Still A Head Turner: 1961 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
I sometimes try to imagine what it would’ve been like to have driven this brand new Cadillac off the dealer’s lot. Preferable with the top down. A glistening white Cadillac with a white convertible top and red leather interior made quite an “I have arrived” statement back in 1961. And it still does today. Here’s a California Caddy that still has its original red leather interior plus a binder of receipts for the work that’s been done to it: a rebuilt engine, transmission, rear end, and suspension. This 1961 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two Convertible is located in Maple Valley, Washington and is for sale here on eBay. As of this writing, 30 bids had pushed the price up to $30,100.61, but it hadn’t met the seller’s reserve.
1961 ushered in new styling to the seventh generation of Cadillac’s Series 62 line. Cadillac described it as “its graceful silhouette reveals a more integrated body and increased head room, interior spaciousness and entrance room. Vision is virtually unlimited. And the crisp, sculptured design of front, rear and sides confers a distinction entirely new to motoring.”
The new for ’61 Cadillac was indeed sleeker looking than the 1960 model and a bit shorter by three inches. Gone was the massive wraparound windshield and many of the styling cues of the ’59 and ’60 Cadillacs. Overall, the ’61’s had a squarer, more angular look with the upper rear tail fin duplicated lower down and integrated into the design. I’ve always liked the rather bold rear end styling of the ’61 Caddies which got more formal looking in 1962. Based on the photos, this appears to be a good, driver-quality Cadillac. The seller thinks there may have been one repaint and describes the paint as in good shape with some nicks and touchups visible. The chrome, glass, trim, and lenses look good and I’m not seeing any rust or signs of dents or damage. The white convertible top looks good, the rear window is clear and the seller says the power top is in great shape. Sporty wire wheels and wide whitewall tires completes the overall good impression of this Classy Caddy Convertible.
The 1961 Cadillac was restyled on the inside, too, and choosing a red interior with leather seats was a great call. The seller points out and shows a photo of the separation of the seam on the driver’s side top, but other than that, the original front and rear seats look good. So does the dash, instrument panel (with three gauges added under the dash) and steering wheel.
Based on the photos, it looks like options list included Air Conditioning (that isn’t charged), the Guide-Matic power headlamp control, and power windows (and probably power seats). The seller also says the radio has been converted to blue tooth and that all gauges work. And, I’m assuming the current red carpet in the cabin isn’t the original.
The engine bay is rather tidy and show’s Cadillac’s 390-cubic inch V8 that generated 325 horsepower when new. The seller says that the engine, Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, rear end, and suspension have all been rebuilt with about 3,000 miles on them. There’s also documentation and photos showing this. Cadillac’s advertising described their stylish droptop this way: “As fresh and stimulating as a sunlit summer day, the newest Sixty-Two Convertible is the perfect answer for those who would combine superb comfort and beauty with the spirit of adventure.” A rather poetic and fitting description for sure.
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Comments
Pretty BA
I like it! I’d prefer regular whitewalls though, it’s just too much white with them.
`61 was the last year car mfrs. utilized these wider whitewalls. By `62, much thinner white stripes became the norm.
If I was the buyer, I would overlook the period correctness, and have thinner whitewalls installed. I agree with 19sixty5. They would improve the look of this car.
Agree. They should be 2.25″ Those look ridiculous.
What a truly beautiful AUTOMOBILE!!! I would love to be the new owner, however, I will be 90 on the next birth date. I owned a 1964 62 series an kept it for over six years, an absolutely grand machine, never had any problems with it. I bought the vehicle from a Cadillac dealer, it had been driven by his Wife and one day while i was at their home the Husband told me he was going to give her a Convertible and would sell the 64. After a quick count of my latest bank statement I asked if he would sell it to me. I agreed to his price and got the 64, it only had a few thousand miles on the odometer. I do not recall the mileage on the odometer when I traded it in, however, I know it was high, a grand and fine vehicle. And, .my next Cadillac was also a top notch automobile. Happy highways to all.
You are a lucky man. You had what a lot of others only dream of.
They don’t build em like that anymore boys and girls…..
We’d have ran out of fuel by 1980 if they kept building them like this. Actually. But if you have coins and still decent enough to get dates with females, this is a nice addition for the Friday and Saturday night social scene. Weird ride for a monk or garage hubby. This car is advertising “Dude seeking, money no object”, a plan that I learned decades ago is highly flawed. Smaller niche of prospective buyers than assumed. But at $50k or whatever it goes for, better than any muscle car ride. It’s a datemobile. Mostly parked. To save gas. And whatnot.
