For the first time in history, the 1953 Cadillac Elegante concept car heads to a public auction block on September 5, 2026. Kruse Auctions scheduled the vehicle to headline the 56th Annual Auburn Auction & Show in Indiana. So collectors finally have a chance to buy it after 73 years of private ownership. The entire event spans from September 2 through September 5.
Underneath the exterior, a 126-inch wheelbase 1953 Cadillac Series 62 chassis forms the structural base. GM’s four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission connects to a 331-cubic-inch V-8 engine. Mechanics engineered the restored vehicle to operate at modern highway speeds. In Turin, Carrozzeria Rocco Motto hand-formed the aluminum body. They coated the exterior in white mother-of-pearl paint—and they decorated the edges with real 14-karat gold-plated trim. The roof doesn’t stay fixed. To seal the cabin, a retractable metal hardtop snaps into place. It folds completely into the trunk at the push of a button.
Inside the cabin, drivers steer with a handmade Lucite wheel. An illuminated St. Christopher medal sits directly at its center. As part of the package, Kruse Auctions provides a custom-built enclosed Pegasus Race trailer. It’s equipped with air-conditioning and a power lift gate.
New York commercial artist Harry Birdsall originally dreamed up the airplane-inspired design alongside car importer Joe Mascari. Later, Albrecht von Goertz of Goertz Industrial Design finalized the shape. For his independent studio, the Elegante marked the very first project. It debuted publicly at the 1955 New York International Auto Show. Massive crowds gathered to see the car—and The New York Times published an article about it shortly after. Decades later, Birdsall’s son correctly restored the vehicle. He knew exactly who the car was built for. The Elegante eventually won the People’s Choice Award at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Albrecht von Goertz Parleys Elegante Success Into BMW 507 Design
The September auction tests the high-end collector market against other blue-chip classics. At the event, Kruse Auctions pairs the Elegante with a preservation-class 1956 AC Ace Roadster and a 1971 Dodge Challenger Hemi R/T. But the Elegante holds specific historical weight beyond its Cadillac badges. During his career, Goertz applied his experience on this exact project to subsequently design the 1956 BMW 507 Roadster. His work also heavily influenced the 1970 Datsun 240Z shape. And the Auburn sale sets a new benchmark for vehicles tied to his legacy.