1948 Cadillac Series 62

Michigan

$23,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Cadillac

Model

Series 62

Year

1948

Transmission

Automatic

Drivetrain

RWD

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

350 LTI

Condition

Fair

Description

1948 Cadillac convertible coupe. Sitting on 1996 Chevy impalas SS drivetrain. 350 LTI auto. Runs drives shifts. Needs some finishing, interior and top. Good starter kit for someone looking for a different street Rod.

Classic Cadillac Series 62 Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Sarah Whitfield

Pre-War Classics

1940–1964

~4 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Expert buyer's guide to the Cadillac Series 62 1940–1964. Tail-fin era identification, Hydra-Matic diagnosis, chrome and body condition assessment, convertible considerations, and market pricing.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 6 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Series 62 Buyer's Guide

Cadillac Series 62 Market Overview

Based on 28 Cadillac Series 62 listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$64,735

Avg. Asking Price

1939–1964

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site - Average Range

This car: $23,995

Low: $7,795 High: $198,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 71% ◄

Manual 4%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 21%

Good 4%

Fair 11% ◄

Poor 7%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 28 listings →

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Classic Cadillac Series 62 Buyer's Guide

The Cadillac Series 62 defined the American luxury automobile for nearly a quarter century. From its 1940 introduction through its final form in the early 1960s, the Series 62 represented the aspirational pinnacle of domestic motoring, a car bought by presidents, film stars, and industrialists who wanted the finest product American industry could produce. For collectors today, the Series 62 offers a rare combination: genuine historical significance, breathtaking styling (particularly the 1957–1960 tail-fin era), mechanical reliability courtesy of the legendary Cadillac V8, and a market that remains accessible compared to comparable European grands routiers of the same period.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Chrome Condition Survey , Walk the entire car in good natural light and assess all chrome: front bumper, grille, side moldings, rear bumper, taillight bezels. Note pitting, lifting, or bubbling.

✓

Panel Alignment Check , Assess all panel gaps and shutlines, hood, trunk, doors. Waviness in quarter panels or misaligned gaps indicate prior accident damage and repair.

✓

Hydra-Matic Transmission , Drive through all gear ranges. Check for smooth engagement, no slipping, and no harsh shifts. Delayed engagement when selecting Drive is a warning sign.

✓

Power Top Operation , On convertibles, operate the top through a full raise-and-lower cycle with the engine running. Check hydraulic rams for leaks and top alignment when closed.

✓

Convertible Top Seal Condition , Inspect the header seal, side rails, and rear window seal. Water staining on the interior headliner or rear seat indicates chronic seal leaks.

✓

Interior Condition , Assess the original interior for completeness and condition. Original matched interiors are difficult and expensive to recreate accurately.

✓

Floor Pan and Trunk Rust , Inspect the floor pans and trunk floor for rust. Check the trunk seal area where water can pool and cause long-term corrosion.

✓

Rocker Panel Condition , Run a magnet along the rocker panels. Filler is non-magnetic. Lower rocker rust on body-on-frame Cadillacs is repairable but confirms past neglect.

✓

Power Accessories Function , Test all power windows, power seat, and power antenna. Original motors and actuators are repairable but budget for any that do not function.

✓

Engine Condition , Check coolant condition and oil color. Assess for smoke at startup. Cadillac OHV V8s are durable but head gasket issues arise from neglect.

Common Issues

Chrome pitting and failure is the primary condition and cost concern, a full rechrome on a 1959 Cadillac can run $8,000–$15,000 depending on piece count and condition. Power top hydraulic ram leaks on convertibles are universal with age; rebuilds run $500–$1,500 per ram. Hydra-Matic transmission fluid degradation leads to slipping and harsh shifts if neglected, a full rebuild runs $2,500–$4,500. Rubber window and weatherstrip seals harden with age causing wind noise and water leaks into the interior. Power window and seat motor failures are common, original motors are repairable but budget for it. Body-on-frame rust typically appears at rocker panels, lower rear quarters, and trunk floor on poorly-maintained cars.

What to Look For

Walk the entire car in good light and assess all chrome pieces for pitting, lifting, or bubbling, chrome is the single largest cost variable on a Series 62. Check body panel alignment and gaps; waviness in the quarter panels or misaligned shutlines indicates prior accident work. On convertibles, operate the power top with the engine running through a complete cycle, check hydraulic ram condition, top alignment, and seal integrity at the header and sides. Inspect the Hydra-Matic for smooth engagement and no slipping. Check the floor pans and trunk floor for rust. Look for water staining in the interior indicating chronic leak points at windows or convertible top.

Price Guide

Postwar four-door hardtop driver: $18,000–$32,000. Late-1950s two-door hardtop: $35,000–$60,000 depending on year and condition. 1959 convertible: $80,000–$130,000+. 1957–1958 convertible: $55,000–$90,000. 1961–1963 era hardtop: $20,000–$45,000. Pre-war 1940–1941: $28,000–$55,000. Chrome condition is the single largest price variable, a 1959 coupe with sound original chrome commands 30–50% more than an equivalent chrome-needing car at the same body and mechanical condition.

Did You Know?

The 1948 Cadillac tail fin, the first ever on a production car, was a deliberate styling reference to the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, which Harley Earl had seen at Selfridge Field Army Air Base in 1941. The fins grew steadily through the decade until reaching their absolute maximum on the 1959 model. President Eisenhower's official White House fleet included Cadillac Series 62 convertibles for inaugural parades. Elvis Presley famously gave away Cadillacs, he owned over 100 during his lifetime, many of them Series 62 and Eldorado models.

$23,995

1948 Cadillac Series 62

Michigan

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