1953 Cadillac Pininfarina Series 62
HIGHLIGHTS
V-8 engine
Automatic transmission
Red Leather interior
Split bench seat
Power windows
Power steering
Fender skirts
Clock
Radio
Chrome bumpers and trim
Dual mirrors
Chrome wire wheels
Wide Whitewall tires
In the 1950s, no car was more desirable in America than a Cadillac. The “Standard of the World” always impressed, with healthy power, comfort, and style, the latter thanks to Harley Earl and his design team. However, for all the impressive aspects that made Cadillacs such desirable cars, there were a few wealthy customers who wanted something different.
During that same time, Chrysler’s Virgil Exner designed several cars in conjunction with Ghia to show the world what a Chrysler could be. Interested in expanding its American portfolio, Ghia then designed two Cadillac-based show cars for the 1953 Paris Salon. One of those show cars caught the eye of Prince Ali Salman Aga Khan, who was the richest man in the world at the time; he also was going through a divorce from American actress Rita Hayworth. It is believed he gave the Ghia Cadillac to Hayworth as a peace offering, though their divorce was finalized later that year.
The 1953 Series 62 saw a redesigned grille with heavier integral bumper and bumper guards, the repositioning of parking lamps directly under the headlights, chrome “eyebrow” type headlamp doors, and one piece rear windows without division bars. Wheel discs were fashioned in an attractive new disced design. Series 62 bodystyles were identified by non louvered rear fenders, the use of thin bright metal underscores on the bottom rear of the cars only and the decoration of both hood and deck lid with Cadillac crests and V- shaped ornaments.
Restored to its original splendor, this 1953 Cadillac convertible represents the pinnacle of 1950s luxury. Gray with a tan top and two-tone red and gray interior that features leather upholstery, this long and low Cadillac is a Series 62 model, which was available throughout the Cadillac’s third generation (1948-1953). As you’d expect from America’s top luxury-car manufacturer, the 1953 Cadillac came standard with an automatic transmission (either the 4-speed Dual-Range Hydra-Matic or Buick’s Dynaflow), dual exhaust, a clock above the glovebox, chrome bumpers and trim, and full carpeting. This Series 62 is also well equipped with optional hydraulic-lift power windows, power steering, a signal-seeking radio, dual mirrors, fender skirts and chrome wire wheels with wide whitewall tires. For 1953, Cadillac mildly restyled its models with a redesigned grille that incorporated a heavier bumper and bullet-shaped bumper guards, parking lamps under the headlights, chrome eyebrow headlight doors and one-piece windows. The Series 62 body styles were identified by non-louvered rear fenders, bright metal trim and the Cadillac crest and V-shaped emblem on both the hood and decklid. Also, 1953’s V-8 engine, used since 1949, got more output, thanks to an increased compression ratio and upgraded 4-barrel carburetor, a combination that could easily propel the big Cadillac to more 100 MPH. Notably, the 1953 Cadillacs were the first with the more reliable 12-volt charging system, and the hydraulic brakes were updated to 12-inch finned cast-iron drums front and rear. The majority of the 85,446 Cadillacs built for 1953 were Series 62 models. However, only 8,367 were non-Eldorado convertibles. This restored 1953 Series 62 Cadillac offers the best of American 1950s luxury with robust V-8 power and elegant styling in a highly desirable color combination.
