Cadillacs and country music have long gone hand-in-hand. Hank Williams took his last ride in one. Dwight Yoakam sang of “guitars, Cadillacs.” And Dolly Parton apparently used this one in a photo shoot for her Hungry Again album, which was released in 1998. The seller on Facebook Marketplace in Brighton, Michigan, says that the car was restored in the early 1990s and used for the back cover of the album. It was a Nashville car from new until a few years ago when he drove it up to Michigan, and he is currently using it as a daily driver. With 86,700 miles on the odometer, this Cadillac from one of the best periods in that long-running nameplate’s history probably has another 61 years left in it, and the asking price is $9,800.
Because of its days in the comparatively salt-free home of country and western music, this Michigan car looks nothing like a Michigan car underneath. The floor pans, rocker panel pinch welds, and everything else appear to be unrestored but completely solid. Even the exhaust system looks fine.
The upholstery lends credence to the comment that the car was restored in the ’90s, as the Cutlass Ciera-like upholstery is nothing like Cadillac would have used in 1964, nor is the upgraded radio in a neat box underneath the dashboard; however, none of that should matter much to anyone who wants a relatively low-mileage solid driver, and this one fits that mission nicely. The Series Sixty-Two was the “base Cadillac,” if indeed there was such a thing, but this one came optioned in a way that almost anyone would be happy with; it has power windows, “Comfort Control” air conditioning, power seat, whitewall tires, and automatic headlamps.
The engine is Cadillac’s 340-horsepower 429. The engine architecture itself was redesigned in 1963; although it was still based on the long-running overhead-valve V8 that was introduced in 1949, it was significantly lighter than the 1949-62 Cadillac V8 (but it still maintained its 390-cubic-inch displacement from the previous year). For 1964, Cadillac increased the displacement from the ’63 390 to the aforementioned 429 cubic inches, which produced a whopping 480 lb.-ft. of torque and was funneled through “Hydra-Matic Drive.” The 429 and its transmission were both rebuilt during its ’90s restoration, so they should be good to go (and once again, the owner is driving it daily).
The paint color (on everything but the trunk lid) appears to be Beacon Blue, which is a beautiful shade. I think I’d do my best to match the trunk lid to the existing paint, get rid of the dark tint on the windows, and keep driving on. I’ve never been much of a singer, but for under ten grand, that’s not really a requirement to drive a cool Cadillac that just happens to be one of their best.
It’s amazing that Dolly didn’t charm the chrome off of the front bumper with her “aw, shucks” sweetness. Not my favorite musician, but as a human being, she can’t be beat.
Love the car, but can’t abide the blackout windows. Seems kinda shady.
don’t worry, I took the limo tint off the front windows and windshield. the photos they used for the article are old
Call me a Yankee Doodle Dandy, but I dare any country to equal this car in 1964, or ever, for that matter. Now I’m not talking some Italian exotics, or British hoo-ha luxury, cars for everyday people that made the income leap from Buick/Olds to a Caddy. I’ve been lambasted, again, about where I get my facts from, I merely am providing fodder for discussion. Accuracy is not that important, to me anyway. According to one site,( you may find different) this car cost a whopping $5655 new, or $1,400 more than an Electra 225. I realize that is chump change for most today, but it meant the difference of getting that Caddy, or “settling” for another Buick or Olds, until that next promotion came around,,,,if any. 60-70s Cadillacs were just the epitome of the marque. There wasn’t a car anywhere in the world that was better.
AMEN!!! I agree 110%!
And all the owners of the lesser cars always say their cars ride almost as good as a Cadillac, but I’ve never heard any Cadillac owners ever say that!
Angel 🎤
Hey Stan!
Not sure, think I’m dropping the mic on this one.
Howard keeps expiring lunch dates with me. Appearently I don’t even rate Micky Ds anymore. 😪
Care to go to lunch with me?
