Cadillac has always set the bar in the domestic luxury car field, and the competition was no less keen in the 1960s with Lincoln (Continental) and Chrysler (Imperial) in the 1960s. Technically known as the Series 62 through 1964, the de Ville models were strong sellers. The seller’s ’64 Sedan de Ville is the “six-window” version and has been brought back to semi-running condition after being off the road for more than 40 years. It’s located in Marfa, Texas and here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $4,800.
Second generation de Ville’s were built between 1961-64. Just about every major feature was standard, with the exception of air conditioning (that came later as standard). As it proved troublesome, the air ride suspension system was replaced with rubberized front and rear coil springs. A minor facelift occurred for the 1964 models, with a new bi-angular grille that formed a V-shape along both vertical and horizontal planes. For the 17th consecutive year, some form of tailfins was still present. The V8 engine got bumped up to 429 cubic inches and was good for 340 hp. The Turbo-Hydramatic was also new in the de Ville’s, borrowed from the Eldorado and the Sixty Special. De Ville sales reached more than 110,300 units for 1964, with nearly 14,000 being the Sedan de Ville like this one.
The seller’s car originated in California before finding its way to Texas in the 1970s. It went into storage into 1979 due to a leaky radiator and stayed there until recently. The seller pulled it out and took it to his garage to begin resuscitation. After soaking down the cylinders and then successfully turning the engine by hand, he cleaned out all the fuel lines and carburetor. That was followed by a complete tune-up and he then got it started and drove it around the general proximity a few times and found no serious issues. The big 429 motor has plenty of compression. The car is in a serious need of new brakes and the radiator leak that started its exile will still need attending to.
Cadillacs were known for being built like tanks, so this one has held up reasonably well. The original gold paint is still present, but tired. The sheet metal is straight but there are a few dents and dings here and there as well as some surface rust (perhaps more than patina). Most of the original exterior trim is present and the driver’s side fender skirt is in the trunk. The hood has a badly adjusted hinge that will need proper alignment for it to close tight.
The beige and gold leather/brocade interior is equally in need of attention. Most of it is dirty, dry-rotted or both. The headliner is a goner. The carpets are mildewed and the floor pans below them may be soft and might need replacing. The doors are said to “function” (does that mean they open and close properly or do all the electrical components still work?).
This looks to be a restorable car, one that Hagerty says can be worth north of $40,000 when brought back to top shape. However, the title on this one is lost and it will have to be sold with a Bill of Sale, which might suggest using it as a donor. BTW, one of these cars listed at $5,214 when new, which is about $43,500 today. New Cadillacs cost more than that now, but the technology is vastly superior.
This model of the Sedan De Ville is not the 6 window model.That model had an extra window at the back.This one does not.A lady my mom use to work with had one of these the same color except it was a Coupe De Ville.A nice car when she had it and then sold it to my cheap uncle.smh
If it was here in Florida, I’d be all over it.
This one is as close as I’ll get to owning
another ’66 Calais. They were nice to
ride in and were great road cars as well.
And yes, the radiators in these cars would leak frequently and need to be
replaced. My uncle had a ’64 60 special
into which he put three radiators before
he finally traded it for a ’67 Fleetwood
sedan. The bill of sale thing wouldn’t be
an issue here Florida as most cars sold before 1985 did not have titles. Were
it mine, I’d get the major stuff seen to
and drive it while I repaired the rest of it.
Yup, it’s time for me to wipe the drool
off my keyboard too!
The series 63 was the DeVille. The Series 62 its slightly lesser cousin trim wise.
Last summer, I noticed a white Caddy like this at my mechanics shop, looked pretty clean, I had to see. Turns out, it belongs to an elderly man who bought it new, AND NEVER LEFT THE CITY!! It has an amazing 2200 miles. It still had the plastic on the seats. Clearly, the guy wasn’t an elderly man when he bought it, but just never left town, and talking to some locals, living where I’m at, that’s entirely possible. Restoring cars like this is incredibly wallet intensive, miles of wires, gadgets no longer made make restorations of these big cars a challenge.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/albums/72157644226707618
Here’s a reprint of a British road test of a then-new 1964 Cadillac. It is an interesting look back at the automotive world that existed before the Mustang showed Detroit that they didn’t have to sweat engineering excellence. The Cadillac was in many ways the best luxury car in the world in 1964, humbling everything from Europe in performance while having advanced comfort features they were decades from perfecting.
Bill of sale here in Texas is common. I’ve bought/sold several cars and trailers without titles.
I bought a crashed one of these for 150 dollars, I pulled the 429 and the hydromatic out and using a Hurst motor mount kit, I installed it in my 47 Chevy coupe. Drove it for years in the summer. Even went to the drags with it. Ran 13:80 at 93 mph, quiet mufflers , stone stock engine, a great engine. After about ten years I sold it. Good times
“Running Project” the sound you hear is prospective buyers running the other way.
Oh, come on! The Chevy version of the ’64 Cadillac @$4800? Emphatically NO! At $500 I think you would be wasting your money. I collected ’64’s in the 90’s and this one would have been questionable, then, even for parts. I bought a running convert. with buckets for less than this person is dreaming of getting.
That was in the 90’s Robert. It wouldn’t take that much to get this luxury ride road-worthy, and then drive while brought to beauty. No Chevy rode like this monster, nor had the room and comfort. Wish I was in a position to buy this comfortable cruiser. But hey, why not offer the seller the $500 you feel is still too much. Maybe you’ll get the nice parts car you see this as.
My Dad had an identical car in the early ‘70s back when I was a teenager. Boy would it roll! This is the 6 window version. (Count ‘em MLM). Dad also had a ‘64 Fleetwood that had rear vent windows, for a total of 8- all power!
Smooth, quiet, powerful, and not bad on fuel. Got high teens on the road. Awesome cars!
Bunky this is NOT a six window sedan.The rear windows had something like vent windows near the C pillow.Don’t you think if that all Sport Sedans would be called 6 windows but they are not.Look it up Bunky!!
You don’t count the front vents plus Chrysler had a similar window arrangement on some ’65 models maybe ’66.They did NOT call these 8 windows.
The above comments prove the point…never make a mistake when describing on Barnfinds!
Steve, sometimes the whole thing is a mistake
True and Steve I am not here to throw stones.
That’s good. You wouldn’t want to break one of the Caddie’s 6 windows…or is it 8?
LOL. Good one Steve.