Once upon a time, the best car in the world was made in Detroit. Long, low, and luxurious, this 1955 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe DeVille is offered for sale here on eBay with an extensive list of modifications and maintenance items. At the time of writing, bidding is at a temptingly low price of just $3,450. With the original 331 OHV V-8 engine and Hydramatic transmission, it’s said to run and drive well, though it is still a project and will not be winning any concours without some help.
As far as what help is needed, though, it doesn’t look like much. Relatively speaking, of course. It’s not going to need a full restoration, but just the basics that come with any car rapidly approaching seventy years old. The interior is proper mid-century luxe, complete with two bench seats and is said to be of “driver quality.” The dog will likely not be included with the car, though would maybe appreciate some treats if you go to kick the tires.
Under the hood is the original 331 overhead valve V-8 engine, but with some modifications. It’s been converted to an alternator from the original generator. It also has a rebuilt water pump and carburetor, redone intake and gaskets, replaced wires, plugs, and belts, and it comes with other new but uninstalled parts. The seller does state that the car’s wiring should be redone, but they do include a kit to make it easy on the new owner.
New rubber, some vital new mechanicals, and rock solid engineering from the factory make this Cadillac a running, driving project. It has some rust, it needs wiring, it needs a new steering box, it needs new paint, it needs…the list goes on. But it drives, seats six adults and their luggage comfortably, and is a heck of a lot more interesting than your run-of-the-mill Corvette. A good project car will never be complete, and this big black Cadillac has so much potential to be whatever you want it to be. It could be an immaculate, showstopping example of postwar American excess. It could be the raddest rat rod this side of a decked out hearse. It could be a tinkerable weekend project that you take out once a month or so. The possibilities of where this car goes are limited only by your imagination and budget. It’s been running and driving for 68 years, what does its next 68 years look like?
Nice, um, conical bumper guards,,,you know, watching TV auction( again with the auction) it was all Camaros and Mustangs and Chevelles, all better than new and most commanding an alleged $50+ grand, then a 2 door ’49 Chrysler came through. It was spotless, BUT, had wide whites and these type of sombrero wheel covers, barely cracked $8grand. It just looked old, as does this. People don’t want OLD looking cars anymore, and with some nice wheels and tires, NOT clown wheels, well, maybe, but I think it would have much more interest. And it needs to look nice. There should be no such thing as “patina” ( aka, rust) on a Cadillac.
I want to thank the author for reminding us, not only Cadillac, but many of the worlds best cars came from Detroit, and don’t you forget it!
HoA
Once again spot on. The contemporary world in so many ways has left many of us shaking our heads from auto design and desires to well…just about everything else you can name. I for one have become an unintentional Luddite, if thats possible.
I don’t watch or even go to, as I used to, the name auctions as its a dreary dance of dealers and folks with more money than sense. They’ve already done their damage to the Wooden bodied car market, eventually the Camaro/Mustange/Charger et al market will do likewise.
Down my way is a longtime auto repair shop whose owner is THE GUY and has been for fifty years. Sitting in his yard is the exact car with the correect intact two tone interior. Next to it sits a ’56 De Soto Adventurer with the small hemi and that two tone paint.
What these modern folks don’t have and don’t get is that those of us whose calendar pages have turned too may times,when I for one, look inside one of these cars, its not 2023 anymore and all those associated memories we each have come floodiing in. Theres ust something qualitatively more substantive about not onl the design but the culture associated with it.
Of course in the future some old guy witll look at a 2023 Tesla and wax rhapsodically about the time there were television screens in the dashboard instead of the government mandated skull implants that project what you see to the other persons skull implant. :)
People on Tv auctions don’t want old cars. People at the TV auctions want muscle and sports cars. That is why you don’t sell them there. It’s the wrong place. Check out this beauty https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1962-cadillac-biarritz-2/ It’s at $70k with wide whitewalls and all.
I agree these aren’t bringing the big bucks, but they are still desirable, and this one is so handsome. Yes, the rust will take some talent to repair, but this car can be beautiful again. It might not appeal to young-uns, but it sure does to this 61 year-old guy. And the wide whites and fancy wheel covers look great on it. I’d be proud to drive this just as it is, and fix it up as I go.
The front of those 50s Cadillacs always made me think that’s why they refer to cars as “she”.
Those chrome bullets were called “Dagmars” after an actress named Dagmar had a plinth pair that just wouldn’t quit!
From Dagmar’s wikipedia page:
In 1950s auto design, the slang term Dagmar bumper emerged to describe dual pointed chrome projections on the front ends of Cadillacs, Buicks, Packards, and other U.S. automobiles, an allusion to the actress’s physique and trademark attire.
It’s apt, there’s a picture of her in 1951 and yes, they’re ample and sticking straight out. She lived to be almost 80.
Ahh yes, the Dagmars. I always wanted to have a custom bra made to fit on them, though they are firm.They do make car bras you know.
The newer ones with the rubber tips looked more like, well, you know.
LOL
I had a 56 Coupe Deville in turquoise and cream. It was a great car. I sold it to buy a 56 Packard 400 hardtop. I also had a 57 Eldorado but settled into my favorite……The 59 convertible.
Those bullet bumpers are telling pedestrians: You better watch foryourself where you’re going, cuz this Cadillac is on the mark.
A 68 year ol beauty just like my wife who has a fineset of DAGMARS also, HOWARD is “SPOT ON” the finest will ALWAYS be AMERICAN like my 1954 Buick Century I bought FRI, hooooyaaaaa! How can I tell if it has POSI????
If I’m not mistaken this car is a Series 62, not a Coupe de Ville. Power windows were standard on the Coupe de Ville.
Friend had 2, a ’54 and a ’56. The ’54 was a daily driver, in much better shape than this one, the ’56 was close to perfect, and a weekly driver. Tried to get him to take it (and me) on the Great Race, would have been perfect, comfortable, had A/C, fast, 11 mpg or so around town, much better on the open road. Given the rust on the rockers and doors, what is the frame like?
I think polishing that bumper would be a great stress reliever…just don’t get carried away with it and think clean thoughts.
You probably ought to do it when the wifes gone too. She might get jealous!
What an absolutely gorgeous monster of a road hog. Being in my 70’s, also, I don’t think I would like to be restored to look like new. It took many hard knocks and covered too many miles of close scrapes with other road monsters, plus all the escaped police cars that may have pursued this aircraft carrier and lost the race. What a tale this beauty could tell if it could only talk. As far as I’m concerned these GM, Ford and Chrysler American classics are priceless. The owners can’t help but get behind the wheel and feel a little superior to the rest of the “crap” on the road these days. This elegant queen rightfully looks down on all other things called vehicles and mumbles “Get the F out of my way, least you pay for your stupidity.”
OK I want this exquisite example of American sheet metal and cast iron sitting in my driveway in front of my house. Question to the seller: What will it take to hand over the title? If you’re a Cadillac guy and may be interested in something a little newer, I have and drive a black 98 Eldorado that has been meticulously maintained, being the fact that I own an auto restoration machine shop, and wouldn’t hesitate to trade even up for this historic Caddy.
Ad says sale ended at $4150, not sure if seller ended the sale, or someone got a great deal on this 55 Cadillac. At least the seller made some honest effort to bringing her up to at least driver condition. I saw a mid 50s Lincoln here last week, that had a pair of smaller dagmars on its rear bumper. What’s not to love about a 55 Cadillac coupe?
I wish the dog did come with the car. I’d get a new Cadillac and my Bulldog would get a new playmate.
Woof Woof!
Here here poochy!