The Series 62 was positioned just below the DeVilles throughout the 1950s and 1960s, but anything named Cadillac was still a big, luxurious car. Also called the Series Sixty-Two, the line would be renamed the Calais in 1965. This 1960 convertible is an unfinished project where most of the heavy lifting seems to have already been done. Put in some seats, door panels, and a new top, and you might be ready to go cruising! Located in Bridgeton, New Jersey, this 225-inch land yacht is available here on eBay where $22,300 has yet to crack the reserve.
When the sixth generation of the Series 62 was introduced in 1959, it would only be a two-year design. But the 1959s would be remembered for their iconic, huge tailfins with dual bullet taillights. The styling would be toned down slightly in 1960, but it wouldn’t be until 1961 when they became statelier in appearance. The convertible was popular, with some 14,000 copies built for the 1960 model year. The cars were powered by a 390 cubic inch V8 that boasted 325 hp with a high-compression set-up. That, combined with the weight of these big cars, meant that achieving anything over 15 mpg would be a pipe dream.
Nothing is mentioned about the history of this car before the commencement of its restoration. No doubt some bodywork was required as the floors had to be replaced. This 62 sports shiny new red paint along with re-chromed bumpers in the front and back. New wire wheels can be found on all four corners along with replaced rubber donuts, as well.
The engine and Hydramatic transmission have both been rebuilt and a new exhaust system installed. A new rear wiring harness was required suggesting this may have been a barn find where denizens of the dark may have been doing some chewing. A disk brake conversion has taken place up front along with new drum brakes in the back. There is no mention of the whereabouts of the missing interior pieces, so you should assume they will need to be sourced and installed along with a new top.
Here’s a ’59 Cadillac story.
Way back in the Cretaceous Period (summer 1976), I was learning to play the guitar, and had a big hippie guy named Ben Littlejohn as my guitar teacher. The name fit the guy perfectly with his robust stature, hearty laugh, and crazy long blonde hair. Ben drove this ’59 Caddie he got for fifty bucks from somewhere, and it was a perfect fit for his out-sized character.
One afternoon Ben and I hop in to this ’59 Caddie 4-door and lumber off to Granville to buy a bag of weed. I think the brakes barely worked on this car.
Somewhere on the Denison campus we score the ounce, smoke a joint or two, then head back to Newark. We stash the bag in the glove box.
Somewhere on 16 we get pulled over by the Highway Patrol. The car must have reeked of pot. It’s no mystery why the Patrol would have pulled over a beat up ’59 Caddie with Ben at the wheel, so over on the berm we went, and Ben was summoned to the patrol car behind.
As I sat there with visions of prison dancing in my head, I remembered that the the bag of weed was sitting in the glove box. In what was an impossibly lucid moment (considering the circumstances), I realized that the cop was gonna ask Ben for the title and registration, which I assumed was in the glove box. So, I stealthily removed the bag and hid it under my seat. A minute later, the passenger door swings open, and the cop is telling Ben to open the glove box.
Ben is visibly terrified at the prospect of opening the glove box, but is visibly amazed to see that the bag of weed isn’t in there. All title and registration info was up to date, and in short order Ben and I were on our way, as nervous as two stoners could be.
Had this happened 10 years later, I imagine I’d just now be making parole.
Best story I’ve read this week! Love it.
Stoners have always been smarter than the police.
Points on outsmarting The Man, man.
Bob
No – stoners always THOUGHT they were smarter than the police. As one of the victims of this line of thought, I can testify to the foolishness of this theory.
Rather have the Jag roadster. Lots of nice ones in that barn.