1961 Cadillac DeVille

1961 Cadillac Series 63 Coupe DeVille  Seeking new horizons in design for motion, the Cadillac Coupe deVille for 1961, bespeaks an attention to craftsmanship that is unrivaled in the automotive field. Its extraordinary grace and charm are complemented by the marvelous Cadillac riding qualities and over the road comfort which anticipate your every wish. The 1961 Coupe deVille offers eight interior choices, all with Florentine leather bolster trim of appropriate shades. From the 1961 sale brochure.  For consignment, a 1961 Cadillac Series 63 Coupe DeVille with a title verified 57,021 actual miles. This beauty retains its numbers matching engine and stands as a fantastic representation of Cadillac at its peak in a year that offered eleven models.  Exterior To borrow from mid century specialist Charles Phoenix, where do we begin to behold the glory of this long, angular piece of rolling art? Since The Jetson's started in 1962, is it possible the creators were inspired by the jet age lines of this car and the wide open, dome like cabin with curved glass at either end? The fins are nothing short of dramatic with lighted, razor sharp points counterbalanced by the chrome extrusions below, not to mention the afterburner brake lights, deeply inset in the elaborate nacelles. Color matched wheel covers are ahead of their time and the 15-inch wheels are wrapped in 75 series tires with a late 2021 date code. An ornate grille has bullet ornamentation amongst the strakes, circle headlights and chrome bumper. Imperfections are few and include touched up chips, bubbling on both fender backs and on the C-pillar, edge wear on the decklid, a rock chip in the windshield, other random chips, bubbles, and scratches.   Interior Eight interior choices were offered in 1961, and this one opted for the luxurious Fawn leather presented with tuck and roll stitching on the door panels, the split bench up front and the sidewalls and bench in back. There are spots that show some use including the driver's seat, but overall this is a snapshot of pure 1961 luxury. Metal accompaniments include brushed nickel and a polished, patterned metal behind the solid door pulls. Metal adorns the spokes of the two tone brown and fawn steering wheel and chrome dresses the beautiful dashboard where black and body colored paint provide the base colors and it's all in fantastic shape. A top lit AM radio resides above a piano black plate that spells out Cadillac and the ribbed panel ahead of the passenger adds another dimension. The tan carpet below is clean, the headliner above shows slight shadows of time, and the trunk is fully finished and clean with gray cloth paneling. Drivetrain Under the long hood resides the numbers matching 390ci V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and 325 horsepower. It's mated to a Hydramatic 4-speed automatic transmission with power running through 2.94 gears out back. Power brakes, power steering and air conditioning is provided. The bay presents clean and original.  Undercarriage Red oxide primer serves as the backdrop for this clean underside where we note minimal surface rust and just touches of remnant oil. Power drum brakes are supplied to all four wheels and a single exhaust works its way through a stock style muffler and resonator before terminating unceremoniously in the back. Suspension consists of coil springs at both ends with a 4 link in back.  Drive-Ability We can imagine taking this car to the opera, but it was likely used for runs to the five and dime too! It's a big car that comes from a time when garages and streets weren't, so kudos to drivers who cut their teeth in the 60's! Meanwhile, the car provides great power on the test loop, a soft and comfortable ride, along with pillarless visibility for miles! We note the clock does not work but all other functions operate as they should on this well preserved classic. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test