Very First Cadillac Escalade V Sells At Auction For A Whopping $525,000

The very first Cadillac Escalade V to ever roll off of the production line just sold for more than half a million dollars. The $525,000 winning bid on day two of Barrett Jackson’s Las Vegas show will go to the Detroit chapter of Pensole Lewis College and the SUV even comes with some special perks.

Enthusiasts might remember that each Ferrari F50 was sold with matching shoes but this Escalade buyer is getting a pair that are far more custom. As we mentioned in our initial reporting on this auction, footwear designer Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, the person who reestablished Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design, will collaborate with the buyer to create a one-of-one pair of shoes.

“We are both grateful to Cadillac for its contribution toward diversifying the design industry and for providing support to the next generation of creative talent,” said Dr. Edwards. “In a city well known for both design and automotive manufacturing, we are proud to have Cadillac as a supporter in this incredibly important effort that will literally change the face of the entire design industry.”

Read Also: Here Are All The Quirks And Features Of The ‘Ridiculous’ 682 HP Cadillac Escalade V

Of course, the shoes aren’t the only highlight in this auction. The buyer gets the distinction of owning what Cadillac calls the industry’s most powerful full-size SUV. That “full-size” moniker is important as other brands offer more powerful SUVs but not at this size. Regardless, it’s unquestionably the most powerful and most expensive Escalade ever with a starting MSRP of $149,990.

With a supercharged V8 under the hood pumping out 682 hp (508 kW) it’s a serious performer and can go from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in just 4.4 seconds and through a quarter-mile drag race in just 12.74-seconds at 110 mph (177 km/h). The specific example sold here, VIN 001, sports a color called Radiant Red Tintcoat, matching brake calipers, and dark accents both inside and out.

The Escalade V is only the latest in the family to go to auction after the first production V-Series Blackwing sedans and the CT5-V Blackwing 120th Anniversary edition.