Featured is a beautiful, sleek 1963 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible. Like all Cadillac’s, luxurious detailing stands out.
At one time there were plenty of luxury automakers. The first three years of the Great Depression slashed the number of U.S. automakers almost in half and the first to feel the economic downturn were the luxury car builders.While employment got worse automobile prices in general decreased.
Against this backdrop there were however those who could afford a luxury automobile and they were built and sold but at lesser numbers In the case of Cadillac, they were a part of General Motors which helped immensely. Today, Cadillac remains America’s premiere luxury automobile.
The Popular Cadillac Series 62
The Series 62 Cadillac was designed by Harley Earl and his team with the jet age in mind. One could say that the jet age was the overall theme for the majority of automotive styling after the war and through the 1950’s.The story about the emergence of the Cadillac tail fin on it’s 1949 (new post war design) was that it was inspired by the P39 Lightning fighter plane.
Although 1963 was past the tail fin craze of the latter 1950’s, this automobile has a graceful look with it’s rather conservative fins. The tail fins were the lowest in many years for Cadillac.
The 1963 Cadillac’s were somewhat smaller and certainly less flamboyant than the Cadillac’s of the late 1950’s and 1960. The 63 models were basically little changed from the 61 and 62 models.
During the previous 14 years, the Cadillac engine received occasional increases in displacement, but for the 1963 model year the engineering was lighter and even more efficient. Paired with the traditional four-speed Hydra Matic for the final time, it offered 1963 Cadillac buyers at least the hope of achieving double-digit gas mileage, something The Standard of the World could not offer again until 1976.
Standard equipment ran to Hydra-Matic, power steering, self-adjusting power brakes, heater, backup lights, and left remote-control door mirror. A six-way power seat became standard on Eldorado, and power windows were included on all except Series 62 sedans and coupes.
1963 Cadillac Sixty-Two Convertible Specifications
The power plant for the 63 models received the first upgrade in 14 years. The 1963 Cadillac Convertible has a 390 cubic inch, overhead valve V 8 engine with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor. The engine put out 325 HP. The V-8 engine in 1963 was considered quieter and smoother and was about fifty lbs lighter than the 1962 engines.
Standard transmission is a four speed automatic.
Brakes are four wheel hydraulic drums.
Total 1963 model year production for Cadillac was 163,170 vehicles. Total production that year for the Sixty-Two Series was 65,873 vehicles. The Series Sixty-Two production was 17,600 vehicles.
Dimensions include an overall length of 223 inches..width 79.7 inches, wheelbase 129,5 inches and height 55.6 inches. Curb weight is 4,740 lbs. New car price for the 1963 Cadillac Convertible was about $5,600.
Additional Auto Museum Online articles are found on the links below…
1960 Cadillac Biarritz Convertible
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible
Reference material for this article includes…Standard Catalog of Cadillac 1903-2005 by John Gunnell...Cadillac Standard of Excellence, Consumer Guide Series.
1963 Cadillac Collector Popularity and Values
Cadillac’s are popular collector automobiles and especially to those who appreciate a lot of nicely sculpted sheet metal. Some of the more popular Cadillac collector cars are truly large.By the same token, finely restored classic Cadillac’s are some of the best looking collector cars you’ll find.
As of this time, collector car prices for the 63 Cadillac Series 63 Convertible, in excellent restoration condition, ranges in the $45,000 to $70,000 range. There are some on the market below this range.
(Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online)