1962 Cadillac - any driving experiences out there?

speedshift

Yeah, sure, rub it in ;-).

parm

OK. I've found a 1962 Cadillac convertible in my area and am in the process of setting up the inspection. I've enlisted a fellow Cadillac LaSalle Club member who's way more knowledgeable (compared to me, that wouldn't be hard) about 1960's Caddies.

But, I thought I'd ask you folks if you have any "pet" trouble spots we should look for. This car lacks A/C so I won't have to worry about diagnosing a compressor, etc. The car received some restoration work about 10 years ago.

Gentleman, the floor is yours . . . .

carnut4

1962 is one of my favorite years for Cadillac, and being a carnut for nearly fifty years, I know a few things, but not specific to 62 Cadillacs. I figured, as I think others did, that since you had a Cad LaSalle club member with you for help, that would eclipse much of anything I could say. I would say, though, having recently bought a pristine 62 Impala SS with 42,000 oroginal miles-one of the first things I would do before driving the car any distance is check/replace all the brake hoses, even if its had a recent "brake job". I had a scary experience years ago that drove this point home. I'd also check the transmission for leaks, the color of the oil-all the usual things. I don't know what condition or price your talking, but I know it's easy to counterfeit ID plates to make matching numbers, so if you're paying extra for a matching numbers car, I'd look close at documentation, etc. Otherwise, look for rust-especially around the rear shock mounts and towers, and inside the trunk. Other than that, I'm not a Cad expert. Anyway, keep us posted, and good luck!

Mr_Shiftright

You have to be careful with club people, though. They tend to think their cars are worth a lot more than they really are. So use the guy for his mechanical info and experience, but rely on pricing information from elsewhere.

thecougar

I saw a ragged 62 Cadillac Fleetwod on the Via Expresa (Freeway) there in Lima. WHat a story that car could tell about its life if it could talk...

impe

I hope it works out for you. I am really having fun with my "new" 69 convertible - but - one thing I have found out is that little things which are missing on my car are very expensive to replace or just really had to find. For example, the little chrome bezzles (sic) that go around the front seat release levers are missing as are the little plastic lever tips. I found replacement bezzles but they are really expensive and therefore are low on the priority list. But when I get into the back seat my eyes go straight to those missing bezzle holes; it makes me crazy. another thing I am finding out is that the options such as the power seats, the auto dimming lights, the auto climate control etc are troublesome at least on my car.

If you get the car, try to get a shop manual for that year. I got one.

It has not helped me fix anything yet but at least I know how the broken stuff is supposed to work, and how it looks. Mostly the shop manual has pointed out to me just how little I really know about cars!

If you get the car, let us know particulars colors etc, and again, good luck.

Allen Impellitteri

isellhondas

Thet club member looking at your car. He may or not be an expert. He may fluff his feathers and point out every minor flaw like it's the end of the world or like Shifty says, he may have an inflated opinion of the value since he owns one.

Still, I think it's a good idea. Just he impartial, as unemotional as possible, and have fun!

parm

The inspection went well. The two Cadillac club members I enlisted were a physician and an attorney (no jokes please) and both were very nice gentlemen and knowledgeable - in that between them they own 7-8 Cadillacs from the late 50's through the mid-60's. Both were regular, gearhead car guys who do there own wrenching. So, these guys don't just sit along the side lines. They were thorough and I'm sure glad they helped me out.

Anyway, I've made an offer and anticipate hearing something back in a few days.

I'm on the fence in terms of getting this car. Part of me really wants it and part of me is saying, "Are you nuts? What in the hell are you doing!"

So, if things don't work out I'll be both disappointed and relieved at the same time.

speedshift

Well, strictly speaking, you are nuts. No one needs an old car--just ask your wife. But if you've got the discretionary income then what the hey. Fun isn't all bad.

ghulet

Think of all the awful things many other people spend their money on: expensive clothing, ridiculously expensive meals, booze, alcohol, gambling. I know I'm being a bit 'negative' here, but at least a car addiction, while expensive, at least in theory will yield something that has some monetary value when you tire of it.

