1949 Cadillac Series 62
For the 1948 model year, GM designers Harley Earl and Frank Hershey struck gold with their new Cadillac line. Fresh, beautiful styling combined with a well-built chassis and robust, though dated L-head V8 engine. What set the car apart was a subtle design cue that led to one of the most iconic, heavily copied trends in motoring history – the tailfin. The inspiration for the small kicked-up fin at the end of each rear fender came from Lockheed’s P-38 Lightning, America’s finest heavy fighter plane during World War II. One of the most instantly recognizable aircraft in history, it was also one of the fastest and toughest aircraft of WWII, and the unmistakable twin-tail treatment earned it the nickname “fork-tailed devil” among Axis pilots unfortunate enough to encounter it. General Motors played a critical role in P-38 production, building a significant portion of the more than 10,000 units built throughout the war. Considering GM’s involvement, Harley Earl’s patriotic nod to the P-38 was more than superficial, and if anyone could lay claim to a tribute, it was them. Surprisingly, the tailfin was an overnight sensation, and car designers from Detroit to Deutschland jumped on the bandwagon, turning Harley Earl’s subtle design cue into one of the most widely copied and iconic design themes of all time.
The Series 62 received a new body style on the C-body platform beginning in 1948, featuring new tail fins and riding on a shortened wheelbase with a wider track than the previous model. This 1949 is painted Ivory and features a fastback rear design with rear-wheel skirts and a three-piece back window. Have spent long-term ownership in the Pacific Northwest, it was one of 4,764 Series 62 Sedanette models produced for the model year. Surrounding brightwork is said to be in excellent shape including bumpers with guards, side moldings, window trim, and dual spotlights.
The Cadillac lineup, by contrast, introduced a new V-8 that Bond felt truly moved the industry forward. He extolled the virtues of the new overhead valve engine while excoriating other manufacturers for sticking with a flathead design, complete with charts and technical drawings. To Bond’s eye, the gains in fuel efficiency, weight savings, power output, and durability in Cadillac’s new 500 cubic-inch engine and a 400 automatic transmission.
Sedanette, chopped with suicide doors. This car has power steering, power windows, power seats, CD/ Satellite radio, back up camera, tilt steering, Dakota Dash, and air conditioning. This Cadillac has new Cokers and Sombrero wheel covers mounted on a 1976 Cadillac Deville drive train. This car has custom paint and flames and many body modifications.
A gorgeous example of Cadillac’s early-postwar masterpiece with timeless “fastback” Sedanette styling by Frank Hershey and Harley Earl. Presented in a beautiful color combination and desirable Series 62 trim.
