This Ultra-Rare 1957 Chevrolet El Morocco Convertible Is Heading to Auction
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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A shortened shift lever with an aluminum shift knob, aftermarket-style aluminum foot pedals, seven-speaker, 450-watt Kenwood KDC-MP919 MP3 audio system with large, trunk-mounted subwoofer, silver-faced analog gauges, and carbon-fiber-look trim on the center stack grace the cabin. This is a pleasant, airy interior with plenty of spread out room and good visibility to all corners. The Kenwood radio is prewired to handle Sirius satellite radio, which touts 100 channels of static-free, and mostly commercial-free, listening coast to coast. Its head unit features a faceplate that's hidden until the ignition is switched on, whereupon it flips 180 degrees to reveal an electric blue Mega-Motion LCD that can provide moving images. In addition to its great sound, this audio unit is an absolute blast to watch! A handy remote-control unit helps drivers who are challenged in using the head unit's incredibly small and nearly indecipherable control buttons. 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Other special touches include a carbonfiber-look leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift boot, satin metallic-look center stack, and an Autometer turbo-boost gauge. Still, the ambiance of most interior bits and pieces shout rental car. Rear visibility is impaired by the high rear deck and towering spoiler, unless, as the Italians reason, you figure what's behind you isn't important. This is a fairly stiff ride, one better suited for prowling than for driving coast to coast. With experience gained in SCCA racing, PVO engineers bolstered the stock Neon chassis with stiffer springs and retuned Tokico shocks. To accommodate larger, 17-inch wheels and the 205/50 Michelin Pilot Sport tires, the front springs were shortened. Reshaping the suspension knuckles allowed space for large-diameter disc brakes all around and, at the rear, gave the trailing arms more clearance for added negative camber. 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