It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and spying the hind side of this 1962 Cadillac Sixty-Two convertible drives that claim straight home. The finish, fins, brightwork, and size proclaim, “Yes, this is a Cadillac, and it is the Standard of the World!”. The seller states 13,300 miles – more on that later. T.J. found this king-sized drop-top for us, it’s located in Los Angeles, California and is available, here on craigslist for $40,000.
By 1962, some of Cadillac’s more unrestrained impulse for flair (think 1959 model!), was damped down and a more refined bearing, one suitable for a top-drawer brand, was instituted. That change in direction affected more brands than just Cadillac but it was perhaps most notable on GM’s flagship marque. Cadillac offered two convertibles in ’62, an exalted, Eldorado Biarritz (1,450 total) and a Sixty-Two, such as our subject car (16,800 copies).
Claimed to still be wearing the original finish and interior, there are no demerits that I can give for the exterior presentation of this car as all of it is in magnificent condition – and I mean all of it, the trim, chrome, fabric top, plastic rear window, wheel covers, and on and on. The seller adds that the folding top works as it should.
The seller claims a great running and driving car, all courtesy of a 325 gross HP, 390 CI V8 engine delivering what should be smooth power via a Hydramatic automatic transmission. Everything under the hood looks to be in order but the visuals cause me to doubt the 13K mile claim.
Not surprising for a convertible of this era, even for a Cadillac, is the lack of air conditioning. The most remarkable thing to my eyes, however, is the condition of the leather upholstery – it’s hardly in keeping with the exterior’s stellar condition and actually looks grimy. The rear seat, in particular, shows in a worse state than the front buckets, and the seat bottom has sprouted a hole. Some of what’s visible may be due to excessive top-down time, and maybe a good leather cleaner could help. Speaking of bucket seats, I wasn’t expecting to find that arrangement in a Caddy of this generation.
As for the mileage, sure 13K miles is what the five-digit odometer is telling us but I’m not so certain that it’s accurate. Regardless, while a bit of a surprise with the interior, though not a terrible one, this car still makes a stunning visual statement. That said, I’m not sure it’s a $40,000 statement. What do you think, priced right, or not quite?
Beautiful car with a scroungy engine compartment is a bit strange. These things are almost 20 feet long so you have to have a fairly large garage to put them in. One of the cleanest designs GM ever put out.
Beautiful old Caddy, love the buckets!
That filthiness inside doesn’t feel right.
Never saw a caddy with bucket seats.
`58 was the first year for buckets as an option by Cadillac, and very few were ordered. By the next year in `63, a small center console was added.
A friend’s 61 Eldo convert had them, too.
Not commonly ordered. My 64 convert had them.
Priced right if you smoke a crack pipe.
or sell em
If it doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. A beautiful car for sure. It doesn’t make sense that an owner would bring this car this far along asking 40k and not have it looking perfect. I mean perfect. So – again if it doesn’t seem right then it means somebody is trying to pull the wool over. Your wallet? Good luck. Also a really in depth article – well done.
NOT RIGHT. 40k? It should be perfect. Sounds like someone is trying to pull the wool. Wouldn’t buy this one unless 100% checked out. Beautiful but watch out. Personally I think it’s worth 25k tops the way it is. Good luck.
40K of what: Grass? Snow? Fen-fen? That asked, $40g’s may or may not be an inflated price; depends on what a Caddy enthusiast thinks (I personally am more into ‘verts of Caddy’s younger rival sibling…and those are running higher than ever, even higher than this example). The interior condition may not sync with the exterior condition; but it isn’t a lost cause, and anything in there can be repaired or replaced with ease for one who knows where to look (said Cadillac enthusiasts can point a buyer in the right directions if the buyer is clueless where to start).
The outside of the car is really nice, from an OE/nostalgic perspective. What the article said about the stylists toning down the outrageous excesses of the ’50s may be technically correct; the “Forward-Look” (lexicon lifted from Chrysler) flash-‘n’-fin fad was in its death throes, for numerous reasons, not just one. Heck, never mind ’59; look at ’58 and ’57.
Those two years were even more excessively styled than ’59, and much fatter-looking, too. But Caddy had nothing to offer that was a total departure of that virtually-dead fad (unlike its aforementioned rival sibling, which proved it the year prior, changing the entire industry standard on styling in the process). I think Caddy was counting on its reputation to keep interest, no matter how they styled their products…and that was true for the most part. Lifting cues from the last Eldo-Brougham shell for the ’61 mainstream models (’62 is only a slightly-refined carryover of ’61) still kept the dealers’ doors open, until they could finally phase in the styling cues the rival sibling introduced.
One thing I have to admit to admiring about the ’62 (the year, that is, not the specific model) is the braking system. They made a major leap ahead by designing and standardizing a split-hydraulic system, making the car’s brakes much safer than they ever had been before. Only one other make, Rambler, did the same thing at the same time (and who here even remembers that name?).
Now, a glare-comment: I know A/C was not standard with any make yet…but still, a Cadillac without A/C, even a topless model? How gauche. It’s good just for the rarity of such a car, but a Caddy just isn’t a Caddy without A/C.
It all depends on where you live. Here in the PNW, very few cars of this period had AC, including luxury models. Remember, the AC was about 10% of the cars MSRP, so it wasn’t cheap.
