Heck of a way to start out right? The seller should add, “will need to bring a slim jim and a jumper wire“. OK, so that’s not the end of the world, and it’s an easy enough problem to remedy. This 1950 Cadillac 62 looks like a luxury tank, it just has a “mow ’em down in style” vibe about itself. The seller claims it to be “a true survivor as being totally original” but let’s see if that holds true. Located in Discovery Bay, California, this Standard of the World drop top is available, here on eBay for an opening bid of $22,750. T.J. gets a nod and a wink for this discovery!
Stated as being straight as well as accident and dent-free, this Caddy’s biggest detraction is its original, very faded black finish – no surprise of course. The chrome plating and stainless trim are weak too, but again, that’s to be expected on a car that’s closing in on three-quarters of a century of existence. The seller adds, “I was planning on having it mechanically gone thru (gone thru?! What exactly does that mean?) and doing interior and top and keeping the outside buffed and preserved as is as so original..” I think I’d forget about trying to maintain the “patina”. This is a Cadillac 62 convertible for crying out loud, it needs to be refinished in its original Code 1 Black hue. Oh, and there are no included images of the folding top in the raised position so I would assume that it’s going to need attention.
While not a runner, the seller tells us that the 160-gross HP, 331 CI V8 engine turns freely and did run seven years ago – OK, good to know. GM’s famed Hydramatic automatic transmission handles gear changes but a manual three-speed gearbox was still standard equipment in 1950.
That seemingly non-operational convertible top may help explain the condition of the interior, that rear seat backrest is quite a sight – it has just sort of exploded. The blue leather upholstery, which was likely as fine an interior appointment as one could experience in ’50, is going to need a major makeover. There’s dirt and dust everywhere, the carpet has disintegrated, and instruments are looking like they would be up for some brightening. The steering wheel hasn’t been reduced to chunks, yet, but it’s on its way.
Well documented this convertible is, and the seller feels that the term “Survivor” is an apt descriptor. I suppose in a sense it is, but that term seems to be more commonly applied to a running, useable vehicle that is still in very nice original condition and is just showing some typical signs of wear and aging. Regardless, this is a substantial car, in original condition, and it is certainly worth saving. Six days to go in the bidding, and no takers yet; this one might be in for a bid minimum reset, we’ll just have to see what happens. And that begs a question, what’s your estimate for a fair price on a rig like this?
Okay, I’ll bite, I get the “jumper wire” part, but what, or who, is a “slim Jim”, mmmm, Slim Jims, I could eat 50, then puke. Sure was a first class ride at one time, California plate, who knows what royalty drove this or who “Henry” might have been? Entering “Who in Hollywood drove Cadillac convertibles in the 50s”, brings up a slew. Clark Gable, Gene Autry, Ronnie Reagan, Rita Heyworth, to name a few, all drove Caddys. As mishuga as this hobby is, get it running and drive as is,,what? Besides, according to popular song, it never rains in California, does it?
Question, what is that servo motor behind the battery? Is that for the top? And for the record,,, this was a VERY expensive car. At $4 grand, it had to be the most expensive car in America in 1950. My grandfathers 1948 Packard was $2800 new, and that was a lot, when a Ford or Chevy was maybe $1500. No bids, I’d say half that may kindle some interest, but a restoration like this is not “wallet friendly”, if that’s an issue. As the market softens, I’d just buy a nice one for this, or even a little more money. Look at the option list, the automatic, a whopping $174 bucks,, almost $2grand today, and the radio, $122 bucks, almost $1600 bucks, so ol’ Hank had some cash. I wish it the best of luck.
You use it to “boost” a ride. Slip in between the window and the top edge of the door and pull the lock lever – don’t ask me how I know. Anyway, with the dop town, it’s probably not necessary.
Happy Thanksgiving!
JO
You can do the same thing with pallet strapping. I used to work for a garage; December 24th, and we got a call from a customer who’d locked her keys in her car (Vauxhall Astra GTE). We turned up and my workmate rang the doorbell; by the time she answered, I was in the car and had it running.
I was rather good at it, but it’s not really a transferable skill…
Even with the top up all you need is a pocketknife.
HoA- Really? You never heard the term “Slim Jim”? Every car “booster” knows this. Must be the midwesterner in ya…..I guess they dont steal cars back there.or didnt……… once. :)
My folks were given a 1950 Caddie 2 door that belonged to a friend after he died unexpectedly. It had to be ten years old by then. He was a well known opera singer and those are the kinds of folks who drove these cars. As a little kid I can remember being fascinated by the pushbutton reflector light over the tail light that released the fixture to access the gas tank.
