The Cadillac Mirage lives up to its name: from a distance, it may not seem as real. However, unlike its name, the quirky luxury pickup truck is definitely real. The eccentric vehicle is the brainchild of legendary auto customizer Gene Winfield and his crew at Traditional Coach Works.
Only 200 units were built between 1975 and 1976, all of which began as the Cadillac Coupe de Villes. Traditional Coach Works then cut the rear and widened it to accommodate the tailgate, which was grafted into the back of the vehicle. Although these pickups were not ordered by Cadillac in any way, they are still available for sale exclusively at Cadillac dealers across the country.
The Cadillac Mirage pickup utilizes a large 500 cubic-inch V8 engine capable of 200 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The custom pickup also features a number of premium features such as power steering, power brake, power windows, power lock, power seat, automatic climate control and air conditioning, and automatic transmission. The bed is large enough to transport a full-size sheet of plywood, and an additional compartment for storage can be accessed by lifting the floor of the bed. Some Mirages even have a special storage compartment made specifically to fit a golf bag, accessible via a side access door.
Considering the heavy modifications, the Cadillac Mirage costs almost twice as much as the standard Coupe de Ville, but that doesn’t seem to deter staunch buyers. In fact, the first Mirage was bought by the famous daredevil, Evel Knievel.
This particular Cadillac Mirage was re-polished with Georgian Silver Metallic in 2018, with an Elkgrain vinyl upper. The chrome trim appears to have been well cared for, along with the bedding, which doesn’t appear to have been abused during its lifetime. This unique pickup also has a golf bag compartment, and uses a set of chrome Tru-Spoke wheels and whitewall radial tires.
The driver’s seat, draped in gray leather, is showing its age a bit, but would probably be a candidate for recoloring. The passenger side seats have fared slightly better, but are still showing signs of wear and tear. The Mirage offers automatic climate control, power windows, electric brakes, electric seats, tilt wheels and even cruise control.
Plus, the 500 cubic inch powerhouse under the hood is polished and clean, with no evidence of stray fluids staining the engine bay.
The incredibly rare Cadillac Mirage rolled across the auction block at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction last week, selling for $41,800, including buyer’s premium.
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