Photo: Car Wizard | YouTube
A mechanic from Kansas purchased a gorgeous 1963 Cadillac Coupe deVille. His detailing buddy drove eight hours to Missouri to pick it up and bring it to him.
David Long, aka The Car Wizard, owner of Omega Auto Clinic in Newton, Kansas, has gotten his hands on one of his dream cars: a Cadillac Coup deVille. His friend Andrew Holder, a detailing expert, drove from Kansas to St. Louis, Missouri to pick up the 1963 Cadillac Coupe deVille. It’s already his fourth classic Caddy, and it looks like he’s not stopping there. However, he says the 1963 model is his favorite.
David takes the car to the garage and asks his wife Jenny how it's doing: “Maybe you did well in this case,” he replies.
Whoever sold the car to David only kept it for a year or two after purchasing it from someone in Las Vegas. That's where the Cadillac spent most of its new life. With so many gangsters living in Las Vegas in the 1960s, David can't help but think that the car might have belonged to one of them.
The front fascia is entirely covered in chrome, contrasting with the original black paint that covers the elongated silhouette. The car has never been painted since leaving the factory 61 years ago. The paint has so-called crow's feet and some cracks, especially on the hood.
Photo: Car Wizard | YouTube
“Some idiot took a brick and tried to sand it or something.,” David complains. The only way to fix everything is to completely repaint the deVille.
The model features wire wheels with brand new whitewall tires. The rear end is reminiscent of the giant fins that the deVille came with in 1958. Cadillac continued to lower its ride height over the years, until it arrived at what this deVille has.
The car is powered by a 390 cubic inch (6.4 liter) engine Outboard motor V8 engine with four-barrel carburetor, which Cadillac had in production until 1963 before switching to a 429 in 1964. So, this example is one of the last cars to receive it. The V8 is mated to the four-speed Hydramatic transmission, which was also retired for the 1963 model year.
The engine, which makes about 340 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Car Wizard notes some leaks, but it still runs great, he says. There’s a gold AC compressor, an aftermarket feature the new owner is happy with. A giant battery has found its way under the hood. It fits nicely, but takes up a lot of space.
Photo: Car Wizard | YouTube
Jenny, aka Mrs. Wizard, describes the cabin as “so perfect.” All the analog gauges with chrome bezels look flawless. Her mechanic husband will have to do something about the clock in the dashboard that doesn't work.
The Caddy has a huge, thin, two-spoke steering wheel with a red cover that holds the brand logo in the center. It still looks as it did the day this car rolled off the assembly line in 1963.
It has 57,712 miles (92,878 kilometers) on the odometer, and that could be real because anything higher would have led to serious wear and tear on board. The leather-top, nylon-fabric-bottom seats, sporting shades of gray, look flawless. The Cadillac logo is embossed on the seatback, but is missing from the glove compartment door. David has already ordered one.
The door panels feature the same material pattern, with the buttons and stitching still intact. The driver’s side door panel features controls for the power windows, a manual control for the rearview mirror, and a lever for the triangular window.
Photo: Car Wizard | YouTube
When the Wizard lifts the car, he looks for the reason why it makes that rattling noise. The previous owner had warned him before he even bought the classic Caddy. The exhaust clamp is loose.
David will work his magic and replace the entire exhaust system because there are parts missing. The seller told him that they broke during shipping and he didn't bother replacing them because he knew he would soon sell the car. And he did.
The Caddy has a new fuel pump, so that will save him the trouble for a while, but he is planning to replace it with an electric one. The car needs all four drum brakes adjusted, the experienced mechanic says. The hoses need replacing. The good news is that there is no rust underneath.
David jokes about finding dead bodies in the trunk, as he thought it might be a mob car in the 1960s. But all he finds in there is a spare tire. So, no mob history for this Cadillac Coupe deVille. The trunk lid still features the original tag that tells owners how to use the jack.
Unless you are an expert, you would never guess where the fuel door is. We leave you to find it yourself in the video below.
