For the model year 1962, the de Ville series of Cadillacs was a step up from the Series 62, not that there was anything basic about a Cadillac. These were well-appointed automobiles that continued to outsell the competition, i.e., Lincoln and Imperial. This Coupe de Ville is an original Arizona car that’s probably seen more than its fair share of the desert sun and heat. A great deal of recent mechanical work has been done, leaving paint and interior work to the next owner. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this well-worn survivor is available here on craigslist for $8,500.
Cadillac reported an exceptionally good sales year for 1962, with total production up by some 22,000 cars from the year before. Out of a population of 160,840 units, the Coupe de Ville (2-door hardtop) represented 25,675 copies or about 16% of the total. Most of the people who bought Caddies bought 4-door models as opposed to coupes. The tailfins on the ’62 Caddies would shrink for the second year in a row as the industry had largely moved away from that styling technique.
The seller of this ’62 edition of the Coupe de Ville looks to have just finished doing a ton of work on the car. This means that’s time, effort, and money that the next owner will not have to perform. Some of these repairs/improvements are:
- New front end, including shock absorbers
- New brakes, including master cylinder
- New radiator, water pump, generator, and rebuilt starter and carburetor
- New u-joints, muffler, and Coker wide whitewall tires
- New windshield
After all this work, we’re told the car runs and drives well, leaving most of the undone work to cosmetic issues. These Caddies came with a 390 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carb which was good for 325 hp on premium fuel. This was an air-conditioned car from the factory, but that system has not been redone but all the parts have been retained for the buyer. The odometer reading is 65,000+ miles, but the cable is likely broken and that will need to be fixed, so the real mileage of the car is unknown.
For those into patina, I suppose you could leave the body alone, at least for now. We’re told it has no rust which would be attributed to its Arizona heritage. But the silver paint is tired, one of the taillight lenses seems to be missing as is the panel above the rear bumper for access to the gas tank. The chrome and glass look darn good.
However, you won’t be able to wait on the interior. Just about all things there need attention, from the dash pad, upholstery, door panels, and carpeting. We’re not certain that a back seat is even present. The resale value on an Excellent condition 1962 de Ville is $30,000, so if the paint and interior work (and whatever else we might not know about) can be accomplished for under $20,000, maybe the asking price is in line.
Looks like you will spend most of your coin on the interior. Would be ideal to find a east coast Cadillac dying of cancer that would give up it’s interior to let this one live. Car has really clean lines and the lack of rust is very attractive.
Is that a gigantic ashtray? The center of dash open?
That is the ashtray, it’s huge. Family used to have a ‘61, nearly identical dash
That is the glove compartment, the latch apparently doesn’t work. The ashtray is just to the left of it.
That is heck of an ashtray. I guess they did not like to empty it very often.
No, that is the glove box. There are two smaller ash trays with lighters on either side of the glove box – one for the driver and one for the passenger. There are two more ashtrays for the back seat passengers.
Judging by the size of the Caddy, I thought that was not an ashtray, but a parking meter coin storage box ?
Beautiful looking car. Assuming all parts are there, this would make an awesome restoration. 1962 and 1964 are my favourite years for Cadillac.
We had a white ’62 Sedan DeVille and a blue with a blue vinyl top ’64 Sedan DeVille. Both real beauties. Also over the years, a ’60 sedan DeVille, a ’68 Eldorado and a ’70 DeVille convertible. All great vehicles really. Also had a ’66 Lincoln Continental with the suicide doors and a ’72 2-door Lincoln Continental coupe. Folks liked big luxury vehicles back then & usually were leased through the business.
My Dad’s dream car! He bought one of these for Sunday and special occasions. He loved it and took amazing care his was a white de Ville with a red interior. He let me drive it back from my successful completion of my driver’s test in High School. The steering was so soft and non-responsive it seemed hard at the time to keep it going in a straight line.
The steering problem was probably bias ply tires. If he had radials it would track well.
Bob Mck
Thanks.
You might be right about the tired. I had a 69 Camaro with polyglass and didn’t notice the same issue. Then again that was 50 years ago.
Steering must have changed a bit over the years? I had a 67 that was a very nice responsive car. Then a few years later a 73 which was just a barge nothing there.
Bill Hall,
I have since growing up owned three Cadillac SLS Sevilles. Steering was great! Performance from the Norstar great! Brakes worked like a limo, smooth and easy on the passengers, but in no way capable for rally racing.
That’s the glovebox, dummies! The 2 ashtrays are closed on either side of the glove box
The steering problem was probably bias ply tires. If he had radials it would track well.
Seriously?
What a rust free,desert sweetie. Thankfully he kept AC components. Too bad he didnt keep the back seat frame. A very fair asking price for one in this condition.
Unless you can find a parts car, the restoration is going to cost a whole lot more than $20k