A California woman has brought new life to a piece of American automotive history after unearthing a remarkably well-preserved 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille that had been sitting untouched in a barn for 20 years.
The discovery was made by Sarah, a car enthusiast and host of the Caddy Girl Garage YouTube channel, who documented the moment she uncovered the dust-covered luxury coupe. “This car has been sitting in a barn for about 20 years, just covered in about six inches of dust,” Sarah said in her video, calling it “the iconic barn find.”
The story of this particular Cadillac stretches back through three generations of one California family. Originally purchased new in 1959 — the very first year the DeVille became a standalone model — the car was driven for years by its original owner before being passed to his son. Eventually, the son parked it in a barn, where it remained untouched for two decades. After his passing, his daughter inherited the car and decided to sell it, leading to Sarah’s discovery.
Despite its long dormancy, the Coupe DeVille survived the passage of time in remarkable shape. California’s dry climate spared it from serious corrosion, and the previous owner had waxed the body and covered it before storage. Beneath the dust, the Cadillac retains its original black paint, chrome trim, and factory interior. Under the hood lies the original 390-cubic-inch V8 engine — no longer running, but complete and restorable.
Cadillac built over 53,000 DeVilles in 1959, with about 22,000 of those being the sleek two-door coupes that defined postwar American luxury. With its towering tailfins, acres of chrome, and sweeping body lines, the ’59 Coupe DeVille remains one of the most recognizable cars of its era.
Sarah plans to restore the Cadillac to its former glory while keeping as much originality as possible — a goal that resonates with enthusiasts who value authentic preservation over full modification.
For collectors, this barn find represents more than a restoration project — it’s a rediscovery of mid-century style, family legacy, and the enduring appeal of Cadillac’s most iconic year. As Sarah puts it, “Cars like this deserve to be saved. They tell the story of American design at its boldest.”