Even 75-plus years after rolling off the assembly line, Cadillac models from the 1940s have a strong presence on the road – as well as an equally strong presence in the collector marketplace. “Standing proud in pristine condition, this classic beauty exudes an aura of sophistication that transcends eras,” says the seller of today’s featured dream-machine.
The Pick of the Day is a 1949 Cadillac Series 62 coupe listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Los Angeles, California. (Click the link to view the listing)
The Series 62 held its place as a full-size luxury car at the high end of General Motors’ lineup between 1940 and 1964. When the first all-new post-war Cadillacs hit showrooms in 1948, they had obtained tailfins that were aircraft-inspired. The rear end design was mirrored after the Lockheed P-38 fighter plane, and the result was a silhouette that was both aerodynamic and attractive. In typical fashion for the era, the car was also adorned with a great deal of lustrous brightwork, wheel skirts, and wide whitewall tires. There was no mistaking this rolling status symbol for anything less than a Cadillac.
Under the hood, the 331cid OHV V8 which debuted for model year 1949 offered a number of engineering advancements when compared to the outgoing flathead V8. It was rated at 160 horsepower and weighed 200 pounds less than the previous engine. This new motor was one of the factors that contributed to the Series 62’s record success that year (sales topped 55,643 units).
As stunning as the body of the car is, I am also particularly fond of the clean, smooth dashboard design inside the cabin. It appears to have a woodgrain-like finish but is finished in a high-gloss treatment that gleams in the sunlight. The center-dash has a proud winged Cadillac crest, and amenities include a push-button radio, a clock, and full gauges. This was a luxury car after all, and it needed to look like one.
“Owning this automotive masterpiece means holding a piece of history – one that symbolizes an era of opulence and craftsmanship that has stood the test of time. This 1949 Cadillac 62 Series isn’t just a car; it’s a statement of refined taste and an emblem of automotive excellence,” the listing concludes.
The asking price is $75,000 or best offer for the three-quarter-century old Caddy.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
I love the expression: “…this classic beauty exudes an aura of sophistication that transcends eras.” I have often thought that these Cadillacs, brought out when I was just nine years old, were the ultimate Cadillac. There have been good-looking Cadillacs since then, but as the years increase my appreciation for this single model increase also. The fins on this Caddy should not be confused with those of all succeeding models. These were not intended to stabilize the cars at high speeds. Their one purpose was aesthetic – and well within what would later be called “excess”, they blended so well with the study in curvatures that defines the style of the entire car. It is that ultimate blend of beauty and function – achieved so brilliantly here – perhaps the pinnacle of artistic automotive design. Perhaps only matched by prewar Bugatti type 57C. It amazes me that the same team of designers could, and did, trample roughshod over this Rembrandt of auto design, ruthlessly denying those elegant curves for straight vertical lines containing faux air scoops where none could possibly be needed. At least some times, if not always, the terms “art” and “progress” are immiscible.
Accurately described as a coupe in the text, Cadillac actually called this body style a “Sedanette”!