This bold and very daring looking 1953 Cadillac Series 62 convertible sports a pink and white paint job, is powered by a V8 engine and ticks all the boxes for a classic motorized treasure. With its fighter jet inspired look, the car looks like a true risk-taker.
The 1953 Cadillac Series 6 Convertible is white with airbrushed cotton candy pink accents and red stripes, has a white power convertible top, and a breathtaking red leather interior. Now, that's a very unlikely paint job for a Caddy of the era. But hey, it's the 1920s, anything goes. Many of its siblings are rotting in yards or barns, while this one sports that head-turning paint job.
The model rolled out of the factory gates sporting Artisan Ochre paint and a black top. Those days are long gone because, over the years, its owners wanted something different. Long gone are the days when Cadillac had a convertible in its lineup. The last Cadillac convertible was the 1976 Eldorado.
At some point in 1984 and 1985, the Eldo convertible made its return as a conversion performed by ASC and sold as an official factory product. Enraged Cadillac convertible owners, who boasted that they owned the last ones ever produced, filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors. However, it was to no avail. Cadillac and ASC continued to sell the convertible models for two full years, and there was nothing they could do.
Fighter jet inspired design and Cadillac emblems on both ends
So this white-pink-red Series 62 Convertible is one of the real bargains. It was produced in the final year of production of the third generation. The post-war models had a look inspired by the Lockheed P-38 fighter jet.
Cadillac designers also chose to reposition the parking lights just below the headlights and to put a single-piece rear window without a divider bar. In addition, brand emblems and V-shaped ornaments appeared on both the hood and the rear hatch.
To attract more attention than it already did with that paint, it has bright chrome bumpers and a trim package that competes with the super popular 1950s feature, the vertical tailfins, for attention-grabbing status. The car sports a honeycomb grille, which was specially redesigned for the 1953 model year.
Dual side mirrors and fender skirts complete the look. There are also dual exhaust tips, integrated into the rear bumper, and crescent-shaped headlights.
The car rides on 15-inch wire wheels with whitewall tires, bringing the 1950s vibe into the present. A Continental hard-top kit covers the spare tire. Another is stowed in the trunk.
Air suspension is the only mechanical upgrade
The Cadillac rides on an aftermarket air suspension. This appears to be the only mechanical feature that isn't standard. The model sports factory power steering and power windows. A retro-style push-button radio and clock are on board.
The future owner of this Caddy will control the steering via a two-spoke steering wheel with a chrome ring, positioned in front of a speedometer with a scale up to 110 mph, a fuel gauge and another for the coolant temperature.
The odometer reads nearly 29,000 miles (46,671 kilometers), marking it out as something of a garage queen. About 5,000 (8,047 kilometers) of those have been added under the current ownership.
The model is powered by a 331-cubic-inch (5.4-liter) V8 engine. The unit, which arrived as a new powertrain after World War II, produced 210 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque for the 1953 model year, but when it first hit the market, it was rated at 160.
The V8 engine is mated to a Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to all four corners. Drums at each corner provide stopping power.
70-Year-Old Cadillac Looking For Home
The car has undergone a thorough restoration, which has given it a very different appearance than the car that rolled off the assembly line at the Fleetwood plant in Detroit, Michigan, in 1953.
That year, Cadillac sold 85,446 of these units, which was a new record for the lineup. The automaker was already preparing to launch a new generation, which would come with a higher price tag. Those numbers may have been the effect of that plan.
The 1953 has been with its late owner since 1996. It is now being auctioned on Bring a Trailer, with no reserve from the seller, with a clean New Jersey title, on behalf of the late owner's estate. With three days left in the auction, bidding has reached $25,000, which is well below its market value. But there's still time.
1953 Cadillac Series 62 Convertibles now sell for an average of $54,693, according to classic.com. However, a restored 1948 example sold for a whopping $802,500 in August 2021.