Last Thursday, the monthly AACA meeting ended around 9 p.m., its usual time. I was tired, and anxious to begin the one-hour drive home. After wishing Happy Holidays to those around me, I grabbed my coat and headed out the door of the American Legion Hall. And there it was. Suddenly tired no more, I froze, perhaps because its appearance was so unexpected, or perhaps because its enormity stood out in a parking lot full of smaller, modern vehicles. In this setting, there was nothing similar to distract from its visual impact. This 1961 Cadillac Coupe DeVille was a grand automobile when new, and is still grand today, in every sense of the word.
The car belongs to one of our club members, an infrequent meeting participant, but someone who is known for his exquisite taste in classic automobiles. I had not seen this car of his before. What first struck me were its proportions. For a two-door, its greenhouse is enormous, with the backlight (rear window) possibly larger than the windshield. The rear deck appeared to be as long as the hood, a trend that would soon disappear with the introduction of the Mustang just 3 years away. If you know your Cadillac history, then you know that the decade of the 1950s featured ever-larger fins through 1959, after which the tailfins began to shrink. Compared to what came before, these ’61 versions looked miniature.
According to my copy of The Standard Catalog of American Cars, all 1961 Cadillacs were powered by a 390 cubic-inch engine producing 325 HP. The Coupe DeVille rode on a 129.5” wheelbase, with an overall length of 222”. The two-door car was priced starting at $5,252 (compared to $5,498 for the Sedan DeVille), and weighed in at 4,595 lb. Cadillac churned out 20,156 Coupes DeVille (the 3 Sedan DeVille models totaled 35,018 units). While power steering, brakes, seats and windows were standard, one paid extra for options such as air conditioning, power door locks, a radio, and my personal favorite, “permanent antifreeze” ($9 for protection down to -40 degrees).
If the styling of the Coupe DeVille didn’t more the spirit within you, you could consider the ’61 Imperial Crown Southhampton coupe, still retaining massive fins, for $5,403. But FoMoCo fans were left high and dry in 1961: the dramatically restyled Lincoln, as gorgeous as it was, could be had only as a 4-door sedan or 4-door convertible. Two-door Lincolns were out for the time being.
This ’61 Cadillac epitomizes the luxury leadership that the brand would maintain throughout the decade of the 60s. I hope that this car’s owner considers bringing this car to an upcoming show so that I may gaze upon it in good light, and in more detail!
All photographs copyright © 2023 Richard A. Reina. Photos may not be copied or reproduced without express written permission.
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Richard,
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Hi Hugh, thanks as always for your comments, but it looks like they got cut off again! Best, Richard
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I try to be brief! Hugh
Sent from my iPhone
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Great photographs of a VERY impressive automobile ! The photos look as period correct as the car. Nice work Richard.
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Hi Nick, thanks for your comments! Funny you mentioned the photos, as they were taken with my phone, which as you know, can rival a high-end DSLR. Best, Richard
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Wow, what a great car – and a great blog about it! Brings back so many memories. My (rich-ish) uncle had a ’61 caddy, though a four door. Even at my then young age, I was very impressed.
Tail fins and ridiculously long rear decks were such great features – they sure ain’t makin’ ’em like that no more.
We hope you guys are well. Happy holidays.
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Hi Jerry, how great to see you on here! Thanks for your comments. That’s a great memory that your shared. One of my earliest Caddy memories is a little later than that. One of my mom’s cousins had a new Cadillac, probably around 1967-1968 or so. It was gold, and it looked like it was 50 feet long! Best, Richard
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Grand indeed!
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Hi Bob, thanks for your comment! Yes, it is a truly grand car. Best, Richard
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Hi Richard,
Yes! This Cadillac stuck me the same way as you that night and I too took similar photos because of that. Thank you for sharing & writing more about this beauty here. Always enjoy your writing as well. Thank you.
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Hi Alex, thanks for your comments, and thanks for reading the blog! Looking forward to a fun 2024 with the NJ AACA. Best, Richard
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badness
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The “baby boomers” can relate to this generation of automobiles along with the music. The question being:: what will this generation be able to identify with????????).
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Hi Dave, thanks for your comment, and certainly, good question! Best, Richard
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friend had one in 1972. It’ was completely rusted out being in Chicago. Most of the heavy grill stuff fell off. Car had no throttle linkage. We tied a clothesline to the butterfly and ran it into the car through one of the holes in the firewall. One day rope got stuck. WE managed a safe crash landing.
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Hi Mark, great story! Thanks for sharing and for reading the blog. Best, Richard
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