- Seller: Gence A (Contact)
- Location: Santa Rosa, California
- Mileage: 7,477 Shown
- Chassis #: 526278597
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 331 cui V8
- Transmission: 4-Speed HydraMatic
Cadillac celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1952, and this beautiful Series 62 Coupe proves that they had come a long way from those wonderful single-cylinder 1902 models that were so brilliantly crafted by that great American engineer, Henry M. Leland. Cadillac’s 1952 models were, at the time, the latest in that long line of top-of-the-line luxury cars that provided the rare combination of style and substance, and this example was lovingly owned by the same family in Montana, who dubbed it the “Blue Goose,” from 1961 to 2015. It’s now being offered for sale as a Barn Finds Auction in Santa Rosa, California, and it’s an excellent chance to own a ’50s Cadillac that is very nice, but not too nice to drive and enjoy.
Harley Earl, General Motors’ famous chief stylist and master showman, preferred big, domed hoods on his creations to show a sense of power waiting to be unleashed. In the Cadillac, that wasn’t an exaggeration, as its 190-horsepower 331-cubic-inch V8 was the most powerful engine in the industry in 1952. Backed by GM’s brilliant four-speed Hydra-Matic, it was a power team befitting Mr. Earl’s Motorama-influenced styling. This example has been upgraded with a 12-volt electrical system with an alternator and a push-button-operated starter, in addition to an electric windshield wiper motor.
The interior is in extremely nice condition (see the photos in the gallery below), but the seller does tell us that the Cadillac will need some repairs. The heater, radio, clock, speedometer, and other gauges are not currently working. The manual front seat adjuster needs some attention, the brakes need adjustment, and it definitely needs a new set of wide-whitewall tires.
Although the paint job is only about a decade old, the door, trunk, and underhood jambs all wear their original coat of Olympic Blue. The body tag tells us that the car has paint code “20,” which means that it was originally painted Olympic Blue with a Nassau Blue roof. The current paint job is painted in a single tone, but it’s a nice-looking color that’s a fine complement to the code “42” interior: Light Blue Bedford Cord and Dark Blue Plain Broadcloth. The seller also notes that the body has some small dings, and there is a crack in the front passenger-side window glass.
Montana is clearly not hard on a car’s undercarriage, and although it’s not detailed, it’s clear that there is no major rust or obvious repairs. Early ’50 GM products were well-built and well-engineered, and the original components can last a long time if they’re properly taken care of.
This ’52 Cadillac is clearly not the car for the introvert, as it will draw attention wherever you go. The seller will include some period literature, luggage, and other accoutrements shown in the photo gallery. If you want a car from a period where the phrase “Standard of the World” could be used with pride, place a bid on Barn Finds Auctions.
Bid On This Auction
Anders bid $6,000.00 2025-09-02 11:58:05
JimZ bid $5,900.00 2025-08-28 05:58:09
Stu Preston bid $2,500.00 2025-08-27 09:49:54
Incredible vehicule. With not to much expenses this could be a gem. Now please contribute to my education i’m guessing one of the two blue reservoirs.is power steering but why a second ?
It’s the oil filter canister, Robert. You remove the bolt on top, suck out the old oil, replace the filter element, and put the lid (and spring) back on with a new gasket.
Thanks Aa. I was wondering also.
Thank you Aaron. It’s actually a great idea to have an easy reach top side rather than go under.
NICE is about all I can say. If I ever hit big on the lottery, I wouldn’t tell anybody but there would be signs. This would be one of them. A couple of things I really like are 1. no power windows and 2. no power seat. Back in ’52 I believe those power accessories were hydraulic, so you had oil line running throughout the car. A friends father had a ’52? Caddy convertible. Putting up the top one time (as the story was told to me) a hydraulic line popped. The top went back down, all of the windows went down and the seat moved all of the way back. He said it was a pain to repair and the smell never went away. Many people back then bought Cadillacs because they were well made, not for the doodads. This car doesn’t need them.
Agreed. Not only did the hydraulic fluid smell, but it was very corrosive and would eat anything it touched. That’s why if
I was restoring one of these with
power windows, I’d use straight
electric motors instead of the hydro electric ones from the factory. I would also use a period
correct modern radio with AM/FM stereo with Syrius XM and Bluetooth. Other than that,
she’s fine the way she is. Angel’s
gonna love this one!
Beautiful car, beautiful proportions. I think GM hit it out of the park style-wise in the early 50’s…this car, the ’51 Chev above, Buick with their great grilles, and of course the hot ’50 Olds. These cars have flown under the radar but there seems to be at least some growing appreciation for them even tho so many of us from that era are leaving the scene.
I remember how excited my 7 year old self was watching our brand new ’51 Chev 2 door come down the ramp at Ellis Brooks Chevrolet in San Francisco. Great memory.
Reminds me of the car Buddy Ebsen was driving in the movie Smash up on Interstate 5.
