SUMMARY

AACA national award winner / Sale includes AACA grille emblems
Owned by the same family for the last 37 years
Correct 331 cubic inch Cadillac V8
Correct Hydra-Matic 4-speed automatic transmission
Correct interior
Factory power steering
Spent its entire life in North Carolina

Despite General Motors' seemingly endless turmoil, the Cadillac division has spent the last 20 years slowly but surely climbing back to the top of the luxury car market. Offerings like the Escalade, the V-Series and the newly introduced CT6 hint at a brand, which, in spirit, aspires to be as great as the entity that brought us incredible cars like this national award-winning Series 62. And "incredible" isn't just a random adjective either, as there's really nothing like assuming the helm of a 1950s Cadillac. It's a car from an era where The General was at the top of its game in terms of design, engineering and performance. That level of excellence, combined with the brand's built-in exclusivity, means top-notch vintage Cadillacs are becoming increasingly hard to find. And that means, when you DO find a classic like this super cool drop-top, you'd better be quick on the draw!

BODYWORK/TRIM

The beneficiary of a high quality, frame-up restoration, this '53 Caddy, owned by the same family for 37 years, has spent its entire life right here in North Carolina. As you can tell from our high-resolution photos, the car, which appears to wear all-original sheetmetal, features a super slick fuselage that's characterized by the kind of show-worthy gaps and vault-like solidity found only in 'golden age' Detroit luxury cars. Take a closer look at that fuselage and you'll see exceptionally smooth surfaces that have been covered in a stunning coat of Alpine White base. And, to ensure that pigment stays vibrant, a tough layer of clear has been carefully sprayed and thoroughly buffed to an award-winning shine.

We all know trim is what makes '50s cars so cool, and WOW is there a lot of chrome on this Series 62. Put it this way: if you want to look at this vintage drop-top under the lights, be sure to close the shades because the reflection from your garage will probably wake the neighbors! At the front of the car, bright headlights and clear parking lamps visually dissect a heavy chrome grille that's positioned low enough to emphasize a road-hugging stance. Below that grille, a wraparound, gull-wing bumper features prominent chrome bullets. Above those bullets, a brilliant hood goddess overlooks a vintage Cadillac crest and the storied slim-line "V" emblem that inspired the brand's current performance moniker. At the top of the car, stainless-trimmed glass rides between Cadet Visor headlight bezels, a low-profile hood and bright stainless wipers that clear a panoramic windshield. Behind that windshield, a fresh cloth roof floats above a chrome driver's mirror and traditional GM door handles. Below those handles, canted "Cadillac" emblems are perfectly aligned with straight trim spears, air-slot fender breaks and smooth rocker trim. At the back of the car, a rolled trunk hangs a second Cadillac crest above a second slim-line "V". At the sides of that trunk, squared off fins feature jet-inspired taillights. And at the base of those fins, a second wraparound bumper hangs cleanly integrated exhaust tips below a second set of bullets.

ENGINE

Powering this spectacular cruiser is a correct, 331 cubic inch overhead valve V8 that twists a stout 210 horsepower into a stellar 330 ft./lb. of torque. That's plenty of power to move this Caddy down the boulevard with authority, and the big mill is buttery smooth with a distinctive rumble that insists its parent division wasn't interested in hiding their world-class power. Cadillac engines were the hot ticket for performance cars like the Allard J2, and it's hard to deny their eager performance, even in a chassis this large. At the top of the Navy Blue block, a familiar batwing air cleaner swirls wind in to a big Carter 4-barrel. In front of that carburetor, factory power steering and an old school generator spin fresh V-belts around pliable hoses and new screw clamps. Opposite those ancillaries, a correct points distributor shoots spark around correct exhaust manifolds via high quality CARQUEST 7mm Suppression Cables. Not a thing has been overlooked in this top-notch engine bay, with a professionally finished powerplant that's complemented by a full assortment of well-planned and well-executed details. Cadillac's open-runner cooling system is present and accounted for. A slim, application-specific battery provides fire. A glass washer reservoir hangs on the cowl. And the car's solid inner fenders and hulking hood are covered in a seamless combination of Satin Black single-shot and Alpine White 2-stage.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Throw this classic on a lift and you'll find a super clean undercarriage that, despite being largely exempt from the aforementioned restoration, is no less spectacular. A beefy X-frame, which could've lived a past life as railroad trestling, displays a solid coat of Satin Black paint. The blue V8 throws torque through a correct Hydra-Matic transmission, which wears a 1953 (53) Cadillac © build stamp. That stellar drivetrain rides on a factory-spec suspension that's equipped with massive drum brakes. Factory power steering greatly improves low-speed navigation. There's a fresh, stainless exhaust system that breathes through factory replacement mufflers. And, at the corners, substantial wire wheels spin meaty 8.00-15 Coker Classic whitewalls around classy Cadillac crests.

INTERIOR

Clean and ready for hours of cruising, this classic Caddy's correct Red interior features a perfect mix of outrageous style and traditional American luxury. The broad bench seats are stuffed with firm padding, decked in leather covers, and trimmed in subtle stainless. In front of those seats, a classy dash hangs a correct AM radio between a contoured instrument panel, a small "Cadillac" script and a stylish electric clock. At the base of that dash, premium carpet rides between Cadillac-branded sills and cool, chrome-trimmed kick panels. At the sides of that carpet, stainless-trimmed door panels frame chrome handles, sculpted armrests, small power window switches and stylish Cadillac crests. In front of the driver, a 2-tone steering wheel spins a chrome horn ring around a color-keyed gear selector and a translucent centerpiece. And behind the passengers, a fully restored trunk anchors a correct jack next to a full-size spare tire. GM designers definitely knew what they were doing back in the 1950s, and all of this drop-top's unique detail has been carefully restored to better-than-new condition.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

In the name of authenticity, I'll go ahead and break down this Cadillac's VIN and cowl tag.

VIN: 5362XXXXX

53 - 1953 model year
62 - Series 62
XXXXX- Sequential production number

COWL TAG:

STYLE NUMBER: 53-6267X
- 53: 1953 model year
- 62: Series 62
- 67: Convertible
- X: Equipped with power windows and a power seat
BODY NUMBER: FW7280
- FW: Produced at GM's Clark Street Fleetwood facility
- 7280: Fisher Body sequence number
TRIM NUMBER: 48
- 48: Red leather
PAINT NUMBER: 10HR
- 10: Court Gray
- H: Equipped with a heater
- R: Unknown interior trim color
TOP: 9
- 9: Unknown top color

AWARDS

2004 AACA Senior National First Prize
2005 AACA National First Prize

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

A vintage Cadillac marketing brochure
A 1952 Cadillac Shop Manual
A 1953 Cadillac Shop Manual Supplement
A 1953 Charlotte tag
A 1953 North Carolina tag
Grille emblems for the aforementioned AACA awards

The old world produces some very nice cars, but there's no piece that says you've made it better than an old school Cadillac. This Series 62's world-class ambiance had a crowd of us standing around simply marveling at its style and pondering its clean history. If you're looking for an appreciating classic that you can REALLY appreciate, this all-American convertible is spectacular in every way!