Early 60s Cadillacs are not my forté, so to speak. The ’60 is a huge carry over from the outrageous ’59. Then for some unknown reason (The new Lincoln?) Cadillac shrunk down in 1961 and ’62. I definitely didn’t care much for them. The ’63 got larger, thank God, back to Cadillac standards and the ’64 is a carry over from that. Beside the 50s, my interest in Cadillacs really starts around 1965 when the fins finally disappeared and they were true land yachts again. 1964 seems to be a favorite for commercial ads and record albums etc., etc, but to me Cadillacs reblossemed in 1965. Not to say I don’t like them, I like every Cadillac, even the ’61 & ’62 complete with their skegs but real style and grace actually start after ’64.
Angel .. Howard could spring for a Happy 😃 Meal lol 🍔🍟🥤
This one brings back the memories. This is almost a twin to the one I had in my junior year of high school. I bought it in 1974 with about the same mileage on it for 385.00 bucks. Only difference was mine was a Sedan DeVille. But other than that, same color, body style and most of the same options. Not sure, but I think the Series 62 used the old style Hydramatic and the DeVille’s used the new Turbo Hydramatic. Back when I bought mine, nobody wanted these, it was a 10 year old gas hog. I worked in a gas station back then and remember high test going up to 59.9 a gallon! It cost 15 bucks to fill this thing, and I was only making 60 bucks a week. Good thing I only had a car to support. I needed a car to get to work, and I needed a job to pay for my car. It made sense to me back then.
That is one nice Caddy!
Way back in the day (1978), I had a ’64 Coupe deVille that I purchased for a mere $400.00. A true rust belt Bondobuggy that from 20 feet looked pretty darn good, extremely solid underneath and the interior was upholstered in gorgeous black leather that was in near mint condition.This car was amazing, effortless cruiser with more than enough power on tap to pin you back in your seat. Cadillac was absolutely on top of their game in the mid-sixties!!! Whoever gets this one will have an absolutely lovely car!!
SOLD!
Beautiful, elegant automobile. When I was a kid, my grandmother bought a 63 Sedan de Ville in this same color. Cadillac was really all about luxury then. I noticed this series 62 has a gold color in the center of the steering wheel, and I distinctly remember the sedan having red. The first time I heard a Beatles song (I Wanna Hold Your Hand), was from the rear seat speaker in that Cadillac. Great memories.
I wouldn’t kick it off my parking space that’s for sure! Yeah, I’d leave the tint on the windows to
protect the interior and help the
A/C work better. I’d just drive it and enjoy it for what it is: a great
daily driver. And when the seat covers wear out, I’d have them redone in blue leather with brocade centers just like my ’66
Calais 4-door hardtop had in 1970. And Angel honey 🍯, don’t
feel had about being stood up by
Howard. I’d take you anywhere
with me and be damned proud of it too. Reminds me of an old Ricky Nelson song I played in highschool. Been 50+ years, but I
think I might remember some of it.
🎵🎶I’ve been waitn here since
eight…Guess my baby’s found another
date. Stood up, broken hearted
again. She’s out there somewhere havin a ball. Not even thinkin of me at all. Stood
up… Broken hearted 💔 again🎵🎶
Used to play that one and Lonesome Town quite a bit back
then. I sent them to you so that
you could hear them too. Then you can play Stood Up for Howard next time you see him. I
still recall the assembly that my guys and I played at my highschool right before the end of my junior year in ’72. I dedicated Stood Up to all the girls
that stood me up. And I was told
the next day that I made some of
the ladies in the front office cry 😭 when I sang Lonesome Town.
Got treated with a lot more respect from my classmates iny
senior year because of that too.
But I digress. If I could’ve bought this car, I’d let you drive it. And maybe, just maybe that fantasy I
keep having just might come true.
My dad and I both had Sedan de Villes like this, and my brother and I had 1964 Cadillac de Ville convertibles. We loved those cars! I think after 1964 the styling was not as good until the 1967 Eldorados came out.
@ Stan
My man Stan……. even that would make me “happy.”
Wow! You seem to me in demand.
That’s nice.