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A matter of design
Story and
Photographs By Tom Strongman
www.tomstrongman.com
Clark Oliver’s 1957
Cadillac Eldorado Seville is Elysian green, a color whose name holds a
special allure to him.
The dictionary defines
Elysian as “of, relating to, or characteristic of heaven or paradise.”
Elysium, in Greek mythology, is the “abode of the blessed, paradise.
Situated at the end of the world, it is here that those chosen by the
gods are sent to.”
 Oliver,
of Leawood, loves his Cadillac for its sculptural beauty. The
understated elegance and the simplicity of design are both part of its
attraction. Oliver is the proprietor of Hair Salon in Westport, and he
appreciates good design wherever it occurs. His shop has been recognized
for its award-winning interior. It was named one of the top 20 shops in
2005 by Salon Today magazine.
Oliver bought his
Cadillac 25 years ago. A couple from Arizona owned it previously. They
had painted the car in aqua metallic. “It was awful, “ Oliver said, “It
lost all of its pizazz.”
The Eldorado was sound
but in need of lots of work. Oliver painstakingly refinished the body
and repainted it in the original color, working in the garage of his
home. He stripped the aqua paint from the dash and door panels and
painted those as well. The interior is loaded with chrome, and the
upholstery is original. The car has 79,922 miles.
The engine received a
much-needed overhaul, and now it idles very quietly. Cadillacs were
known for their smoothness in the 1950s.
The Eldorado’s lines
are similar to those of the Park Avenue, a show car built for GM’s 1954
Motorama. The Seville coupe sold for $7,286, and 2,100 were built. The
365-cubic-inch V-8 produced 300 horsepower.
The Eldorado’s shape is
highlighted by the thin tailfins that protrude from the round, sloping
back fenders. These fins are delicate and subtle, unlike those that
appeared on some GM cars around 1959. Splashes of stainless steel trim
flow from the rear wheels back into the tiny rear bumpers that house the
backup lights and exhaust outlets. The overall look defines the “less is
more” philosophy as it was interpreted in 1957.
Oliver describes his
Cadillac as more artwork than mechanical. “It was,” he said, “ designed
like a piece of art.”
 
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