The 1960s are arguably one of the high-water points in terms of American automotive design leadership. Evolving out of the ridiculous excess of the 1950s, they were pulling a full 180 and going for clean and minimalist (if not small) designs, key among them the Buick Riviera, Studebaker Avanti, Oldsmobile Toronado, and Lincoln Continental. In 1963, that revolution was just going public, and on an early 1960s Cadillac you can see it happening. Check out this 1963 Cadillac Sedan DeVille for sale in Houston, TX for $4000.
The legacy of late 1950s Cadillacs is still there, but the design team pulled back on the giant chrome bumper/grill assembly and the wrap-around windshield common to every large GM car of the late 1950s. The seller is part of the third generation of his family to own this car, which was originally purchased by his grandfather in California (note he does not say bought new). Unfortunately, it was unable to escape the effects of Houston humidity, and is showing a fair amount of rust. The car is up for sale because the seller cannot afford to properly restore it.
It’s not clear why the car is wearing Illinois plates and living in Texas, but these things do happen. And the plates are perhaps a further clue to the condition of the car, if its current location is not at fault. Even in its grizzled state, the car does look handsome in this elegant-looking neighborhood. The fact that it seems to be straight and free of major dents works in its favor – if it’s solid enough, you might just enjoy it as-is. The engine and transmission were rebuilt 15,000 miles ago, so those should hold up for quite a while.
The car is said to have a rough interior, although the (small) interior photo shows all door panels in place and decent upholstery. Perhaps the story is different close up, but it should at least be a decent base. The 1950s are still much more visible inside the car than out.
The fins are also clearly a legacy of the 1950s, though at this point they were a part of the overall styling rather than a dominating feature. There’s something truly appealing about this car – perhaps it’s the longtime single-family ownership, or that in spite of the condition, its completeness implies it’s been loved. Treating the rust and handling some of the other issues might allow you to enjoy this car for many years to come.
Tags: american, cadillac, Feature, sedan, sedan deville
Rusty But Trusty 
March 31, 2014 at 2:25 pm |
if this car is still for sale please let me know