This Ultra-Rare 1957 Chevrolet El Morocco Convertible Is Heading to Auction
A 1-of-10 Chevrolet El Morocco convertible is heading to auction on May 17 in Indianapolis, with no reserve price or estimate from the auction house. That means that almost anything could happen, though the same exact car sold a few years ago for nearly a quarter of a million dollars, and it's likely to do so again.
The car is a modified Chevy Bel Air and inspired by a 1955 Cadillac Eldorado, built in 1957 by Canadian millionaire Ruben Allender, who wanted a Cadillac but smaller. In total, 34 El Moroccos were built, according to MotorTrend, though sources vary on how many were the 1956 model year and how many were the 1957 model year. Just 10 are known to still exist, according to Mecum's auction listing.
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This example was completely restored to Concours-level quality, and since then just 78 miles have been driven on it. It is powered by a 283-cubic inch V-8 making in the realm of 220 horsepower, though the El Morocco isn't intended for speed of any sort but cruising, and likely only cruising to your local Concours event. The El Morocco can also simply be admired with the engine shut off in a garage. The transmission is a two-speed Powerglide automatic.
This El Morocco was part of the Marv Seisel Collection in California, and was rescued by Seisel after a long search for El Moroccos that began in 1971. The owner of a meat store in San Diego, Seisel spent more than a decade looking for El Moroccos, at one point becoming convinced that none of the original 34 survived, according to MT. But then he found one—a hardtop version—in Columbus, Ohio, in 1983, and another, a convertible, in Columbus in 1990. Seisel found a third El Morocco—another convertible—in Texas in 1999. It is the first convertible Seisel found in Columbus that is up for auction now.
All three of Seisel's El Moroccos were restored by Tel Pawney at D'Elegance in Fallbrook, California. El Morocco convertibles when new were $3,650, or about $42,200 in today's money accounting for inflation. The price now of several multiples of that reflects its rarity and condition.
Click for more photos of the 1957 Chevrolet El Morocco convertible.
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