Iranian restorer brings famed Cadillac Sevilles back to life

(24 Jun 2023)
IRAN CADILLAC RESTORATION

SOURCE:

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LENGTH: 03:48

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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Roudehen, Iran - 7 June 2023

1. Restored Cadillac exiting showroom
2. Driver taking out old cassette, putting it into player
3. Close of steering wheel
4. Pan from driver driving to dashboard
5. Cadillac logo on hood
6. Low angle of restored Cadillac
7. Mid of car
8. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Khosro Dahaghin, Cadillac Iran owner:
"The most luxurious and the most special car that was assembled in Iran was Cadillac Iran. The first time this car was assembled outside U.S. soil was in Iran. At that time, I can say no other brand could rival this car in any aspect imaginable."

9. Cadillac logo
10. Side mirror with Cadillac logo
11. Wide of cars in workshop
12. Person cleaning car
13. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Khosro Dahaghin, Cadillac Iran owner:
"Over time, these cars became broken and worn-out as a result of poor usage and lack of proper maintenance. Some of them were destroyed. Now we restore these cars after years and when they are back on the streets they are both very beautiful and very special compared to other cars."

14. Photos of cars restored by the team at workshop
15. Various of Dahaghin and worker inspecting car
16. Wide of workshop
17. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Khosro Dahaghin, Cadillac Iran owner:
"Many people love this car. Many people have memories with this car and (when they see these cars) those memories are rekindled. Most of the existing cars are unusable as daily drivers due to their worn-out condition and if you take them on the road they might break down and stop. But the cars we restore become top notch in terms of technical features, electrical systems as well as appearance."

18. Worker holding wires
19. Wide of workshop with U.S. flag on wall
20. Pan left of restored car
21. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Khosro Dahaghin, Cadillac Iran owner:
"I love (seeing the results of the restoration). This is an exceptional experience. The moment I see the before and after photos of the car, I can't describe the feeling. I get to enjoy it first before anyone else."

22. Cabin
23. Label with tire information
24. Steering wheel
25. Mid of car cabin
26. Mid of car

LEADIN:

In Iran, a car renovator has found a niche: giving a second life to Cadillac Sevilles, a model which was built in the country just before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

However, his job has become more challenging because of limited parts availability.

STORYLINE:

This sleek, polished dark blue 1978 Cadillac Seville is leaving the garage as new.

That's where Khosro Dahaghin and his colleagues restore this car model at a garage in Roudehen, some 45 kilometres (30 miles) east of downtown Tehran, after being inspired by the former MTV reality show “Pimp My Ride.”

The Sevilles, once assembled in Iran, represented the height of luxury in the country just before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

General Motors had partnered with an Iranian firm to build the sedans, selling them for two-and-a-half times the price in America at the zenith of the country's oil wealth.


“The most luxurious and the most special car that was assembled in Iran was Cadillac Iran," says Dahaghin.



















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