1960 Cadillac Series 62 – Auction Car of the Week

There are some things that are just quintessentially American. Things that scream U! S! A! at us in a thick Texan drawl. Things like apple pie, the Stars and Stripes, excessive patriotism and of course, Cadillac. A stalwart of the American automotive industry since the turn of the twentieth century Cadillac has been producing luxury cars for 120 years. Just read that again. 120 years! Over the course of this illustrious career there have certainly been some shining stars and one such highlight is its Series 62 line-up.

The prestige division of General Motors since 1909 Cadillac introduced the Series 62 (or Sixty-Two) back in 1940 that went on to see seven different generations until the line was discontinued in 1964. The focus of this particular article is this 1960 Cadillac Series 62; a sixth-gen model that’s more akin to a spaceship on wheels than an actual car. Just look at the thing. It’s a futuristic, ostentatious amalgamation of sleek lines, fins and chrome that represented the ideals of a population who were at the dawn of a new, golden age in American culture.

It’s an iconic car, mainly due to those instantly recognisable tail fins and was available as a two and four-door hard top as well as a two-door convertible. The engine and transmission remained the same across the range, however; a 6.4-litre V8 producing 325bhp mated to a four-speed Hydra-Matic auto box providing the kind of laid back, buttery smooth ride that people had come to expect from their Caddies.

This particular model is a two-door convertible, which is arguably the most desirable of the bunch. Its low, suave lines bely its monstrous size and this Series 62 clocks in at over 5.7m long and over 2m wide. Make no mistake, you will draw attention wherever you go. It’s an imposing car and not one for the faint-hearted but with power steering, power brakes and electric everything it’s no more difficult to drive than any modern day grocery-getter. Luxury American boats of this era were ahead of their time when it came to the bells and whistles, leaving the Europeans in the dust and this Cadillac is no exception.

Purchased and imported from a well-known and respected US classic car dealer in 2007 the car has only one registered UK owner. Following a comprehensive restoration in the States in the early 2000s the Series 62 presents exceptionally well throughout. The Cadillac Premium Gray Metallic paintwork is holding up perfectly and there are no real imperfections to speak of anywhere on the acres of bodywork. The all-important chrome trim pieces – which are a big feature of the car – are all in great shape with no pitting or weathering. The only blemish appears to be a small piece of red lens plastic that has broken from the base of the nearside fin but this should be an easy part to source and replace.

It’s a similar story on the inside too and the Dark Dakota Red upholstery is simply stunning, complimenting the grey bodywork perfectly. It’s a spacious affair inside the car, as you would imagine, and everything is present, correct and working as intended, including the power hood, which is brand new. A little wrinkly from being stowed perhaps but let’s face it, you’re not going to be driving this thing with the roof up are you? That would be missing the point entirely. As mentioned, everything is electric, from the seats to the windows and with fully functioning A/C you can cart a whole heap of your friends around in absolute comfort, all the while feeling like king of the hill.

Mechanically sound to boot there is a lot of car on offer here, quite literally. It represents a heyday of American automotive history where the words frugal and modest were thrown out of the window in favour of building something extravagant and larger than life, just because it could be built. It’s the kind of car that would be welcome at any classic show and believe us when we say crowds would gather. So, get bidding for your chance to own this beautiful slice of Americana. To make a statement and to dance to your own tune. No doubt a toe-tapping rock n’ roll number at that.