Mr_Shiftright

Money is rather useless if you don't spend it sooner or later. It doens't burn all that well, and isn't the best for stuffing mattresses, nor is it very water-absorbent.

andre1969

...long after those overpriced Timberlands have worn out, those bright Polo colors have faded, that expensive meal has gone to your gut, the booze is gone (remember, you don't buy beer, you only rent it!), and your paycheck has been blown on the horses, dogs, cards, whatever, you'll still have that beautiful Caddy to cherish!

speedshift

I hope our wives/significant others are reading this.

But my wife makes an interesting point. She says you need to save money when you're younger so you can have a decent lifestyle when you retire. And you will retire some day, either because you want to or because you have to.

Moderation in everything. That's why I cringe when I read about someone putting good money into some beater only they can appreciate. I don't think even the mainstream collectibles are good investments compared to careful investing in real estate or the stock market.

Someone like Parm isn't going to blow it. He's too analytical to make a dumb decision. It's the eat/breathe/sleep cars guys I worry about. I don't know why, they're probably having more fun than me.

Mr_Shiftright

Yeah, nothing like scrimping and saving all your life so that you can get to the beach when you're 65 and shuffle around in the sand before the cruise ship honks for you!

Problem with wife's philosophy (basically sound) is that she presumes we all have a future. When does one stop postponement of critical things like buying an old car?

carnut4

My only worry is , who do I will my old cars to when it looks like it's time to go? Maybe my girlfriend? She's been with me on several car purchases, and she'd encourage another one if I wanted. Still, though, I don't think I'll ever get that Ferrari Daytona. Wish I knew someone close who had one.

speedshift

Sure, I could get run over by a bus tomorrow--but I probably won't.

It's a balancing act. Have fun, keep an eye on the future. Don't overcommit to either.

But I've been young and poor and it's a lousy combination. Old and poor sounds even worse.

Mr_Shiftright

Well, DIRT poor, yes. But poor is relative. I know people with one million who are whining because they really NEED two. Great case for evolution: Who would ever make a product this defective?

Of course, I wouldn't go broke for a car, no way. But think....GASP!...of when we are old geezers and won't be ALLOWED to drive anymore!

parm

Thanks. You're right. I'm not offering the moon for this car.

jsylvester

My girlfriend keeps expressing an interest in driving my 67 Galaxie 500XL Convertible. Do any of you let the lady in your life drive your old cars? Keep in mind she drives a 2000 Corolla, a car in which you can actually feel the steering.

speedshift

No, my wife never wanted to drive my cars but I did put her in the back of my '50 Plymouth wagon to track down a rattle.

carnut4

Since you asked, my girlfriend really likes my 55 Pontiac starchief 2dr hardtop, and always wants to drive it. The thing has manual steering and brakes, and bias ply tires. So, finally, this last Sunday I let her drive, warning her about the steering, and how the tires want to follow all the waves on the old two-lanes around here. And, she doesn't even have a license-or a car-just a permit, and some experience. Anyway, she drove nearly ten miles on the old twolanes, and actually did pretty good. I just had to relax and tell her I was insured, but even so, the parts on this car were irreplaceable. What the heck. Now, if it had been a Ferrarri Daytona-no way would she ever drive. I probably wouldn't have let her drive the Pontiac, except she handles my Dodge conversion van pretty well-and it's kinda big and requires your attention.

andre1969

...the wife used to drive my Dart and Catalina. I had a '69 Bonneville back then that was going to be her daily driver, but it died in my grandmother's yard 2 days after we got married! I was actually impressed at how well she could handle those old cars, especially considering that the only cars she'd ever owned were an early '80's Escort and a late '80's Calais! The Dart doesn't have power brakes, and back then the power steering didn't work, but she had no trouble driving it (and getting a speeding ticket in it!)

