1941 Cadillac Series 62 4-door Sedan

Year: 1941

Make: Cadillac

Model: Series 62

Price: Best Offer over $10k

Description: paint is new - diamond pearl; everything has been rechromed except the rear bumper; the engine ran fine last time it was started, which was about 2 years ago. All of the interior parts are out of it and in storage, seats, door panels, headliner and carpet all need to be re-done. The car has been stored inside, under a dust cover. Engine: Flathead V8, Hydramatic Transmission. I had it appraised last March - $15k, as is. See attached.

I would welcome feedback from the community. Price too high? Undesirable model? Would this car be more/less interesting if it was finished? I'm kind of at a loss as to how to sell a car like this. Any info you'd care to pass along would be appreciated. Thanks!

Location: Bellingham, Washington State, US

Contact Information: Judy Frith, jfrithx4@hotmail.com

cadillac2_201302051533.pdf

Dear Miss or Mrs. Frith,

Sedans can be just as enjoyable as any other body style.

When you're enjoying your antique car in a tour, you tend to

forget whether it's perfect or how many doors it has. Even

though sedans are more modestly priced, any '41 Cadillac is a

worthwhile car.

People usually want a car painted in an authentic color

offered in the year of manufacture, so the "diamond pearl" white,

being a modern color, may turn some away. But don't cry over

spilt milk--it is what it is, so price it accordingly.

If I were you, I wouldn't put more money into it. Proper

restoration is very expensive, and you would not get your money

out of it. Hobbyists fix up cars for the enjoyment and the history.

An incomplete car could be a fine project for someone.

Maybe some other helpful car fan could advise you on the price.

Good luck!

Some cars get sold on the Ebay auction site, as long as

it has a reasonable reserve price. Myself, I'd never buy

an auctioned car sight-unseen, but many people do.

If you choose that route, people would prefer to buy from

someone with established (and good) feedback, not an

unknown person who has never sold something on Ebay before.

So if you haven't sold on Ebay, have a reliable friend list it for you.

An excellent way to reach hobbyists is to put an ad in AACA's

national magazine, ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE. Call (937) 478-6613

(Ohio); explain that you need a little advice on how to phrase the

ad, and they can offer you some help.

Still the hobby leader is the magazine HEMMINGS MOTOR NEWS,

and their accompanying website. The magazine is full of hundreds

of pages of cars for sale every month. Your ad should go under the

"Cadillac Cars for Sale" category. Their phone (in Vermont) is 800-227-4373,

extension 79610. They should be helpful too if you need some advice.

Photos enhance any ad.

Dear Mr. S,

Thanks so much for your insightful response. This whole thing has been a little overwhelming. I will try the sites/advertising you suggested. Much appreciated!

Judy

Your series 62 Cadillac is recoginized as a "classic" by the Classic Car Club of America and is a popular tour car. You may want to advertise in their monthly publication which goes out to all CCCA members. Also consider listing on Ebay with a few interior and exterior photos. Just be aware of all the scams associated with Ebay and list a reserve. You can always lower your reserve. Even if you do not sell it on Ebay the listing will give you instant exposure to Cadillac fans all over the world. A large number of cars that are not sold on Ebay are sold privately after the listing expires because of the exposure. Good Luck

Robert G. Smits

Thank you, Mr. Smits. I will try a listing with the CCCA. Ebay makes me a little nervous, but I'll just have to get over it I guess

Here is a little bit of pricing information for you.

It's not from my experience--it's from the experience of the

automotive writers that prepare price guides.

From the 2012 Collector Car Price Guide by Krause Publications

(this is the annual edition produced by the makers of Old Cars Price Guide):

#3 condition: $13,500.

#4 condition: $6000.

Their descriptions include, in part:

#3: "A good amateur restoration, all presentable and serviceable inside and out...

or a partially restored car with all parts necessary to complete it and/or valuable

NOS [new-condition old stock] parts."

#4: A driveable vehicle needing no, or only minor, work to be functional. Also, a

deteriorated restoration or a very poor amateur restoration..."

So your pricing expectations are within the ballpark. I would say perhaps that your

car (with its incorrect paint, and partly restored) is in the middle between #3 and #4.

For comparison, a #1 condition car is perfectly restored and a national show winner.

People can easily spend $100,000 to get a car to that level, though the same price

guide values your model at only $30,000 in #1 condition. (That's why people do this

as a labor of love, or else they restore a more desirable model such as a convertible.)

Another pricing source is www.nada.com. Their prices tend to be a bit higher.

However, in the preface to their printed book they acknowledge that fact and

explain that their prices are for ORIGINAL (unrestored) cars, which can be more desirable.

Hope this helps. Are there any '41 Cadillac experts out there to help further?