Vehicle Description
1941 Cadillac Series 61 Sedanette
When is a coupe not a coupe? When it's a Sedanette, of course! The
1941 Cadillac Series 61 came in several configurations and the
sedanette was the two-door version. By today's standard, a huge car
but back then, the 10-inch reduction behind Cadillac's Series 75
cars made this the proverbial compact of the day. By the late 30's,
cars were getting rounder...and the '41 Sedanette took curves to a
new level with a sloping roofline that doesn't give up until it
hits the back bumper. Surely, it played a part in future automotive
design in the United States.
For consignment, old meets new with this interesting build and
unmistakable 1941 Cadillac Series 61 Sedanette. When the car is
headed straight for you, it's hard to distinguish it from other
Cadillacs of the era...but as soon as it turns the corner, the
visual show begins! If the flared fenders don't impress you, the
long, sloping humpback will surely get your attention. The
forward-leaning B-pillar is poetry in motion...even when it's
standing still. As the car drives away, wide rear hips look like
wings carrying a torpedo down the road. Dramatic indeed and a July
2002 Southern Rodder magazine feature car ta boot!
Exterior
Flame Red emblazons this car like a billboard...put a cherry on top
and you might be mistaken for a fire chief. The clear coat really
makes this car pop and light is reflected by the paint and by the
ample chrome that adorns it. A few areas of touch ups, inclusions
and evidence of body filler are noted in the lowers of the body,
but one must look hard to find them. The Flying Goddess hood
ornament also shines leaving a bead of chrome behind her that
extends up dividing the windshield. The Caddy emblem on the hood is
enhanced by some nice pinstriping and the grille is "large and in
charge" leading this car like a freight train. Long hood vents are
a dominant feature on each side and are functional for heat
dissipation. The roofline sweeps dramatically back, splitting the
rear fenders which are capped by simple tail lights also
highlighted by some pinstriping. The striping is found on the
massive trunk too which has a nicely integrated third brake light.
The rear window is flush to the car like an airplane and polished
stone guards shield the rear fenders from damage. Chrome laden
15-inch wire wheels are surrounded by wide white walls while dual
exhaust peek out the back. So, what's new here? The side mirrors
are from 1984...but that's not all!
Interior
Entering the car is like going from 1941 to 1984 in an instant! The
seats, parts of the door panel, and the steering wheel are right
out of a 1984 Cadillac. An instrument cluster from an '82
Oldsmobile was adapted to fit the '41 dash and looks cool. The tuck
and roll pattern on the door panels is repeated nicely in the trunk
which is also lined with red leather. And despite it beginning to
sound like a Johnny Cash song, it all seems to fit and work well!
Various shades of red cover the interior including the carpet and
headliner, both in good shape. The red dash is interrupted by a
modern radio complete with a 4-inch screen...a system they could
not even have dreamed about in 1941!
Drivetrain
Power comes from a Chevy 350ci V8 with Holly Sniper EFI managing
the fuel injection. The small block allows for plenty of room in
the engine bay making it easy to service as needed. Not to be
outdone by the interior, the power brake booster is...yep...red! As
are the ignition wires. It's a tidy package that sends power
through a 700R4 automatic transmission and into the 12-bolt rear.
True dual exhaust sends the product of combustion rearward.
Undercarriage
Ahhh...simplicity! Openings in the X-frame make way for the
driveshaft and exhaust pipes. Stainless mufflers lead to
chrome-tipped tailpipes. Independent coil sprung suspension and
disk brakes up front, leaf springs and drum brakes in the back.
Nothing unusual or out of place, some typical patina for a driver
of this caliber, although we did notice some rust-through holes on
the rocker panel and some surface rust on the inner body
panels.
Drive-ability
With the help of electronic fuel injection, the car fired right up
and sounded good through the 2" exhaust. It's an interesting
experience piloting an old car with a "modern" steering wheel, but
off we went! You sit tall which helps in seeing over the massive
hood and the ride is smooth as the suspension absorbs the
imperfections in our track. Power is REAL good...no problem for the
small block to move this behemoth through our test. Slowing and
stopping are no problem - brake bias is on point. Rear visibility
takes some getting used to...the window is high and small relative
to the size of this hump-backed beauty....but before long, we were
mastering the ship.
If the shape of this vehicle doesn't get attention, the bright red
paint will! It's a very nice driver from a time when Cadillac was
the benchmark and a status symbol all the while wanting to attract
a sportier crowd with the smaller Series 61 Sedanette. The mix of
old and new is kind of unique here...it's not resto-modded as much
as it is a blend of two eras. The sheer uniqueness and presence of
this vehicle will surely pay off with "smiles per gallon!"
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!).
The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and
collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike.
For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at
(888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history.
Tune in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you
enjoy listening. You can also watch on YouTube!