Cruising with the top down shouldn’t be reserved for just those drivers willing to squeeze into a little sports car! Thankfully for those of us that want to go topless, but still want the biggest and most luxurious classic on the road, there are some fantastic options out there. The Cadillac Series 62 convertible is one of my personal favorites and this one looks like a great restoration candidate! Find it here on eBay in Salem, Oregon with a current bid of $10k.
This is a big car to not have a roof, but as long as the frame is rust free, it shouldn’t be an issue. Just imagine cruising down the road with the top down and wind in your hair!
The seller claims that it has been in storage for the past 40 years, which I have do doubt of, but they also state that it’s never been restored and is unmolested. I’m not so sure I believe that last one, just have a look at the firewall and let you know what you think.
Sweet ride
Remember when a cadillac meant you had prestige?
Big fat cigar Sinatra on the radio.
How little can you do to make it a nice ride Rattle can paint air cleaner and valve covers.
Gold leaf Cadillac on the valve covers.
A paint job DIY.
I grew up loving these cars. I’ve posted in the past about helping my dad restore a 1949 Cadillac. This picture is of my mom, dad, grandmother, brother and sister and my dad holding me but how about the 1949 Cadillac convertible in the background! It was black, red leather interior and a white top.
Our Ohio family also enjoyed a beautiful black1949, though a hard top. In the ’60’s, on a trip Dad was driving the family late one night (just not the motel type back then), we were pulled over and ultimately directed to follow the trooper back to the station somewhere in rural America. Seems there was a bank robbery recently in the area, and the getaway car was…wait for it, (-; …. , a car just like ours !!! Apparently the crew half asleep in the back seat (us three preteen boys, and our small sister between Mom and Dad up front was still suspicious to that public servant. We checked out OK. That car is in a private collection in Cleveland area we think. Nice family in above picture !!
Car was definitely green at some point in it’s life. Not sure if the red interior would be original, but in the 50’s it could have been possible. Unrestored in teh last 40 years? or however long it’s been parked maybe. But it hasn’t been messed with recently and would make a nice car to have if it’s solid.
A red leather interior was available for the ’49 Convertible. I owned one many years ago, was the second owner, and it was black with a nearly perfect red leather interior, seats/door panels/etc, power windows, seat and top. It’s a great road car, on a par with a Rolls or 300Sc series Benz.
I would say the original color was a robin egg blue (I don’t know of the correct paint name) because my Dad had a ’51 Series 62 ragtop the same color. He bought it used in Cleveland in 1953 & the former owner was the president of White Motors. The first night he had it he took it to a bar & had all the hubcaps stolen off it.
Yeah, I see you’re goin’ down the street in your big Cadillac
You got girls in the front, you got girls in the back
Yeah, way in back, you got money in a sack
Both hands on the wheel and your shoulders rared back
Root-doot-doot-doot-doot, do-wah
I hear tell you’re doin’ well
Good things have come to you
I wish I had your happiness
And you had a do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka, do-wacka-do
Roger Miller ( via Terry J)
Arighty everyone, …let’s hum a few bars …
The letter U sequence for the black Cal plate on this car was issued near the end of the black plate run, was probably put on the car in late ’68, so this car may have been in another state for nearly all of the 60s decade, so who knows, it may even have spent the first 20 years of its life somewhere not as dry as Cali.. I’m just sayin’
some of the best years of caddy’s, solid? how about the huge rust hole in the trunk? anyway I’d buy it if I was’nt already trying to sell my 75 Pontiac Grandville Convert.
Dad had a 51 and 54 both rag tops.
What a difference a year makes. This is an attractive car, but 1950 is so much better looking….at least to me it is!
Hope this one gets restored.
Wow, beautiful survivor… even if not completely original. You’ve gotta wonder if there’s enough of that green / robin’s egg blue paint underneath to be worth gently removing the black. An original paint car – especially if it’s been protected by the black paint – would add a lot of value.
I’ve seen old Vespa scooters restored to original paint with 000 steel wool – it’s awfully impressive.