1962 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special

This 1962 Cadillac Fleetwood is a fine example of an unrestored 86000-mile survivor. The car was delivered new in San Francisco California and has remained on the West Coast since its original delivery. It has never been exposed to road salt and has been garaged continuously for many years. There are approximately 150 high-resolution photos of the car via the link posted in the ad description. All photos are untouched and have not been digitally enhanced in any way.

In addition to the photos listed in this EBay ad additional photos can be viewed here:https://www.flickr.com/photos/76938221@N05/sets/72157648679441839

This Cadillac was originally titled to Cadillac Motor Division and was part of the executive motor pool of Cadillac’s San Francisco Zone Office. The car carries the San Francisco Zone Office badge affixed to its rear deck lid and the car will be sold with its original pair of vintage California black license plates. In addition a Cadillac zone office license plate frame is included for display. The car is unique among 1962 Fleetwood Sixty Special cars in that it is equipped with the rear footrests that were an exclusive feature of the Fleetwood Seventy-Five series limousines. The footrests were added to the car during its early history making the car’s luxurious leather and fabric rear compartment even more inviting.

The 1962 Cadillacs are regarded by many collectors as Cadillac’s finest design of the post war era and collectors appreciate the symmetry of the trademark Cadillac tailfin and the lower body skeg fins of this model. 1962 Cadillacs were the first to offer the beautiful cornering lamps and dual-chamber brake master cylinder and the last to offer the fog lamp option with which this car is equipped.

I have been a collector and enthusiast of vintage General Motors cars for many years and have owned and driven numerous well-preserved examples. This particular car finished in rich Aleutian Gray represents the single Cadillac model that I had most desired for my personal collection. The car’s striking appearance color combination strong mechanical condition and driveability solid body / frame / rockers / floor pans and well-preserved original interior were highly appealing to me. The car is unmistakably a CADILLAC and it never fails to capture the attention of other motorists whenever I drive it. As one friend commented it is easy to visualize Jackie Kennedy Onassis alighting from the rear seat of this elegant Fleetwood.

My wife and I agree that it is time for a new owner to appreciate carefully improve and display this grand Cadillac.

The Cadillac is powered by its original 390-cubic inch V8 and original Hydra-Matic transmission. The car is equipped with a full array of standard and optional features including:

• Factory Air Conditioning
• Fog Lamps
• Six-way Power Seat Adjustment
• Power Window Regulators and Power Ventipanes – front and rear (the driver’s door includes controlsfor eight power windows!)
• Power Door Locks
• Power Headlight Control (Guidematic)
• Soft-Ray Glass
• Signal Seeking Radio with foot control and power antenna
• Power Deck Lid Lock

Mechanical Condition and Function of Power Accessories

The Cadillac’s powertrain operates smoothly and with plenty of power and responsiveness – exactly as one would expect from a well-maintained Cadillac of this era. The car rides and drives beautifully – and apart from the older radial tires – I would feel very comfortable driving the car on a long trip.

The carburetor has recently been rebuilt and an external choke stove added. When cold the car is slow to start which is easily remedied with a shot of starting fluid. There is a leak in the exhaust pipe just upstream from the muffler so the car is somewhat noisy during acceleration.

The car’s original braking system works well and the car stops straight and smooth.

Turn signals are operative including the fender mounted indicators but the signals do not cancel automatically as they should. Both cornering lamps work well. Headlamps taillamps and backup lights all operate properly. The fog lamps do not operate and I believe that the problem is with the headlamp switch which may not be correct unit for a car equipped with the fog lamps. Interior lights are not operative.

The air conditioning fans and controls work properly but the system does not blow cold. The system has not been messed with so may simply require a re-charge. A heater door appears to be stuck open and heated air enters the passenger compartment whenever the car is running.

The four main door power window regulators work well but the four ventipanes do not operate although the window motors are audible when the switches are used.

The power door locks operate only when the engine is running indicating a probable vacuum leak.

The signal seeking radio and power antenna do not work.

Body and Paint Condition

The car’s body is solid as expected for a West Coast car but the lower front fender behind the front wheel opening of the passenger side shows some rust bubbles. (See photos.)

The condition of the car’s paint is its greatest weakness. Paint on the roof deck lid and upper rear quarters is the factory-applied paint. Careful polishing will improve the luster but the paint is thin in areas – especially the roof – with primer showing through.