Agreed!! But the interior is a SHOCKER to me…..IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE A GORGEOUS CAR ON THE OUTSIDE AND HAVE A CRAP INTERIOR ON THE INSIDE…AS PERRY COMO USE TO SING, ITS IMPOSSIBLE!!!…U MIGHT HAVE TO PUT TEN THOUSAND INTO THE INTERIOR TO HAVE AN A PLUS CONDITION THAT SHOULD WIN AN AWARD AT ANY CLUB MEET! THE OWNER IS A LAZY ASS FOR NOT COMPLETING THE RESTORATION OF THIS GORGEOUS CADILLAC!
62 WAS MY FAVORITE DESIGN HANDS DOWN AND THE PAINT COLOR IS INCREDIBLE…..!!!!
Another car for sale that needs some detailing under the hood and definitely the interior. Maybe this car was stored with the top down?? As filthy and worn looking as the seats are, Another thing that doesn’t look right is the painted part of the dash under the speedometer as it looks chipped and faded, not sure about the mileage and $40k asking price not me!
Beautiful on the outside after a wash. But the inside 🤢.. never heard of leather cleaner and conditioner? Wow ! People are getting lazy or what! For 40 large ones I want a complete clean ride. That was a big turn off on the interior! 🐻🇺🇸
The car looks straight to me although obviously not cared for in any kind of serious way. If the paint is original and no rust whatsoever, I would probably go for this one, but not for the 40 they’re asking. I would offer 22 and see what comes of it. Again, if it’s original, I would pay top 25-27.
Dear Stuck. Check out Imperials of that period, they are the best-kept and lowest-cost secret of the old car hobby. And NOTHING comes close in terms of quality of construction and reliability. I’ve had well over 100 oldies of all brands (27 of them Imperials) and nothing has ever come close to them for reliability and ease of maintenance when you work on them. It takes 45 minutes start to finish to swap a heater core in an air-conditioned Imperial from 1960 to 1966. You are looking at HOURS for that same job in a Caddy or Lincoln of the same vintage.
$40K is a bit high. I also question the low mileage claim. The interior tells the story. Something is out of balance.
People are pulling out there old stuff because they think high dollar time is here I’m retired and would like and old but goodie but cannot afford any of this stuff I can’t be the only one Then again they don’t make this stuff any more
The interior attacks claim of 13K miles. Bench seat was the norm, but buckets available at extra cost. $25K should be the asking price.
Beautiful body and salvageable interior (all original and intact) that can probably be carefully and accurately re-dyed. Engine compartment needs a good refresh, too. Maybe then a $40k asking price, but that’s what it is, an “asking” price; it is an invitation to make an offer.
I am tempted to go and look because I had its twin down to almost every detail (including buckets) but mine was a factory ac car. Still, nostalgia tugs…..
This joker is asking $50k for that Brougham in the background. That’s another story in itself!
I love the ’62 Cadillac, especially the convertible. But as I looked at the interior, dirty, used dirty, the paint on the dash is chipped. Small things, but enough to make me curious about 13,000 miles. The car looks beautiful, but not for $40,000. Yes, I have seen the front buckets in the Convertible before. I drove a customer’s Cadillac convertible a few times and remember the seats feeling soft and overstuffed, like big pillows. My Mom, 4’9″ at that time, needed 2 pillows to sit on, to see over the dashboard.
Are the seats fabric or leather ? Yes, when I see any Cadillac I expect to see it equipped with A/C, too bad they chose not to spiff up under hood to match the gorgeous looking exterior. I think it may be slightly too enthusiastic @ 40 K. It requires a close visual inspection by a professional
There were NO cloth interiors offered in con
verts by US manufacturers except by Chryco. Leather seating surfaces (w/matching vinyl bolsters)
were standard at Cad on converts.
A black and white houndstooth check was available for the1962 El Dorado.
This car does not have 13, 000 miles on it.
The lower part of the dash to the left and right of the steering column is sure beat up for a 13K mile car. Don’t think I would believe that stat.
Luv the fins…..you could impale someone….backing up.
Really could use one of these in some of these urban warzones. lol
To Emel. I did impale a kid on a rocket 88 hood spear running across an on ramp in heavy snow in 1957. Big gash in thigh and I stopped and took him directly to the hospital. The policeman at the hospital asked why I didn’t call the police—no cell phones! Fortunately the injury wasn’t a bleeder and no bone breaks or other injuries.
More like 113,000 miles and that would explain the Interior and the engine bay. $40k is way beyond full blown retail and I agree with other comments that $25k is tops. And also a non factory air car, and a Cadillac at that.
Definitely 113,000. My 67 Eldo looked way better inside than this at 125,000.
No A/C, that interior, and the dishonesty about the mileage, nah, 30 grand tops
Gorgeous ride I’d love to own. $40k, not so much. I could see 13,000 miles if the owner let their dog run wild inside while they shopped . . . Or stopped by the tavern.
My favorite year and model of Cadillac…
Ok, showing everyone my age, but here goes.
Back in 1972 when I was 16 years old, I bought my 1st car for $100 and it was a 62 Caddy ragtop. It was a beater even then that the top wouldn’t go down in the sunshine, and wouldn’t go back up in the rain, but boy was I the most popular guy in High School when we were all heading to the beach.
That thing was good old American iron and proved it one day. I loaned it to a friend to use and he ran it out of gas and left it on the side of the road down the street from my parents house. He walked over to get the gas can from my Dad’s lawn mower and as we were talking we hear this big crash. A new Cutlass crashed into the Caddy and was totalled. The police weren’t happy and said as I had no gas in the car and my friend walked away that my car was abandoned and towed it on the spot.
I sold it soon after as I never did tell my Dad I owned a car and he wasn’t happy about paying for my troubles.