The result was the 1953 Cadillac “Elegante”—a wild, gold-plated, Italian-bodied concept car that is now heading to public auction for the very first time in its 73-year history. Detroit Bones, Italian SuitThe Elegante was never an official General Motors product. Armed with a standard 1953 Cadillac Series 62 chassis and its original 331-cubic-inch V8 engine, the duo shipped the underpinnings to Turin, Italy. There, the renowned craftsmen at Carrozzeria Rocco Motto spent a grueling 30 months hand-forming a completely custom aluminum body. Finished in Mother of Pearl white, the Elegante completely ditched standard chrome in favor of 24-karat gold-plated trim on the headlight surrounds, windshield bezel, and custom wheels.