I've never let anybody other than my uncle drive my '57 DeSoto, though.

carnut4

of my ex-wife. When we first met, back in '68, I had a sharp 65 Plymouth Belvedere II with the HP 383 and big Chrysler 4-speed. Manual steering and brakes, and, at the time, bias tires. Now, I mean that thing steered HEAVY, and that heavy duty clutch and Chrysler 4speed with the big "snake" shifter also required some serious effort. It was fun, but you had to manhandle it. One time I let her drive this thing, and you should have seen how she handled it-like a pro. I was impressed. She worked that shifter and clutch, hung the curves, and used the power of that 383.
Anyway, Parm, I'm thinking you should buy the Cadillac, instead of the Chrysler convertible. I assume you've seen all the 61-62 Cads on the Collector Car trader website. I really like the 61-62 Cads, and think you'd be happier in the long run with one of them then the 68 Chrysler. Not that I don't like Mopars-I do, and I've owned several and have two now. Too bad you couldn't go for a coupe instead of a convertible in a Cad-much, much cheaper!

parm

Thanks for the advice. But, don't you think a '68 Chrysler 300 would be inherently better than a '62 Cadillac if only for the fact that a car built in 1968 is probably better engineered and contains more modern features?

parm

I mentioned in the above that wouldn't be a fair assumption that a car built in 1968 would be an overall better car than one built in 1962 (remember, we're comparing American luxo-boats here and not a '62 Mercedes vs. a '68 Chrysler).

Wouldn't things like A/C be better, brakes, steering, suspension, etc. and just technological/manufacturing advances in general better?

So, I'm encouraging all to weigh in. Wouldn't a car built in 1968 generally be superior to one built in 1962? If you want to specifically compare a '68 Chrysler 300 to a '62 Eldorado, that'd be even better, but generalities would be appreciated as well.

speedshift

I don't see that much difference. What, maybe optional discs? As Shifty says, we're talking about 1930s technology with updated styling.

The '68 is just a restyled '65 shell, the '62 a restyled '61. There just wasn't that much engineering progress between '61 and '65. The Torqueflite and 440 are '50s technology just like the second-gen Hydro and Cad 390. The 300 is sprung more firmly so you'd have faster lap times ;-).

What additional safety features would a '68 have? Dished steering wheel, side marker lamps? When did they start using side impact beams in the doors?

As far as AC, GM had the best for years.

Mr_Shiftright

Maybe you'd get an alternator and electronic ignition in 1968, that might be it over a 1962 car. American cars did not progress very much technically from around 1948 to 1970 or so. All the interesting tech stuff was coming out of Europe.

jsylvester

I know by 68 collapsible steering wheels and seatbelts were required, the 62 may not have either item.

Also, I believe the horswpower war was going strong by 68, so I would think the engine would be stronger as well. I believe 68 was the first year of the PCV system, a rudimentary oil vapor.

Don't know about corrosion resistance.

speedshift

Yes, collapsible steering wheels was what I was thinking of. PVC has been around since 1963 (1961 in California) so a non-California '62 Cad would have a road draft tube unless it came from a state where you had to convert to PVC to get smogged. GM went to alternators in 1963 so a '62 Cad would have a generator--doesn't charge as well at low engine speeds. 1968 was the first year for leaned-out smog carbs and retarded ignition, not bad by '70s standards but still enough to cause some surging.

impe

Its Impe, (69 Deville convertible); I got behind on my reading - just finished reading the last 20 or so messages. I am glad that you are hanging in there, and I hope that you get your car.

Interesting reading re. wives/old cars. I didn't think that old cars and wives mixed well at all. My wife hates my cars! And she usually has a nasty comment or two whenever I want to show them to visitors. I guess I can understand it from her perspective - basically, we are in competition to see who can spend what little disposable monthly income on what first!!! her with her dumb useless house furnishings, or me on my beautiful old cars. She has never even ridden in them.

One of my kids visited last week from Virginia and got his first look at the Caddy - he really liked it.

I told him that he will get the Caddy and his brother will get the Jag, when I go to the old junkyard in the sky. He replied that he really would prefer the Jag. So it looks like the Caddy will someday go to Ohio.

Good luck and keep us posted - you realize that after all this, you will have to send pictures!

Impe

andre1969

Chrysler actually went to an alternator in 1960, although I don't know when GM finally made the switch. They were behind the times on their idiots lights for years though (it still said "Gen", years after they switched to alternators). They were still using points though in '68. I don't think Chrysler came out with electronic ignition until 1970 or '71.

