So, is this car the work of legendary GM designer Harley Earl at his best? Or is it more just typical late ’40s Dick Tracy inspired styling? Or maybe, it’s a bit of both. Whatever the case, this 1948 Cadillac Sedanette, which appears to be, according to its VIN, a Series 62 model, cuts quite a swath. There are some firsts and lasts here so let’s take a close look. Located in Camarillo, California, this Caddy is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $12,300 with the reserve not yet met.
As for the firsts, the 1948 Cadillac, actually penned under Earl’s authority by Frank Hershey, was the first to employ tailfins, or “rudders” as they were referenced back then. On the flip side, it was the end of the line for the flathead V8 engine as an all-new overhead valve architecture prime mover debuted in 1949. All-in-all, this example presents beautifully though the seller mentions some “pinhole” rust spots. Regardless, the body of this sedanette does appear to be, as claimed, “super straight“. There’s no reference to the age of the finish, as in born-with or a redo but it still shows exceptionally well. The seller mentions that it is Code 7 which translates to Horizon Blue though the images show it more as a gray hue. Two standout aspects of the sedanette design are its reverse C-pillar and the tri-pane backlight – what a styling statement!
Back to the matter of the engine, it is a 150 HP, 346 CI, flathead V8 engine tethered to a Hydramatic automatic transmission. The seller mentions, “Engine has a knock…Car drives excellent, knock could be a rod knock or oil pump“. Hmmm, he then suggests, “excellent car to restore or to hot rod” so maybe there’s not a lot of enthusiasm for the current engine. The mileage recording is 81K miles but there is no authentication of that reading.
The interior seems rather mundane for a Cadillac until you get a look at the dash and instrument panel – it is so typical of the era with a combination of Art Deco meets the Space Age. The instrument cluster is functional while being stylishly elaborate right along with the adjoining chrome-plated grille positioned just beneath the radio. Note the clock to the right, it’s curved to match the contour of the dash! The seller mentions that all of the power windows operate properly with the exception of the passenger-side quarter glass.
It’s easy to see how hot-rod leanings could surface with a sled like this cool Cadillac, especially in light of its potential engine problems. It would be nice, however, if this sedanette were to maintain its originality – its lines make such a spectacular statement as it sits. If it were your call, which way would you send this 1948 Cadillac Series 62?
I’m generally not very interested in cars made before I was, but the lines of this Sedanette have ALWAYS appealed to me as one of the sleekest designs ever!
GLWTA!! :-)
Auction already ended “because the item is no longer available.”
I just watched a couple of episodes of Texas Metal on Motortrend channel and they did a 1949 model for Earl Campbell.
That’s what Cadzilla started out as.
https://pin.it/6vAoQBK
Elegant and purposeful. Great find, Jim. I’ve spent many hours wrenching on a friend’s ’49 Sedanette, which came as a roller and now packs a 455 Buick and TH400. As long as the factory motor holds out, I’d run it as-is. I saw one of these setup for racing, lapping Road America while doing some “Parade Laps” years ago, believe it or not. Thanks for the memories!
Todd, you brought back a memory.
After sitting in the July sun, after various time estimate updates from the workers, me in a black enclosed car on the false grid at Road America, fully dressed to race I eventually get to go out and race.
Later in the day I asked Carson (head of RA safety) about the delay.
“The Cadilac crashed in the kink. “At first we thought he moved part of the wall. Sorry but it took a while to replace the section he broke.”.
It was years ago! I think it was 2013 that i backed into the wall in the kink with my black coupe with help from not gentleman in a Porsche early in the first practice.
I’m fairly sure that Cadilac sat on a NASCAR chassis.
Hey carsntrucks, I’ve seen those old La Carerra Panamericana cars but I didn’t expect to see one at Road America. “Not gentleman” is a kind description of your incident. My visit was in 2009. Picture attached. Thanks for sharing your story!
I recall my parents talking about their honeymoon trip in the late 50s in a ’49 blalck Sedanette. Apparently, there’s a door in the floor for checking and filling transmission fluid. On the honeymoon trip, Dad was driving and Mom was in charge of the transmission door check and fill.
I’ve got one and that is absolutely true about the tiny door on the transmission tunnel. Must have had a leak if they had to keep checking it.
“Sedanette” is a cool name, but Cadillac never used it for their ’40s fastback
coupes. They were just Coupes or Club Coupes. Buick sort-of used the name but spelled it “Sedanet.” The other GM divisions didn’t use “Sedanette” at all, regardless of spelling. Car buffs retroactively have applied the name to other GM fastbacks of the era, which isn’t really accurate but seems to fit. The selling point at the time was a 2-door coupe with the passenger space of a 4-door sedan. So the “ette” kind of works but only Buick tried to convey that concept in the car’s name, even if they did use a weird spelling.
My first car was a ’49 Buick Roadmaster Sedanet in a dark gray. It had an inline 8 and nothing wrong with it – except dry-rotted tires. Real Steel. Ran perfectly and would loaf along at 100 MPH. I was 19, in Mobile, Ala. Wish I had that one back.
My first car was ’49 Buick, too, though a Super. It was a black behemoth of a sedan, which I’d Simonize every week. The car had well over 100,000 miles, but it ran like a top. Like you, I ache for it now.
That’s what Cadzzilla started out as. If you’ve never seen Billy Gibbons car check it out is beautiful.
Cadzzilla
One of the best overall designs of the time. It is my imaginary collection, along with a ’41 60 Special.
The “Torpedo Back” series of GM cars were super stylish!
I’d like to do up this style with a stroked 500 with 4 speed automatic either a TH200 or a 700 rt. Maybe a bit of custom body mods but not much.
WOW what a ‘find’ !
If i were to aquire ?, i think the final flathead aspect is special, and if it can be rebuilt with some increased performance …
orrr, mmm ,, a 6.2 fuel injection :)
Resembles the Tucker Torpedo. Interesting since the big 3 put him out of business. Beautiful Caddy, though.