1941 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Rewind Review: Strolling Along in a Classic

It began as one of those classic gray, misty, moist days on California's Monterey Peninsula, where I was about to fire up a rolling piece of Cadillac history—a 1941 Cadillac Series 62 Deluxe Convertible Coupe—and I was more than a little anxious.

The opportunity to pilot a classic piece of American iron was one I leapt at when the opportunity hit my inbox prior to the annual Monterey Car Week, but once I was actually moments away from sliding behind (underneath?) the Caddy's comically large steering wheel, the thought crept into my mind of balling up a car that's about to be auctioned off for more than $100,000.

But, hey, I know how to wrestle with a three-on-the-tree manual transmission like this Cadillac Series 62 has. And from what I was told by RM Auction honcho and friend Rory Carroll, who joined me for the short drive (RM sold the car later in the weekend for $145,600), it's a pussycat. Nothing to it, right? Right.
Thankfully, there was nothing too exotic about operating this classic Cadillac, other than the fact that, you know, there's a lot of the manual stuff you'd expect from a car of its era. No power steering, brakes, or anything else really, just a good old-fashioned, old-school American automobile.
Powered by a 346-cubic-inch V-8, the '41 Series 62, styled by legendary General Motors designer Harley Earl, is one of Cadillac's more beautifully executed prewar (or perhaps midwar, given the 1941 vintage) mid-century modern designs. Its curved sheetmetal shapes intertwine with numerous horizontal lines to create the feeling of a classic American diner on wheels. Its cream color mixes masterfully with the red leather interior and tan vacuum-powered soft top.

Chrome trim pieces are screwed into the Series 62's dark wood dash. The pushbutton radio looks as though you could pull it out and place it on a shelf as a museum piece, and it's framed by the speedo and a clock. The Series 62 convertible was only available as a Deluxe model, and as such, it incorporated high-style touches including rear fender skirts, wheel trim, and other decorative flair.
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