One-off Cadillac owned by Dean Martin up for sale

A custom Cadillac built for Hollywood acting legend Dean Martin is set to go under the hammer at Donington Auctions on 25 February in Melbourne.

The one-off 1969 Cadillac Eldorado Sport Wagon was created for Martin, the famed actor and entertainer best known for starring alongside Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Junior as part of the legendary ‘Rat Pack’.

Car-loving Martin, who passed away in 1995, starred in 16 films and hosted his own variety television program –The Dean Martin Show – from 1965 to 1974. He was awarded a posthumous lifetime Emmy in 2009.

The white sixth-generation Cadillac Eldorado Sport Wagon was built for Martin by George Barris, a famed car customiser whose creations include the Ford Thunderbird-based Batmobile for the 1960s television series.

Barris Kustom Industries – the company owned by George Barris – has verified the history of the vehicle, which has been in Australia for some time.

Described as being in ‘barn find’ condition, the one-off wagon appears in solid shape for restoration.

Powered by a 7.7-litre V8 engine, the Eldorado was the top-of-the-line version of the Cadillac and was one of the most expensive cars on sale in the US at the time.

Martin later owned a 1972 Cadillac wagon and a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Estate wagon, according to the movie star’s fan sites.

The Hollywood star owned a number of unique cars, including several Ferraris, a Lamborghini, a Jaguar and an Aston Martin, but also had some oddities such as a circa 1961 Facel Vega – a French coupe with a Chrysler-Hemi engine – and 1976 Stutz Blackhawk in his collection.

The Cadillac will be part of Donington’s ‘Summer Classic Car & Number Plate Auction’ live streamed on 25 February from its Cheltenham auction house, where the Hollywood star’s car can also be pre-inspected.

Only one photo of the vehicle has been published by Donington Auctions.