- Seller: Don M
- Location: Taft, California
- Mileage: 69,150 Shown
- Chassis #: 61D120629
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 390 V8
- Transmission: 4-Speed Hydramatic
Way back in 1961, in the midst of their golden age, Cadillac tried something way ahead of its time – they offered a smaller car. It was called the Town Sedan. Based on the Series 62 DeVille, Cadillac chopped seven inches from the decklid, reducing the overall length from 222 inches to 215; the wheelbase and everything else stayed the same. Although it was ostensibly easier to park and maneuver, the Town Sedan suffered in a marketplace that didn’t want to pay full price for a smaller car (it cost the same as the standard Series 62 Sedan). Now, it’s a fascinating footnote in Cadillac history, and we have an example of a true barn find for sale as a Barn Finds Auction. Purchased from the car’s second owner in 1974, this Town Sedan has spent years in the same family, but it’s looking for a new one. Being sold as a project with a parts car, this ’61 has been off the road since 2003.
Even though the Town Sedan was lopped off at the tail, it still wore Cadillac’s trademark fins along with the unique “skegs” found on the ’61 models. The owner and his son took turns driving the ’61 over the years, and while he was in high school, the son did some bodywork and primed the Cadillac. It’s a solid car, but the Long Beach air has left a coating of surface rust on the undercarriage. There are plenty of pictures posted below for a closer look.
Cadillacs of the ’60s were known for their effortless power, and the Town Sedan had the same 325-horsepower 390 as the rest of the Cadillac line, in addition to the long-running four-speed Hydramatic. Unfortunately, the transmission will need rebuilding before the car will move under its own power. The drivetrain itself was always lauded in magazine road tests of the era for its potent, quiet, and efficient performance. Cadillac was truly the gold standard of luxury cars in 1961, which is all the more surprising considering it was mass-produced like any other big luxury car from Detroit.
The interior will need some deep cleaning, and the front seat may need some new material, but the door panels and rear seat upholstery look as if they may be reusable. The seller notes that the original upholstery of the Town Sedan has been covered, so it might be usable as well
In addition to a Town Sedan project, you’ll also get a parts car, a ’61 Sedan DeVille. The Town Sedan is a solid restoration project that will be the source of many a question at your weekend car meet; it’s clearly shorter than a standard Cadillac, and with a mere 3,756 built for 1961, it’s a rarity. Both cars have lived their entire lives in California and are currently in Taft, California. If you love big luxury classics, this may be the Cadillac project for you!
The seller could’ve taken 1,000 pics and it still wouldn’t help sell this Caddy. Without pushing the car outside–give it a garden hose wash maybe to further eyeball the condition–he’s done himself no favors. Maybe he expects the buyer to clear out the garage too in order to remove it? (eye roll)