The '68 would also have more crash padding than a '62 Caddy, in addition to the collapsible steering column. Then there's the fact that the 300 was unitized, compared to the Caddy's body-on-frame construction. While they've engineered them to crumple up better nowadays, I'm sure the unitized Chrysler would protect its occupants better than a body-on-frame Caddy. By '68, the government was also regulating things such as sharp objects and protrusions on the interior, so in the event you did impale yourself on the dashboard, your body might not get messed up as badly on the 300!

Concerning alternators versus generators...any ideas on which one lasts longer? I've only had one car with a generator...my '57 DeSoto. For all I know, it could be the original generator, too! But it's been my experience that alternators will often fail after 7 or 8 years. Of course, that's only a sample of 1 for generators, and a sample of maybe 3 or 4 with alternators, so it's not much to draw a truly valid conclusion!

speedshift

It may depend more on outside influences, like whether you overtighten the belt and whether it's a factory unit or a cheap rebuild.

parm

I just assumed that an alternator was a superior alternative to a generator (which is what a 1962 Cadillac has). However, my local 1960's Cadillac experts tell me the difference is not a big deal.

Other than the potential for better low speed charging, is there a good reason why one should swap out a generator for an alternator? And, if so, is there anything else electrical that needs to be changed to accommodate an alternator?

If I can get this '62 Eldorado, I'd be using it as a weekend driver - around town driving for the most part and not highway driving. Would this make much difference or impact whether an alternator makes more sense in terms of keeping the battery charged?

andre1969

...of where an alternator might have an advantage. The generator on my DeSoto is a big, bulky, heavy looking thing, so I'd guess that an alternator would save a bit of weight, and maybe a bit of parasitic loss as well (requires less energy from the engine to spin the thing?)

Neither of these advantages would probably matter much on a big old car with excessive gobs of torque and plenty of room under the hood, but I'd imagine that nowadays, the way things get packed under the hood, it's a good thing the alternator was invented!

Mr_Shiftright

Alternators were put in place because of all the optional electrical equipment being put on cars. At idle, a generator simply could not replenish the battery fast enough with the a/c blower, power windows, radio, power seats, sunroof, power top, etc. An alternator will never go on a negative discharge but a generator will.

ghulet

.........if I remember correctly, still had points (no HEI) but did have an alternator, not a generator (I guess that's a given, eh?), when I bought it. We did, as most folks do, 'upgrade' it to HEI when we did the water pump/head gasket, among other things.

carnut4

Matthews Memory Lane Classic Cars in Portland, OR just got in a 61 Cad Convertible, 3owner car, 97,000 original miles, looks real good in and out, for $16,500. Don't know if you'd be interested or not, but the car does look very nice in the pictures. They have a website with good pics of all their cars-interesting inventory. Anyway, thought I'd pass it on. You might want to check out their website.

badgerpaul

If memory serves me correctly I recall that GM went to Electronic Ignitions in 1974. I know my 75 Caprice had an electronic ignition and I seem to recall resetting the points on my Grandmothers 73 Caprice with a 454 in it, it was a real screamer.

isellhondas

My 62 Impala SS had an alternator. It was the first year for Chevies and only on models with factory air cond.

So I'm kinda surprised that 62 Caddy has a generator?

Parm, I hope the outcome is in your favor. Life can be short and I don't think you'll regret the purchase unless it won't fit in your garage!

Worst case, you decide it was a bad idea and you resell it after awhile. I'm sure you would lose a HELL of a lot less than some of *us* lost last year in the stock market!

parm

The door is not yet closed on the '62 Eldorado convertible. It is available for me to buy, but we're still apart on price. My price is well supported using value guides and adjusting for lack of a/c and some mechanical/electrical problems this car has. Other than that, the car appears pretty solid. We'll just have to see.

By the way, I too lost quite a bit in the stock market over the last two years. :-(

Fortunately, it was in my 401K which I won't be needing for another 30 years or so. So, hopefully some of losses will be recouped in that time.

badgerpaul

When I was in high school, the old mechanic (he must have been in his 30's) at the gas station we used hang out at said that when he was in high school he would mess with his friends by running a wire from the output side of the generator to the horn. That way when they stepped on the gas and the generator started generating, the horn would start to honk. When they let off the gas it would stop. If they weren't to mechanically inclined it would stump them.

isellhondas

Who used to charge condensors and leave them lying around.

