Vehicle Description
Make no mistake, Cadillac not only understood the concept of First
Class in the '50s, but they were the world's finest purveyor of it.
This stunning 1958 Cadillac Series 62 two-door hardtop should tell
you all you need to know about what the 1% was doing with their
money in the late 1950s. Very impressive, and with a few choice
upgrades that's ready to cruise, it's over-the-top luxury and style
from an era when America could do no wrong.
'50s Cadillacs are impressive machines and just the mere sight of
one sends our imaginations spinning towards who might be inside,
what celebrity or dignitary might be enjoying that ultimate luxury.
But at the same time, they need to be imposing and with this
Cadillac wearing a very handsome Alpine White, it certainly gets
your attention. The finish presents incredibly well but isn't
perfect, but it would also be a crime to repaint it because a
professional buff and polish would really kick it up a notch and
restore its former glory. The quality is still quite visible
everywhere you look, as it should be for a car that cost as much as
the average family's house in 1958. And while no late-50s Cadillac
could ever be considered subtle, this one has presence to spare:
it's big, it's shiny, and nobody mistakes it for anything else.
Perhaps it's all that glittering chrome, which it wears like an
expensive watch and cufflinks, symbols of almost unattainable
luxury that you almost want to reach out and touch. There are no
deviations from stock and although some of the chrome and trim
could use a little polishing/refinishing, it still looks great up
against the soft hue of the paint.
You'd expect to be coddled inside, but this car is appointed like
an executive office suite with every possible luxury convenience
1950s technology could provide. The handsome black-and-white
interior is almost entirely original and still in good shape with
modest signs of wear but no critical issues. Again, restoration
would be a mistake here. Features include power windows, a power
front seat, and a signal-seeking AM radio, although it's due for an
upgrade is you want to pump in any Doo-Wop tunes. The driver has
perhaps the best seat in the house, facing a spectacular instrument
panel full of shiny stainless and crisply rendered instruments. The
gigantic steering wheel almost feels too delicate for such a
massive machine, and you can guide the big sedan with just your
fingertips. There's also a massive trunk that's quite original,
including the mats, a full-size bias-ply spare and jack
assembly.
If you wanted horsepower in the '50s and early '60s, you shopped at
the Cadillac store. With a 390 cubic inch V8 (swapped in from a
1963 Cadillac) making 325 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque from
the factory, this big hardtop is surprisingly swift, built for
effortless power and torque under any conditions. The engine hums
with a muscular sound that you feel in your chest as much as hear
with your ears, and the silky TH400 3-speed automatic transmission
changes gears almost imperceptibly. The suspension is soft, no
doubt about that, but isn't that the whole point? The engine bay is
nicely tended but not fully restored, with a stock snorkled air
cleaner and blue valve covers, along with a newer alternator (also
finished in blue), distributor, and power brake set-up. Underneath,
the chassis which shows very well thanks to what is likely the neat
factory undercoating, as well as a frame that would be at home
under a railroad car, plus a dual exhaust system with a nice rumble
thanks to a pair of glasspack-style mufflers. There are new shocks
at all four corners, and 2-inch lowering springs were added as well
to stance this big-boy that much more aggressively. Big 8.20-15
wide whitewall bias-plys have been fitted to the original steel
wheels adorned with bright hubcaps, so it handles great and looks
fantastic.
1950s Cadillacs are iconic and few work better than this one in
period colors. For a fan of original, big-bodied American cars,
this is a fantastic find that's going to be a joy to own. Call
today!