While life behind the wheel of a classic muscle or sports car can offer an exhilarating motoring experience, there comes a time in this crazy world when we all feel we need to kick back and relax in total isolation. That is the experience that is potentially on offer with this 1962 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special. It requires a full restoration, but it appears to be a complete vehicle that would make a satisfying project. Once finished, the next owner could hit the road and watch the world float serenely past. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, you will find this Cadillac listed for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. The owner has set a sale price of $3,750 OBO, making it an affordable project car.

There’s no denying that this Cadillac would have been a stunning car when new. It rolled off the line wearing Burgundy paint, but this is now badly faded. The buyer will probably choose to strip the car to bare metal, and this would be a wise move if it is to return to its former glory. There is some rust for the buyer to address, but it isn’t extensive. Replacement steel is readily available, and I was surprised at how affordable these pieces are. That means that any rust repairs on this car will cost no more than any other car from this era. The panels look remarkably straight, with few significant dents or other problems. Anything visible would be easy to repair, and a competent person could tackle them in a home workshop. Most of the trim is present and appears restorable, while the tinted glass seems to be in good condition. Once you look past the faded paint, this Cadillac looks like it would be a pretty straightforward restoration project.

Lifting the hood of this Caddy reveals its 390ci V8 that would have produced 304hp in its prime. Those horses found their way to the rear wheels via a four-speed Hydramatic transmission. Standard equipment extended to power steering and power brakes. At 4,890lbs, the Fleetwood is a relative heavyweight. That makes its ¼ mile ET of 17.8 seconds all the more impressive. However, outright performance is not what a Cadillac is all about. The company designed it to waft along the road keeping its occupants in splendid isolation. The company easily achieved that with the Fleetwood. Surveying the engine bay reveals that the power steering pump is missing but that it is otherwise complete. Unfortunately, the engine is locked. These are a pretty robust unit, so maybe a dose of good old Mystery Oil will get things turning freely. If so, rebuilding it should not be a difficult or expensive proposition.

The interior is one aspect of this Fleetwood that will require plenty of TLC. Before spending any money, I would treat everything to a thorough clean. Doing so will potentially reveal that many items will be suitable to reuse. There’s no denying that a new headliner will be on the shopping list, but I would investigate whether a product like Polyvance would revive the dash pad before spending money on a replacement. The seat upholstery could prove challenging, but since the material is readily available, a competent upholsterer may be able to whip up some reproduction covers at a very affordable price. A carpet set will add about $300 to the tally, but if the buyer is careful and hunts for some parts via online sites like eBay and Craigslist, returning the interior to its former glory need not be an expensive undertaking. Luxury features extend to air conditioning, power windows, and factory radio.

Some people would look at a car like this 1962 Cadillac Fleetwood and find the concept of restoring a prestige brand to be intimidating. That shouldn’t be the case because restoring a car like this is no more complicated nor expensive than restoring any other classic from this era. Replacement steel to address rust problems is abundantly available and affordable, while the engine is a standard pushrod V8. If you long for a luxurious motoring experience, this 1962 Fleetwood could be the perfect project for you.