Sometime during the 1970’s a prior owner added protective bodyside moldings to the car attached with rivets. When these were removed years later the body was repaired but the paint in the coved area of both body sides was very poorly re-sprayed. The paint on the body side is dull on the driver’s side and peeling on the passenger side. I have had some careful touch-up to preserve the car’s appearance but a future caretaker will wish to consider a quality re-paint or partial re-paint. This car deserves beautiful paint!

The driver’s side skeg fin and the skeg fin portion of the rear bumper have been bumped and damaged. (See photos) Some body repair and replacement of the lower driver’s side rear bumper will be required.

Chrome plating and other brightwork is entirely serviceable with some minor pitting of door window frames.

Interior and Trunk Compartment Condition

The interior is one of this car’s strongest attributes – it is simply beautiful. The original interior door panels and seat upholstery are in very good condition; the door panel wood veneers are serviceable and in my opinion do not require refinishing. The interior brightwork is brilliant and free of pits. The die-cut mesh rear package tray and the dash pad are excellent. The steering wheel and the glove box liner appear perfect. The original carpet is in very good condition.

The headliner will require replacement. It is stained and has a hole. (See photos.)

The trunk compartment liners and cardboard are in excellent condition and all tire jack tools etc. are present.

Frame Floors Rockers

I have shot extensive photos of the car’s frame floor pans and undercarriage. This is a West Coast car with no exposure to road salt and it shows. As the photos document the car’s underside is that of a very nice solid original car.

Transaction Details

The car has a clear Washington title in my name. I will retain the vintage Washington state license plates unless the car sells to a buyer in the state of Washington. As noted the car will be delivered with its original California black license plates and a Cadillac Motor Division license frame. In addition decades of service receipts are included with the car although the documented history does not extend all the way back to its time as a Cadillac Motor Division executive car. (The history has been communicated orally from one owner-to-the-next.)

The Cadillac is located near Tacoma Washington and I will be happy to meet with prospective bidders or their representatives who wish to inspect the car personally. While I have photographed the car extensively and described it to the best of my ability a personal inspection is recommended on any car of this vintage. The local Dependable Auto Shipper (DAS) terminal is nearby (within 10 miles) and I would be happy to deliver the car to this terminal at no charge for the winning bidder. I will cooperate fully to be available for any domestic or international shipping services the successful bidder utilizes.

Additional questions can be sent via EBay’s “Ask a question” feature.

The reserve price on the vehicle will not be disclosed prior to the end of auction nor is there a Buy it Now Pricing listed. I have set a very reasonable reserve price for the car based upon its condition and items requiring repair and you will not be disappointed.

The Fleetwood rolled off Detroit’s Clark Avenue assembly line 53 years ago and as such with any older car of this era no warranty is offered or implied. The car will be sold “as is where is” with a clean title.

Payment/Terms

Winning bidder will be required to provide a $500.00 (USD) deposit via PayPal within 48 hours. The balance shall be paid via wire transfer within 7 days.

Thank you forlooking at this ad and if you have any questions please submit them through EBay and I will work to answer as quickly as possible.

Happy Bidding!

On Jun-22-15 at 10:17:23 PDT seller added the following information:

Updated Information!

I have been contacted by two separate individuals who owned and loved this car during the 1980’s. They can furnish additional details regarding the car’s history while in their possession and I can provide their contact information to thewinning bidder for the Cadillac.

The car does have the correct fog lamp headlight switch and it works properly. The passenger side fog lamp does work and the driver’s side may simply need a new bulb. I have a source for the correct bulbs. The fog lamp option was added to this car during the 1980’s according to the chat I had with the former owner as mentioned above.

The interior lighting does operate with the headlamp switch but does not operate when the doors are opened.

Starting the car when cold does not require use of starting fluid. I started the car on Thursday after not starting it for one month. The car started within about 30 seconds. Use of starting fluid is not recommended for the Cadillac 390 engine. I wanted to clarify this from the original post/description.

After talking with the prior owners I cannot substantiate the story that the car was originally utilized by Cadillac’s Zone Office as an executive car. (This “history” had been communicated by the individual from whom I obtained the car and may not be accurate.) I have been advised that Cadillac operated a “factory store” in San Francisco and likely affixed the Zone Office badge to any Cadillacs which were sold through the factory store. We do know with certainty that the car was ultimately marketed through the factory store and we now have the scan of the business card for the salesman who sold the car to its first buyer. We do not have the name for the first buyer. I hope that this bit of information assists with the history of the car.