The old man sold it pronto as he was more of a downscale Chevy Buick driving kind of guy.
Another example of an auto that deserves to be restored but whose condition is such that the costs will be astronomical.
Howard, I believe the servo motor you see might be for the hydraulic windows.
I had a ’51 Caddy that always stunk of brake fluid, as that was the required liquid for that system. May have also worked on regular hydraulic fluid, but hey, this was back in the early 70’s and I just don’t remember!
Back then, brake fluid was the hydraulic fluid for windows, seats and tops. Later, ATF replaced using brake fluid, and with much less ‘damage’ to surfaces when there was a leak.
Welcome back Howard!
This was quite a car back in its day, and I often wondered what it would be like to ride in it (I was 8 at the time). Poor kids like us could only “dream” about riding in one, much less own one.
This would be worth the effort to “fix up”
The ignition lock: Just take the switch assembly out of the dash, and waltz on over to your local locksmith. The real locksmith; not the KEYS MADE HERE guy.
You’ll have a key in ten minutes. If you don’t want to take the dash apart (which you’ll probably need to do later, anyway) have him come to you. It costs, but it’s easier and better than damaging things trying to hot-wire everything under the hood. A competent locksmith can figure out the right key blank, and with feel and a file, make a key that works fine.
Same goes for the doors. A Slim Jim (if you can even FIND one these days) will work, but might damage things inside the door or on the weatherstripping at the window bottom. No big thing when the car is three years old. Now? I’d rather someone got the lock working. Again, visit the locksmith, or have him give a house call.
The Slim Jim reference is somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Finding one is not an issue, they’re easy to make from a piece of thin steel or aluminum.
I worked for a car dealership many years ago and you’d be surprised how often someone would lock the keys inside. The homemade SJ had the door open in minutes with no damage rendered.
JO
Sure. I’d done it a few times – locked myself out.
Most times (back then) a Slim Jim opened it up in five seconds. Occasionally there were issues – ever look at an older car with the mushroom lock button missing or broken? Slim Jim damage, coupled to the owner’s unwillingness to take the door apart and fix it. Most times (back then) it was very minor – simple linkages unhooked.
Slim Jim usage faded in the 1980s, with anti-theft measures. Mostly around plastic covers on the lock assemblies. Electric door locks, also made the locking linkages heavy, sometimes not there (lock-by-wire from the key) and that method of opening cars, faded into history.
Now, today, you’re dealing with what might be unknown inside those doors (rust or unusual linkage) and brittle weatherstripping. Probably it would be a quick job. But damaging a 72-year-old classic, even slightly, will cost. Just pulling the door panel off (to repair SJ damage inside the door) would likely end with a re-constituting of the panel.
I know, it’s tongue-in-cheek; but I’d think long and hard before trying that sort of backyard solution to a problem on an aged classic with unknown issues.
Well, considering that the 72-year-old classic has the roof in the down position, it’s a completely moot point and unnecessary – you just reach in and lock or unlock the door. Again – it was just a joke.
Oh, and I had a pop-a-lock guy use one on my ’97 Maxima in about the year 2001 or 2002. No problem, it was opened in a minute with no damage to anything.
JO
Hi Jim, the car is 73 now.
Jim,
This reminds me of the joke where a not-so-bright guy called a locksmith because he locked his car with the keys and kids inside!
Having it mechanically gone thru (sic) means the owner was going to get it running right and safe for the road. Pretty simple explanation really.
Really? How do you know that? Sounds like an extremely open-ended euphemism as to what it may, or may not, cover.
JO
Well it is extremely open ended. Why don’t you contact the seller and ask what he means? Let us all know when you find out.
Not according to you, you stated specifically that it means, “the owner was going to get it running right and safe for the road. Pretty simple explanation really“.
I’m not interested in buying the car so I don’t care; why don’t you ask him and then you can let us know whether your conjecture is spot on or not.
Thanks!
JO
LOL I don’t care either Jim, you asked the question. I just tried to answer it for you.
Agreed, thx!
JO
Ya Jim, that is basically what it means, and you know that.
Just own your comment was snide and unnesessary. Especially from an author/staff of a Barn Finds post.
You taking points from Howard these days ?
eyes rolling
Mr. Mouth:
No, I don’t know what it means, it’s a lazy, purposely vague toss-off description that could entail something as simple as checking the air pressure in the tires and maybe performing an oil change to engaging in a true safety inspection, including the suspension, brakes, changing the transmission/drive train fluids – or maybe even a full tune-up, or maybe a valve adjustment, or maybe a compression test, or maybe, maybe, maybe…..Don’t tell me that I know what it means. I don’t, and you obviously don’t either.
Naive critique? Who’s being snide now?