YES! I love that movie. I think his was a ’50 or ’51
Harriet Nelson played his wife
1952. 331 cu. in. 190 hp
1976. 500 cu. in. 190 hp
Enough said
But Angel, that is gross vs SAE net. A bit of a difference.
@Bob C.
You’re right, I forgot about that.
So why did they change the measurement calculations? Anyone know?
SAE net was far more accurate a rating because it took more factors into account, such as accessories, emissions equipment, exhaust, etc. Gross horsepower rating could be taken with headers, an advantageous ignition timing curve, and a little bit of marketing hype.
This car is the absolute epitome of American superiority of design and function. It was so many years ahead of it’s time in every aspect that any person, car enthusiast or not, will stop in their tracks to either watch this show boat go by, or take a walk around it as it sits anywhere it’s found, and feel the urge to maybe actually reach out and touch it.
One really appreciates these Cadillacs when you se them in person. Pictures can’t convey the presence. When this one was built it truly was the standard of the world. GLWTS.
Yeah, I remember that movie too.
And it’s sad that Buddy Ebsen’s
Caddy gave it’s life for our entertainment. And it’s really true
what Carbob said about them in his post. When you see one, you
really do wanna reach out and touch it. I must’ve had a great childhood as my parents owned
several of them over the years.
From the ’55 pea green ragtop with wire wheels and a Connie kit,
to the ’66 Calais 4-door hardtop
that I bought from them in 1970,
there was always a Cadillac in our driveway. And though they were used when we got them, Mom always knew what it was like to drive the standard of the world 🌎
I had a great childhood as well although quite different. We were poor, lived out in the country and my father always bought used Chevys, plain jane models. I had to live vicariously through my aunts and uncles. They were the ones with the Cadillacs and fancy Pontiacs and convertibles. Although, none ever had any cars with the wire rims, continental kit, spinners, etc.
The Cadillac convertible you are describing would be the perfect car for me…….. except for the color. You know I hate green, Ken
Even if the emblems that say Cadillac were removed, no one would mistake it for anything but a Caddy King of the Road Hog. What ever it sells for it’s worth twice as much.
What can I say Angel, Dad bought it that way! We sure had a lot of fun with that ragtop too! We’d pull up to the church with the radio set on WLS out of Chicago
or WHOW in Clinton, Illinois and
blaring out whatever music that we were listening to back then much to the dislike of the older members
of the congregation. Well, with the help of a friend, Dad installed
a huuuge Knight C-22 CB radio under the dash of the ragtop and
mounted an M-67 antenna on the
trunklid. Now this was 1965– a good ten years before CBs were
popular. Well, ons Sunday morning, Dad pulls into the parking lot to pick us up but the
service wasn’t over yet. Reverend
Phillips was giving a moving sermon when he said: “…And one
day the Lord will speak unto you!”
About that time, Dad keyed the Mike on the CB radio and his voice came over the sound system inside the church. The
Pastor dropped his Bible and his teeth, the congregation sat there
stunned for a minute. And my Mom? She turned beet red and
hid her face with her Bible and
pretended NOT to know my Dad!
Everyone inside was fixated on the Pastor that they really thought that God was speaking to.them!!! LMAO! we kept the ragtop til Dad bought a ’56 Sedan
DeVille. And no, it didn’t have a CB radio in it! They would go on
to own at least ten more Cadillacs before Dad bought Mom that God awful Chevy Caprice 4-door hardtop in ’73. That’s when I left my keys with Mom while I was touring to whatever car I had then. Do I want another Cadillac? You bet I do!!! Maybe someday, maybe someday…
You got another 20 years at least. Someday might be sooner than you think.
You wouldn’t happen to have a picture of it somewhere would you?
No honey, I don’t but I recall the car well enough to make a drawing of it. All I have to do is mix the color and draw it. And for you, my dear, I would make one in that rich dark red you like so much and can’t resist. As for the
radio, it was a 1964 Knight C-22 a
unit so large that the Knight Electronics company sold them
strictly as base stations and DIDN’T recommend their use in a
vehicle. Dad and his friend Charlie Law (his real name) mounted that under the dash of
the ragtop and It looked like it grew there. Then, they put in a 150 watt signal booster in the trunk. Pretty radical for 1965, but
Dad and Charlie ran a Globe Star
CB radio franchise as a side hustle back then so they knew what they were doing. This car here reminds me of the car that
Hank Williams Sr died in on the way to a show in Oak Hill, West
Virginia New Year’s Day of 1953.
That car still exists and you can see it at the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. Hank Jr found the car
and had it restored in ’72. And that car has the hashmark trim from a Fleetwood sedan on it. When I asked him about it, he told me that it was made that way. And no, I wouldn’t mind having this car, but neither of the girls like Cadillacs. It really bites being
legally blind. I can’t drive the old cars I love so much.