Vehicle Description
Motorcar Studio is pleased to offer this 1950 Cadillac Series 61
Coupe export model, originally delivered to Munich, Germany and
ordered with a rare three-speed manual transmission (and a
speedometer marked in kilometers). Ordered by Mr. W. T. Crowell, we
do not know much about this car's original owner - but he was
clearly a gentleman of wealth, excellent taste and an appetite for
speed.
The Series 61 short wheelbase coupe was among the lightest
Cadillacs produced, and with a 160 horsepower overhead valve V8, it
was also among the most powerful American cars of the era - but the
vast majority were equipped with automatic transmissions. Only a
handful were ordered with manual transmissions, most notably a pair
of 1950 Cadillac coupes campaigned by Briggs Cunningham in the 1950
24 Hours of Le Mans.
We do not know when this Cadillac made its way stateside, but we
believe it was still in Europe in the 1980s due to a dated repair
tag on the original radiator from a shop in England. The present
enthusiast owner acquired this car out of Texas 10 years ago; he
opted to leave the body and interior, which have considerable
patina, "as is" but undertook a comprehensive mechanical refresh to
turn it into a reliable vintage rally and touring car.
The original 331 cubic inch V8 engine was completely rebuilt, but
upgraded with 1955 Cadillac heads, crankshaft, pistons, connecting
rods and camshaft with a four-barrel intake and carburetor. We
estimate the output to be around 250 horsepower (well up from 160
hp in stock form). The car also got a new clutch, new wiring
harness, exhaust, aluminum radiator, fuel tank and lines,
overhauled brake system and rebuilt front suspension. It's running
modern radial tires for improved handling, but a set of bias ply
whitewalls are included, along with the original heads, intake and
radiator. The present owner estimates he has put around 5,000 miles
on this car during his 10-year ownership, including several 500+
mile vintage rallies where it has always performed flawlessly.
About half of the paint, all of the trim and most of the interior
is believed original. While there is plenty of patina and minor
surface rust here and there, the car is free of major structural
corrosion and also shows no evidence of major accident damage. It's
mechanically sorted, runs and drives quite well, and is ready for
immediate touring or rally use. A 1950 Cadillac shop manual, a copy
of the original invoice confirming the manual transmission, Euro
instrumentation and German delivery, plus service records from
present ownership accompany the sale. For more information about
this rare 1950 Cadillac Series 61 manual transmission coupe for
sale at Motorcar Studio in Atlanta, please call 404-692-5250.
