When you think of cadillacs and South Florida, the 1964 Cadillac convertible that Ricardo Tubbs drove in Miami Vice instantly comes to mind. However, what if I were to tell you there is another vintage Cadillac convertible down South Florida way that also deserves your attention? If you want a sixties Cadillac convertible that has no rust and is very original, then have a careful look at this 1963 Cadillac DeVille convertible for sale on craigslist in cosmopolitan Broward County, Florida. While the car definitely shows its age in a few areas, is an asking price of $29,000 a realistic number for this burgandy on black drop top? Thanks to T.J. for the fantastic find!
Like a lot of you, I was a big fan of the original Miami Vice TV series (at least the forst two seasons). Movies and TV shows of the period were almost always a visual treat for gearheads. In Miami Vice, Crockett and his Ferraris took top billing. However, Crockett’s partner Ricardo Tubbs drove a very beautiful 1964 Cadillac convertible in light metallic blue that fit right in with Miami’s tropical landscape and neon lighted art deco atmosphere.
For those who have not been to Miami, the car scene is second only to Southern California when it comes to flashy rides. Perhaps it is the tropical climate, or maybe it is because a lot of money flows through the Miami area for various reasons. Folks down there love cars that stand out, and a ride like this 1963 Cadillac DeVille convertible would have put you on the front row of any valet parking lot from when it was new until today.
With just 59,000 miles on the odometer, this Cadillac probably did a lot of cruising and little commuting until it was stored in 1988. It is advertised as having no rust whatsoever, which is a small miracle for a sixties automobile in South Florida. The salt air just permeates everything, and it wasn’t like GM cars of this era were made of stainless steel. To add to the car’s miraculous rust free status, this Cadillac is said to be completely original from bow to stern.
Whoever ended up with this car when it emerged from its slumber has worked to restore it to operation. It is said to run and drive well, and everything works as it should. The convertible top is in good condition and the ad alludes to the power mechanism functioning without issues. If you want the top up, then at least the car is equiped with air conditioning. The way the ad is worded addresses whether or not the air conditioning works vaguely in the affirmative, but this shouldn’t be too big an issue if it needs to be repaired.
Inside, we see that the original leather interior is intact except for some rough sections in the drivers seat area. Everything else looks tip top. In fact, the car looks like it was stored in a time capsule of you don’t cast your eyes toward the front seat. Regardless, the color choice has me curious. Anyone who has spent time in Florida during the summer knows that a dark car with leather or vinyl upholstery is really hard on the back of your legs. If you are wearing shorts, then the experience is completely unbearable.
Regardless of the cauterizing effect of the seats if left in the sun, the color combination is stunning. The finish sadly sports some spots that show the car’s age and it could use a complete repaint. Other than that, this car could be made quite presentable with little effort.
The question here is what is the car’s true value. It does need paint, but the facts are that it is rust free, a convertible, and the color combination is desirable. Will these factors help to drive the price up on this tropical Cadillac? Hopefully, it finds a good home with someone who will drop the top on occasion and enjoy it as God and Ricardo Tubbs intended.
What do you think this Cadillac will ultimately sell for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
As an old Cadillac owner and admirer, I would love to own that car. I live further south than the present location of the rag top (Key West) and the color or the leather wouldn’t bother me in the slightest!!☮️♥️🎸
Holey sleek Batman!
When I got my nine year old 1964 de Ville convertible, it had rust holes in the trunk lid, some rust in the front bumper caps, and the Comfort Control air conditioner didn’t work. It looked like a 30 year old car. I still loved it, and the slightly better condition ’64 six window Sedan de Ville I had a year or two later. I do like this ’63, and the sedate color combination.
Love this car! Fantastic color and the old Cadillac 390 was a good motor.
IMHO 1963 was the last year for the truly beautiful Cadillacs with maybe the 69 Eldoado being an exception.This seems like a very fair price for this beauty. Never did understand why they called these “De Villes” when that moniker always belonged to the sedans and coupes. BTW Al Pacino also drove a pale yellow 63 in “Scarface”…I have the model one with Al’s figure in white suit next to it..pretty cool.
Malcolm,
My take on the de Ville name is that the Coupe de Ville is a 2 Dr hardtop, while the Sedan de Ville is a 4 Dr 4 or 6 window hardtop. The 2 dr convertible is simply De Ville. How else are you going to differentiate between the coupe and convertible?
I also had the 1/18 scale “Scarface” model. I gave it to a friend who really wanted it. Unfortunately, his 10 year old son broke the mirrors off of it soon afterwards. When I saw on eBay what they are going for now, I quickly replaced it.
I also have a yellow ’63 Cadillac convertible with the standard interior and not Montana’s tiger print
Is that a tear in the drivers side seat?
I have ‘64 Cadillac convertible and the ‘63s fins are more pronounced which makes it more attractive. After 23 years of exposure to California weather I have finally begun working on it to drivable status. Even that is a daunting task. Nice that most parts are readily available but generally pricier, of course. The original shop manual is very thorough and helpful.
Nice car but too bad about those ugly spotlights. Hopefully they didn’t have to drill into the sheetmetal but they likely did.
When reading about classic Caddy’s in So. Florida, I automatically think of Tony Montana in his Leopard-print interior yellow “Cream Puff”…..
But that’s just me :)
Needs paint and interior work. Still it would be a great addition to someones’ garage, if it would fit. If I had the money I would but and send out to Vegas and Count’s Customs for a redo. I can see my wife and I cruising around South Carolina.
My thoughts about the spotlights exactly. You can see where they drilled through the dash pad for the handles as well as the tops of the fenders. How anyone can drill through ANY part of a car in order to install those hideous appendages is totally beyond my comprehension. A “sh** for brains” exercise to be sure!
You need to think back to 1963, people did all sorts of things to cars. Cars were disposable, very few people actually had the foresight to realize the future values and collectibility of the cars of that era. I think about how we hacked out transmission tunnels to install floor shifters. I cringe at the cars I installed sunroofs in, but it’s what we did back then.
My late wife’s second car was a 63 Cadillac Convertible in red with black top. I have a picture of it. She loved that car as she was a teenager when her dad bought it for her. When the family moved from Sharonville, Ohio after she graduated High School in 1973 she drove the Cadillac to their new home in Naples, Florida.
God Bless America
Spot Lites were a deal in the past. Not that I like them.
A few thoughts and a fact. The 1964 Cadillac standard convertible was the first model tagged “de Ville”. All regular convertibles were Series 62, along with the base coupe, four and six window pillarless models. Then the de Ville coupe, convertible, four and six window pillarless de Villes. The 1964 brochure makes note of the new model name. As for cutting holes in cars for spotlights, I don’t like the idea either, even with the thing about you can do whatever to your own car. I also hate mods like cutting holes in doors and elsewhere to add way out sound systems. Do that with your new cars, You can do without in your special ride.
I fell into a once in a lifetime deal in 1973. The add read “FORSALE. 1964 Cadillac Eldorado. $800.00. My friend said it was probably a convertible and for the asking price was likely wrecked. I made an appointment to check it out and couldn’t believe what I saw. Metallic mint green with matching leather interior and soft top. The mileage was in the low 30’s and it showed. I couldn’t get the money out of my pocket quick enough. Wish I’d kept that forever, but as a kid was always looking for something sportier. “Dumbass” comes to mind…