1941 Cadillac 61 - $19,900 - Orange Village, OH - Handsome 1941 Series 61 sedan. Partially restored with new paint, interior, and rebuilt engine. Totally rust-free and solid, with original chrome and trim. Powerful, reliable tour car.
This Series 61 sedan is a wonderful opportunity. The totally rust-free body and chassis were an exceptional foundation for the restoration that started a few years ago. All the original panels are in exemplary condition with good fit and no signs of rust repair or patching. The color is Sequoia Cream, and today there’s no sign of the original black, suggesting that the car was completely disassembled for restoration and paint. The stainless trim is very good to excellent, and yes, the rear quarter window trim is included with the car and new clips to install it are available from Restoration Hardware. The cast and plated pieces are original and show the usual pitting, but that’s also why this car is so affordably priced. The bumpers appear to have been plated once before and the surfaces are clean and straight, so re-plating them should be straightforward and inexpensive. The current owner has already installed freshly chromed bumper guards.
The bright interior uses a tweed fabric that looks great and wears like iron. Not totally correct, it’s a fantastic complement to the Sequoia cream paint outside and uses period styling and patters to give it an appropriate look. The seats feature fresh materials underneath, so they feel firm and supportive for days of touring. New tan carpets were neatly fitted and expertly tailored, and the door panels were designed to match. There is a radio that is complete but not functioning (which is typical) and we suspect that this car comes from a warm climate due to the fact that the optional under-seat heaters and defroster were omitted from this particular car’s options list, although there is a Cadillac accessory heater under the dash that works correctly. The trunk is fully finished with tan carpets and includes a full-sized spare of indeterminate age.
Mechanically, 1941 Cadillacs are simply delightful machines. The 346 cubic inch flathead V8 is a fantastic travelling partner on the open road, capable of modern performance and with fantastic reliability. This engine was rebuilt perhaps six or eight years ago, and runs superbly today, with great V8 torque and a smooth burble from the tailpipe. The original Stromberg carburetor and oil bath air cleaner live up top, and the cast iron exhaust manifolds fit well and don’t leak. A new mechanical fuel pump was installed last year, along with the usual tune-up parts so it’s ready to go touring this summer. The 3-speed manual shifts easily and clutch take-up is smooth and progressive, so it’s a pleasure to drive on the open road, where it will cruise happily at modern highway speeds. The chassis is extremely clean, with solid floors with nothing to hide—further proof that this car comes from someplace warm and dry. The muffler is new and correct, so it sounds right, with a muted hum that suggests great power. The brakes were recently serviced as well and four new Diamondback Classic wide whitewall radials were installed last year at a cost of over $1200. It also appears that it wears fresh hubcaps and black paint on the original steel wheels.
The Series 61 represents incredible value in the old car world, offering top-of-the-line Cadillac engineering and comfort at a very reasonable price. This car has already had most of the hard work finished, and while it is not intended to be a show competitor, it is a wonderful old car that will be a fun, fast, reliable tour companion. The restoration work is fairly recent and well done and it looks like an old car should look. Invest a little time and effort, and this could be a truly spectacular machine. Call today!
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