Yep and there’s a reason… Once you get past the romanticism of days gone by and start remembering what hunks of 💩 all of these old cars are. The quicker you won’t pay $30k for it … Reality is a very harsh place
My god.
https://nihilistnotes.blogspot.com/search?q=Skeg
The lower “fins” were known as “skegs” and were borrowed from ships where they were functional. Cadillac used them only on the 1961-1962 models and because between 1961-1963 the factory offered a short deck version, there were long skegs and short skegs.
Thank you for sharing the skegs information…I did not know that.
i was waiting for someone to provide this info not many know the name , i think its a great designed car . i always liked the 61 62 cadi convertables
Man – that is one GORGEOUS car! Just like I would love to own, and JUST the “right condition “ too. Perfect. That rebuild on the engine and transmission AND suspension just ticks all the right boxes! Those 390ci engines were bulletproof and had awesome power for the displacement. I don’t doubt that it moves out like a jet! If everything checks out and there are no surprises – this 1961 Cadillac series 62 convertible should at least sell for 35-40k but not much more. It definitely WOULD be worth it! Gotta love it and a great article!
I have to agree with your assessment of the capability of the 390. In 1982 I bought a 63 Cadillac S & S Victoria 3 way hearse with only 60k, fresh out of service.. I lived in Vail Colorado and that 390 would pull the 11,000 foot passes with ease at 80+ when empty or 60 + when loaded with 3 engines on cradles in the back. The car weighed 6700 lbs empty. It would cruise at 110 on the eastern plains and still deliver 12 mpg!
They DO move right along! I owned a ’61 Series 62 and it kept right up with everyone else once you got it moving, in about 6 seconds. Steel blue with blue interior. It got stolen in Los Gatos, Ca., but I recovered it a year later. Alas the thief left the top down all winter & ruined the perfect interior. What an idiot. BUT I got an insurance settlement for $5000and sold the great-runnimg car forc$1500 to a guy in Hollywood who put it in a crappy movie after repainting it: white. End of story…
Love these early Cads! A 62 series is very collectable; forerunner of the very popular Sedan DeVille convertible. If I had a garage for it it would be well worth consideration.
Located about 40 minutes south of me, would enjoy kicking the tires and ogling this land yacht.
Pure class with all the toys. I love it!
A man four blocks from here had two identical metallic red ’61 Series 62 convertibles, and two white ’61s turned up around here. I’ve always loved the ’61 and ’62 styling, the sharp lines added so much to the look.
Dad had a white/black 2-door hardtop 62 series. I got to drive it and even take it out with the best girl. One summer Saturday evening with the windows down, a DUI guy with a brush painted ’54 red Chevy sedan crossed the center line on Main St. leaving lots of red paint and bent metal all along the Cad’s driver’s side.) A lifetime trauma I can’t forget.
It was a beautiful car that drove and ran very well for the times. The ragtop here is a look alike. IMO the ’61 2 doors were one of the best years of that era…maybe the best. Most of the before and after years looked bulkier. This car looks very desirable even now. If I was maybe 10 years younger…
I was a young boy who always liked cars and when my oldest sister’s boyfriend came to pick her up in a 61 caddy vert just like this one that he bought brand new i hoped he was a keeper for her, he was and i got to ride in that caddy a lot, the white walls were thinner and he added duel exhaust, over the years he had a few caddys but that 61 made 61s a favorite with me!
Really nice but too far away for me… that and a bidder with a big fat zero rating is bidding the price up…
I’d prefer 1961 whitewalls or later, and the original wheelcovers, over what’s on there. There was a bright red, white top ’65 Imperial Crown Coupe down here, with what looked like six inch whitewalls. Not a good look.
Pretty sure if you’re a nice dude not slathered in tats and bathe regular, you can get a date with this ride. The guy on the Harley or in the Corvette mostly posing for the other fellers. That bench seat… Those fins. But you’ll need to do some situps and jog around the block for this lifestyle change. It does have limitations. On the other hand, Thelma can pop right in and make her own choices.
I also meant to state earlier that IMO white is the perfect color for this car and its great big bench seats and column shifter are excellent for cruising and drive-ins. Plus the trunk can hold a big pile of whatever…so it’s a great honeymoon car too ;-)
JFK had this very same Cadillac, make,model and color. It could often be seen, top down, during his presidency, parked discretely near ritzy Los Angeles, Santa Monica and maybe Brentwood um……err…… “romantic hide aways.” It would usually be accompanied by a Secret Service car and agents. A VERY different time in political and automtive history.
I wouldn’t change a thing. Except for the title.
Why don’t any of these cars have a working air conditioner? They put all that money into them and don’t fix the air?