In total, more than 25 bids were made for this piece of history, with the winner putting up $55,000 for the right to own a former president’s limousine.

Astonishingly, despite being more than 60 years old, most of the vehicles’ original equipment remains intact, including the leather interior that came with the car when it was built in 1952. In addition, 1952 was also the year of Cadillac’s 50th anniversary and the luxury automaker used the occasion to showcase its advanced design skills. Some of the unique features found on Eisenhower’s old Cadillac include gold cast emblems and a through-the-bumper exhaust system.

Underneath the hood, the 1952 Cadillac Fleetwood came equipped with a 331 V8 engine that pumped out 190 horsepower, which made it a very powerful engine for that time period. The motor is said to be the original one that came with the vehicle and its original Hydramatic transmission still shifts “seamlessly,” according to the vehicle’s description on eBay. However, after more than 60 years and 83,750 miles, there wasn’t any type of warranty available with the Caddy.

Perhaps the reason this classic Cadillac sold for so much was because it came with an official letter from Colonel Arnold B. Kessler that certified it did in fact formerly belong to President Eisenhower. However,  the 1952 Cadillac Fleetwood was never used by President Eisenhower during his tenure as president and chief, since it wasn’t equipped with extra safety equipment, but Eisenhower is said to have used the vehicle prior to his presidency.

Video: Watch Eisenhower’s Farewell Address