If you are a fan of the cinema, then you are familiar with some of Tinseltown’s real stars: the cars.  In Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” one of the stars was a cream-colored 1966 Cadillac Coupe de Ville.  Owned by a movie star in the film, this Cadillac’s performance helped set the sixties mood and racked up more than a few envious fans.  If you are looking for a luxury car with that sixties style that exudes quality and class, check out this 1963 Cadillac Coupe de Ville for sale on eBay in Independence, Oregon.  With just 90,813 miles on the odometer, this well-cared-for Caddy’s bidding is sitting at $15,100.  Is that a fair price for a luxurious taste of that era?

The two pictures above do more to capture the feel for Cadillacs of this era than can be said in words.  They highlight the gorgeous angular styling, the luxurious size, and the soft glow of the lights at dusk.  There was something special about the glow that these cars put out in the twilight hours.  That glow combined with the deep-throated burble of the exhaust at idle takes you back to a time when the driver of a Cadillac was usually a well-respected member of the community.  Unless it was a black Cadillac.  Those guys usually demanded a different form of respect.

Stepping inside, the Cadillac driver found the best that General Motors had to offer in the way of materials and technology.  Cadillac was often the first place that technologically advanced options showed up.  In 1963, customers could choose from an amazing 143 options to personalize their car to their particular tastes.  Many of those options brought with them extra weight.  In an era before CAFE standards, dealing with extra weight meant adding more horsepower to overcome the burden.  Occasionally braking capability was enhanced as well.  For those who have never driven anything other than a modern car, the sheer weight and horsepower combination gave a ride and handling qualities that have no modern equivalent.

If you are intrigued by the above description, then this may be the perfect opportunity for you to experience a sixties Cadillac in all its glory.  The problem with these cars in today’s market is that well-cared-for examples in good condition are few and far between.  Rust and poor treatment have taken a toll on surviving cars and restoring one quickly puts the owner upside down financially.  We hear a lot of comments from readers that they don’t expect to make a profit on cars they purchase and restore for love.  The issue with sixties Cadillacs is the size of the upside down.  Quality parts from the factory cost a lot to reproduce and refurbish.  Restoring a vehicle filled with the best costs a Cadillac sized trunk load of money in today’s economy.

The ad tells us that this is an original, one-owner car from an estate sale.  Rust, which is a frequent issue with Cadillacs of this era, is non-existent on this car.  Another selling point is that the engine and transmission have been rebuilt.  Everything is said to work, with even the air conditioning blowing cold.  The pictures show that the interior is in very good condition, with a bit of staining on the cloth inserts.  The cloth material that GM used on Cadillacs of this era was not known for its stain resistance.  Perhaps it could be replaced if one could find a source for the material.  Other than that, the car does appear to be in very good shape and is totally road ready.

While we were not provided a shot of the engine, Cadillac’s standard powerplant for the year was a 390 cubic inch V-8 putting out 325 horsepower.  While a substantial number for the day, the way it was delivered was what made these engines special.  Combined with a Hydramatic automatic transmission, these Cadillac V-8s simply shoved from low speeds to cruising speed and above.  Smooth, yet powerful enough to shove the roughly 4,700 lb. car with gusto.  Folks who have driven early Cadillacs can attest to the sewing machine smoothness of these vehicles at a time when other cars were still a bit rough around the edges.

It was that refinement that made the Cadillacs of this era special.  No car made today can equal the feel of one of these luxury cars.  Cadillac’s “Standard of the World” slogan was no idle sales boast in 1963.  These were world-class luxury cars.  If you have the means, picking up a car like this one in good condition and enjoying it can be one of life’s finer pleasures.  Hopefully, it finds a good home.