Arguably the last vestige of fabulous fins, the 1961 Cadillac has such sharply pointed projectiles at the rear that you have to wonder how many people got impaled by them.
Actually, my childhood pal Mark, whose dad owned a ’61 Caddy, did get a painful tailfin injury when he got pushed into the back of the car while a bunch of us were horsing around, blissfully unaware of the potential hazard. He survived, but with a significant bruise.
The Pick of the Day is a 1961 Cadillac Coupe de Ville being advertised on ClassicCars.com by a West Babylon, New York, dealer who advises that the car is not a common Series 62 model but an upmarket J Code version.
The bubble-top coupe looks fairly stunning in its correct Olympic White paint and black-and-white interior, a classic style for mid-century executive transports, straight out of Mad Men. The body is “laser straight,” the seller says, and there are no signs of structural rust on the floors or frame.
The Cadillac is powered by its matching-numbers 390cid V8, which was rebuilt about 10,000 miles ago, the seller says. Powerhouse Caddy V8s were favorites among hot rodders and racers; in stock condition, they’re rated at 325 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque.
The de Ville is loaded with factory power accessories and features, Cadillac style, although the air conditioning and horn are not working, the dealer notes in the ad. A set of “new gangster whitewall tires” have been fitted, and the car “runs and drives great,” the ad says.
The Jet Age styling of early ‘60s Cadillacs have held up well, as they are distinctive and instantly recognizable. The tailfins reached their bold apex in 1959, then gradually shrunk in size and prominence as the decade wore on.
The ’61 models are notably attractive, with the lower portions of the rear fenders echoing the fins on top. Of course, chrome was still king in those days, and this Caddy shows plenty of it, especially lavish on the intricately styled front end.
The asking price for this Cadillac coupe is $38,900.
To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Great car, of course I think it should be red but they all are, so it is nice to see it in the white I really like the photograph with the back fence from the angle that’s beautiful thanks for sharing.
How can u offer such a beautiful car that does not have everything working?????????????
For 39K the A/C needs to be working as well as the horn. Not too much to ask from the seller.
THOSE REAR FINS ARE NOT ORIGINAL ON THIS CAR,, THOSE ARE FINS FROM A 1960 CADDY COUPE. I OWNED A 60’S CADDY CONVERTABLE AND A 60’S COUPE !!!!
I’m not sure what makes you think that. I had this exact car in the late 60’s and those are original.
Not true. Those fins are correct.
Was this car sold? I responded to the owner and never heard back.
That’s a 1970s “Coupe deVille” script on the front fender. The correct script would just say “deVille,” with no “Coupe.”
Some examples:
https://notoriousluxury.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/138.jpg
https://notoriousluxury.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/110.jpg