The 1941 Cadillac was a true forerunner in automotive styling history. Cadillac was such a styling leader that other makes were almost forced to follow their trends, and when the 1941 model introduced a bold horizontal motif with its wide grille, most other luxury makes followed (aside from Packard, who had practically copyrighted a big, vertical grille). Sadly, the 1938 Lincoln Zephyr was the first car to test the waters with its pretty, low horizontal twin grilles, but the 1941 Cadillac was so audacious about it that it became the de facto originator. As a result, the 1941 Cadillac is one of the most popular prewar cars out there because of its attractive styling and reliable mechanical bits. This Series Sixty-Two Touring Sedan was a popular choice among Cadillac buyers, and Barn Finder T.J. found it here on Marketplace in Sterling, Colorado, with an asking price of $15,000.
It took me a minute to get my bearings on this Cadillac, as the listing header presents it as a Sixty Special, which would make it worth at least a little more than a Series Sixty-Two. Regardless of nameplate, the engine was the same, Cadillac’s tough flathead 346-cubic-inch V8, which produced a strong (for 1941) 150 horsepower. The 346 was quiet, too, with standard hydraulic lifters on all models. While the Hydra-Matic was an option at $125 (or $135, depending on your source), the original owner of this car chose the standard three-speed manual, which was synchronized on the top two gears. With the torquey V8, many drivers would have simply started off in second gear anyway. You might notice the apparatus on the top tank of the radiator: That operated the grille shutters, which helped the engine warm up faster.
The seller doesn’t give us much to go on, so this may or may not be a running engine.
The interior, however, has been “redone recently,” and it looks like it was done well.
The only thing that worries me is the packets of what appears to be mouse poison or moth balls all over the rear floor. I hope the mice haven’t gotten in; they’re destructive little critters.
Based on the Montana plates and surrounding furniture, I would imagine that this car is a part of an estate, which means that it was probably a well-cared-for car that’s now been sitting for quite some time. It should clean up well, and the two-tone paint combination (Fairoaks Green/El Centro Green?) should be a stunner when shined up and sitting out in the sunlight. But it’s not going to happen without some elbow grease and money. What would be a fair offer for this stately Caddy?
Those look to be desiccant packets, to keep things dry.
Nice write-up, Aaron. The paint looks good, the body looks solid, and, as you noted, it has a nicely redone interior. I realize Cadillacs have a following but interest in cars of this era really seems to be on the wane. Lack of information aside, if it was a running & driving vehicle, I would think $12K would be a reasonable offer.
You are right, cars from this era are dropping in popularity, and price. Some people like to claim market for muscle cars is going to collapse, it might, one day, but that day is still decades off. Unlike many 1950’s and earlier cars, which no longer have much of a following, musclecars still have a multi generational following, which isn’t going away anytime soon.
Steve R
Muscle cars of the 60s are dropping in value and interest. People who drove them in youth are in graves or will soon be in one. Young people could care less about them. In my work I deal with many young people, many don’t even know how to drive and don’t care to learn. Part of that is location and lifestyle, but a bigger part is todays harsh economics for them. Only pristine restored examples used for investments by people with so much money they struggle with how to spend it will buy them, , but when the thrill wears off for them, they will move onto something else. Too bad about this Caddie, its a beauty, but who will buy it at that price?
Now, if this were a Series 61 coupe, there’d probably be a little more interest, and a higher price. But this looks so nice!
Two too many doors..otherwise, looks like a thorough detailing would make it saleable.
big stink going on about people hiding stuff out in Montana to avoid taxes. my wife worked for a company that did that. good looking caddy
Nice car, but it doesn’t look much different than other GM vehicles of that era.
Aaron, are you a shiftless driver? It doesn’t make any difference if you start out in 1st or 2nd gear with a transmission that has nonsynchro first gear. You’re shifting into a synchronized gear- whether it’s 2nd or 3rd. The pain is being in 2nd, and getting slowed down in traffic- then being unable to downshift without coming to a full stop. In theory, you can match the RPM, and downshift on the fly. However, I drove a Ford pickup early on, and you basically had to come to a full stop- and count to three- before it would engage low gear. Aarrgghh! 😖
Oh no, I have several manual transmission cars, Bunky. My ’65 Dart wagon has a non-synchro first, and it’s a pain when you’re going just slowly enough that second is a bad option, but you’re not stopped.
With that being said, I’ve always heard these classic eights with three-speeds could be started out in second to avoid worrying about shifting down to first because they had so much low-end torque.
A late friend of mine, whose first car was a ’39 Buick Special, bought in 1955, always started off in 2nd gear while driving a straight eight Buick.
It’s very rare that one has to downshift into first. I’ve only done it maybe once in 60 years. Then one would double clutch. In traffic if slowing, I just go into neutral and push on the brakes.
This brings back fond memories; my dad had a 41 Cadillac four-door convertible, but I don’t remember the specific model. I used to drive it in an annual parade in East Texas. Reading the above comments reminds me of how you could easily start off in second gear. What a great car!
This could be a very nice car with some attention and putting in some money into it, would be nice to know if it is in running condition? I believe it is a little high for this particular market considering there are a lot of unknowns about this car…the new buyer should be cautious because this car can easily add up to putting thousands into it just possibly with motor, transmission , brakes etc