Stored Forty Years: 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe deVille

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Is any other car a better representative of 1950s America than the 1959 Cadillac? It was born in the crucible formed by Harley Earl’s retirement and Bill Mitchell’s ascendency. Its fins were the tallest ever to grace a rear end. Chrome was crammed into every corner. And it was the last of its kind. This example has its warts, particularly a profound case of rust infestation. But it may yet provide parts to a more worthy candidate. It is listed here on eBay, enjoying frisky bidding that has brought the price to $7500, reserve not met. Eager beavers can shortcut the auction using buy-it-now, which will cost $11,901 (not a typo!). Does this Series 62 have enough merits to breach the reserve?

The Coupe deVille was delivered with a 390 cu. in. V8 dressed with a four-barrel carburetor. This one hasn’t run in many years, but when it does, you can expect 325 hp. The transmission is a four-speed HydraMatic automatic. Power steering and power drum brakes were standard. Befitting its very high price when new, the Coupe deVille was designed to convey its occupants fluidly from point to point – no sporting aspirations here.

Did we mention the car is rusty? The undercarriage has not been spared: it’s blotchy with corrosion, including a few holes to show for its time under siege.

Cadillac offered a lush selection of exterior and interior colors. This paint is Wood Rose Metallic, and the upholstery is Rose Coronado Metallic Cloth trimmed with Rose Metallic Leather. Oddly enough, given this car’s nasty exterior, its headliner is nearly perfect. Luxury touches include a vanity mirror, two-speed wipers. and a six-way power seat. The driver’s side door panel is currently in the trunk, which is devoid of trim or carpet.

In the 1950s, automotive stylists were enamored of the “lower, wider” look. The ’59 Cadillac was almost 4″ lower than the ’58. Curb weight was up by 100 lbs, largely thanks to the copious chrome elements – side and hood trim, massive bumpers, grilles both front and rear, and the new “dogleg” chrome window frame made to accommodate the elaborate wrap-around windshield. The very excess of its design set the stage for a backlash: beginning in 1960, the era’s most exuberant features began to recede. But today, the ’59 holds a special berth in the minds of collectors – and that’s reflected in realized prices of $35k to $50k for nice examples. Our featured car is a long way from “nice”, but someone’s bidding in here, maybe eyeing its usable parts or even considering it as raw material for a resto-mod.