Vehicle Description
The end of World War II signaled a dramatic shift in the American
auto industry. Car production had halted suddenly in 1942 as
factories were retooled for the war effort. Now that the conflict
was over, auto production could resume, but the problem for many
was that design and development of new models had all but halted
during the war, so most manufacturers had to make do with hastily
refreshed versions of their existing pre-war models. In the case of
Cadillac, however, the outlook was rather bright because that meant
resuming production of the brilliant Series 62. For post-war
models, the front end design was subtly reworked with a new grille,
and the fender profile tweaked with beautiful effect. The proud
grille and the flowing, beautifully contoured body would serve as
the basis for Cadillac's design language through the rest of the
1940s and into the early 50s. As was the norm for Cadillac,
numerous body styles were available, with the convertible the
ultimate of the two-door Series 62. Cadillac still considered
itself "The Standard of the World" in this era, and the cars were
lavishly equipped with automatic transmissions, the 346 cubic inch
monoblock V8 engine, leather upholstery, power accessories and so
forth. The model proved very popular with buyers, remaining
essentially unchanged through 1947, with nearly 40,000 units of the
Series 62 sold. Of that total, just 6,755 left the factory wearing
the Model 6267 Convertible Coupe body. Today's collectors covet the
Series 62 convertible for its remarkable drivability, gorgeous
lines and Full Classic status as sanctioned by the Classic Car Club
of America. This beautiful 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
benefits from a comprehensive, body-off restoration completed
within the last few years. It is a well-sorted and fabulous driving
example finished in a gorgeous shade of steel blue metallic over a
dark blue interior and tan canvas top. A large cache of photos
documenting the restoration process show the car was a complete and
generally sound example to start with, before the body was removed
from the chassis, and all components were stripped, refinished and
rebuilt as necessary. The body was jigged and repaired before being
refinished in this very attractive steely blue-gray shade. Receipts
show a great number of original and NOS trim parts were sourced,
and a new interior and top fabricated. The Cadillac presents in
lovely condition, with the restoration still appearing crisp and
attractive. Paint quality is very good atop straight and
well-aligned panels, while the chrome and stainless brightwork is
excellent. Riding on fresh Firestone 7.00 - 15 whitewall bias-ply
tires with iconic "sombrero" hubcaps adorning the wheels, it sits
properly on the road. Cadillac's stunning original design looks
particularly good in this dark color with a hint of metallic to
catch the light. It is surely one of the most beautiful American
cars of the era. As part of the restoration, the interior was
completely retrimmed at great expense. Gorgeous dark blue leather
covers the seats and door cards, accented with beige Bedford cord
fabric on the seat backs and door panel inserts. Blue carpets are
in excellent condition, protected by overmats, and the dash is
painted to match the body. Leather on the seats is still in very
fine order, showing only the very slightest bit of creasing in the
driver's seat from light use. The interior is well equipped with an
original radio, power windows, and a quartz-converted original
clock. The large and complex power-operated convertible top frame
was fully disassembled and meticulously restored, with the chrome
and paint finishes returned to original spec. This process alone
accounted for many thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of
labor. The frame was then covered in a tan Stayfast canvas top,
along with a matching fitted boot in the same material. The trunk
is well detailed in correct materials and includes an original
jack, spare, and spare wheel cover. As beautiful as it is to look
at, this Cadillac truly shines on the road. It runs and drives
exceptionally well, starting easily "on the button" and feeling
very tight and well planted on the road. These cars are favorites
of CCCA CARavan tourists, as they are recognized Full Classics and
they reward drivers with their effortless cruising ability. As part
of the comprehensive restoration, the suspension has been rebuilt
and the engine runs very strong, with crisp shifts from the
Hydra-matic automatic transmission. A new and properly detailed
wiring harness from the experts at YnZ's Yesterday's Parts ensures
the major electrical functions work as they should and the car
remains reliable. Underhood detailing is good; showing some light
use in places where the finishes have been affected by running, but
it is generally very correct and tidy. The original oil bath air
cleaner is intact, as is the original glass windscreen washer
bottle and proper clamps and hardware. One of the newest cars
eligible for CARavan touring, and a truly wonderful machine on the
road, this well-presented and desirable Cadillac Series 62
Convertible is a very good example in beautiful colors that would
be equally at home at a casual show or cruising effortlessly down
the road.