Lots of fun, especially when it gets picked up by someone elasE

badgerpaul

He was. He'd charge them up and toss them at you saying "Think fast". The first couple of times you'd catch them without thinking, after that you'd learn.

parm

In my never ending search to find "my" car, I came across a current listing on eBay for a 1962 Series 62 Cadillac convertible. Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1825518866&r=0&t=0

Currently, the bidding is up to $18,100 and it appears the seller's reserve is around $25K.

This car certainly looks pretty, but I know better than anyone that pictures don't tell the whole story. Call me picky, but the ad says this car has a tilt and telescoping steering column which is impossible. Tilt didn't come along in Cadillacs until 1963 and telescoping wasn't available until 1965. Furthermore, the pictures show the correct steering column for a 1962 Cadillac. Trying to retro-fit a steering column from a later car into a 1962 would: A) be very difficult (I know, I've checked) and, would be easily recognizable from the photos provided.

Putting tilt/telescoping wheel in the ad could be an honest mistake. But, for this kind of money, you'd think the seller would've paid a bit more attention. Kind of makes me wonder what other issues this car may have.

To command the seller's price, I'm thinking this has to be one of the best '62 Cadillac convertibles on the planet price. If the reserve happens to be met, I suspect the seller and buyer won't be able to come together. I'd probably feel less cynical if the seller hadn't invoked the "private auction" rule which means you can't see the names of who's actually bidding.

In any event, I'll bet this car will eventually find its way into Hemmings and Collector Car Trader Onlne.

So how about Shifty, what's you're take on the values seen in bidding war? - if in fact a bidding war is actually going on. ;-)

badgerpaul

It certainly doesn't appear to have a tilt-telescoping steering wheel. There is no tilt level nor does there appear to be anything on the wheel hub to lock and unlock the telescoping column. It also says that it has cruise control, but I don't see the thumb wheel and switch for it. The ignition switch also looks funky, you couldn't remove the key on a Cadillac with the switch in the run position.

parm

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about the ignition switch. The key slot in the ignition switch on the '62 Eldorado I recently test drove was straight up and down. On the other hand, these switches can get loose and can become out of alignment.

I also was thinking along the same lines as to the cruise control, but I'm not sure the control for the CC would be in view of these photos. You're right, in 1962 the CC was controlled by a thumb dial arrangement. I'd have to check, but I'm pretty sure this dial was located at the far left side of the dash - up by where the windshield wraps around and thus may be out of view in the photos. I figured I'd give the seller the benefit of the doubt on this.

A few months ago, this same seller tried to sell on eBay a '62 Eldorado convertible identical in color as this Series 62. Perhaps he's running these cars to his neighborhood body shop for a quick coat of paint and red is his favorite color.

Anyway, this 'Eldorado later showed up in Hemmings and was still there as of a couple of days ago. You'll notice the heading of this eBay ad actually describes this Series 62 as an Eldorado. But, he corrects this in the body text of the ad. Perhaps he just copied over his old ad into this new one.

My job (plus it's my nature) requires me to be accurate, even with little details - with the exception of my typos in this forum :-). As a result, I tend to expect others not to miss what I consider to be a rather glaring mistake. But, I'm rather "into" 1962 Cadillacs and what I consider to be a glaring mistake might not even get noticed by most. Still, if I were selling a car on eBay, I'd want the description absolutely accurate so as not to give the winning bidder grounds for backing out of the deal.

For whatever reason, I'm just rather suspicious of this car and seller.

speedshift

Rule #1 in any purchase: never rely on or trust the seller. The "nicer" the seller the more rule #1 pertains.

Mr_Shiftright

One simply does not buy cars like this without an inspection. There are plenty of them around so there's no need to go for a "blind lunge" at one.

parm

Speaking of inspections, eBay offers a link to a company called Inspection Solution which is a car inspection service. I'm just curious, anyone know anything about this company? - how qualified are their inspection agents? - how much does this service cost?

speedshift

You can ask them a few questions. Find out how much liability they're willing to assume if they screw up. Look for any disclaimers in their contract. If they have errors and omissions coverage ask them to have their broker send you a declaration page showing coverage limits. Does their agreement make arbitration mandatory or can you go to court? Do they give you estimated repair costs?