JO
Thank you RKS, i was gonna make similair comment..
when did the posters comments begin to be naive critique ?!, i thought that was the role of many of the ‘members’ .
Its Barn Finds folks, barn finds.
So Jim, the paint is original, and YES that has a value and sure a patina. The paint back then is superior to the water based crap of today. Also, especially a Cadillac has a nice thick coat. The original paint can easily come back to luster with a buffing. Repainting this would be very time consuming, expensive, and unless a quality job and paint just ruin the car.
Lets try an take a more positive stance on these barn finds folks =)
Its not about degrading them, but recognizing their potential and originality.
easier way for a key, take the glove box lock out and head to the locksmith. Just did that with a 57 Chevy.
Those old GM cars had 2 keys, one for the ignition and doors and the other for the trunk and glove compartment. The code on the glove box would work for the trunk key.
Many of those vintage GMs had an easy-to-remove outside door handle and thus easy access to the code for the door/ignition key. As JustPassinThru suggests a competent locksmith may still have the equipment to cut a key from the code number, but the GM locks were an unusual design, could not be done by filing using the “impression” method. Ask this, or any other retired locksmith.
That would get you a trunk key on this car.
Redo it in black paint, red leather interior and a red canvas top to match. Sombreros with the widest ww tires you can find. Build up the mill, dual fours and lower it.
$22,750.
(chuckles quietly, then snorts)
Who needs a “slim jim” it’s convertible with the top down. Jeez!
Right!
JO
The problem with a locked convertible is that the crooks will go in via the soft top anyway. I never, ever, locked my convertibles. It’s cheaper to replace whatever is stolen than it is to replace the top on a Caddy I’m sure.
For this tired old lady , $22,750 looks to be worth $2,275.
Just passinthru, the car is 60 years old, not 72. Using the slim Jim was just a joke
Can someone get Dave a calculator for Christmas LOL.
Right. It’s a model 62, not a 1962.
Dave, 1950 was 72 years ago. I’m 62 born in 1960. If need be, grab a pencil and do some quick subtraction.
Right. I looked at the model number, 62 and mistook that for the year. Can you ever forgive me?
The car is actually 73 years old as the 2023 models have been out for 2 months now.
No compressor about 2023, but I looked a the model #62 and made the mistake. Lo siento.
I would rather spend 22750 on a 76 couple de’ elegance than trying to refurbished that money hungry hog.
Back in the early 1960’s I had a brother one year older than me, (Victim of the Viet Nam War) that bought a 1950 Caddy 2 door hardtop from a neighbor who had put a 55 engine in it. It was a really nice car, white bottom black roof red interior. For nostalgia sake I would love to get a car like this convertible and have it professionally rebuilt from the ground up. But of course that would take a lot of money and time of which I have neither. I believe the price is quite optimistic but 5 grand should be in the ball park for the condition this one is in. This car has great potential and I sure hope someone takes on the challenge.
God Bless America
Here’s to the old days when a wire coat hanger would get you back into your car because you stupidly left the keys inside. It was especially easy in my 1970 Camaro because the window glass was frameless. Most police officers carried slim Jims back then. Hey Howard, can you really eat 50 Slim Jims? I’m good for two or three myself.
About 20 years ago A guy I knew bought a house up by the lake and a caddy similar to this one came with the place , He took pictures and put it on EBay , a crew flew in from California took a thousand pictures , had a guy show up with a trailer truck , gave the guy almost what he paid for his house for the Caddy and left town , ya never know , there was something very special about that one !
My dad’s 52 Cadillac sedan had the backup lights incorporated in the taillights, not separate like on this convertible. Also the V under the Cadillac crest was wider. Unless the convertibles were different from the sedans, I suspect this is a 51.
Nonsense aside, over priced,this needs way too much, not running, terrible interior, chrome, paint, etc. A good candidate for Icon to drop it on a new GM chassis, take your pick , modern interior and monochrome exterior, sell it for $175k.
When cars got bigger and some were already big. This one looks
like it’s maybe worth fixing up.
As for the keys, old American ones can be opened with a long
welding wire with a half-circle bend at one end. On americans
from 1965 onwards this way it always worked.
Actual sale offers of perfect examples tell a price between 50-65k
For this 5k – as told here – is fair.
Howard, I was a big city Firefighter, we carried a Slim Jim in our tool kit. It has a limited use, but it did save the day once in a while.
I tried to bid $1 and it wouldn’t let me. I’m out.
Nice old car to restore,but the asking price is way too much. Consider the price of parts–locating them,labor and transporting. $3,500 is alot more reasonable price.
It ran 7 years ago? So did I. I just walk now.