I'm not sure where to start. My father in law just recently passed away and left a 1961 Cadillac behind, I'm not sure of the exact model, I will get the title soon and know more details. I do know it is one with giant fins on it. The color is rosewood (that's what he always told us, we called it pink)
It has 21,000 miles on it, it is completely original, from the window sticker right down to the original tires from the factory. Runs and looks like it came out of the showroom still. I know a little about cars and I think this car may be worth more than I think. We are trying to decide whether to keep it and try to keep it in the condition it is in, which I'm afraid would be very hard to do and a big risk, or to contact Barrett-Jackson. This seemed like the right place to get some good advice. Thank you in advance

I certainly wouldn't try to tell you what to do, but the 1961 Cadillac was a beautiful car. We had several growing up and they stood out among the others.

Most collectors rave over 2 door coupes and the convertibles. Eldorados do very well with collectors as well. We in the minority prefer sedans. I saw a few of these in Hemmings Motor News for sale which may help with what they tend to go for. Hemmings It really depends on condition of the paint, body, interior, and engine/drive-train.

If you decide to keep it, try to garage it and get a car cover or it. There are lots of blurbs in the forums that discuss car storage. Keep us updated if you keep the car. There's always lots of help to be found!

All the best, and condolensces on the loss of your father-in-law.

Thanks for the reply. I forgot to mention it is a convertible. I've never really inspected the car but from what I have seen it is just about perfect, aesthetically and mechanically. I would love to keep it for both him and I. I'm just afraid of getting a flat tire or the tiniest dent, anything that would take away from its originality.

Thanks for the kind words

Spoken like a true AACA member. Be judicious in when to drive it, but enjoy it. There are already plenty of couches in AACA with 100 trophies awarded and no miles on the odometer. I take my Cadillac out mostly on weekends. I've had my nieces and nephews in it and it is always a lot of fun.
Once you get used to the feel of the car, you will be less apprehensive.

All the best!

If it is a convertible, it must be either a series 62 or Eldorado Biarritz. Either way, it is very desirable.
Look on the drivers side of the cowl, up by where the fresh air intake is, and you will see a rectangular aluminum tag. Copy and post all the coded information, right down to the tiny 3 digit code in the upper left corner, and I can tell you more about the car than your title will. The VIN should also be on a plastic tag on the driver’s side door jamb – visible when you open the door and look just above the latch on the body pillar – not the door.
If it is a ’61, and it is pink, it is Fontana Rose. A more coppery color is Eldorado color Topaz. What is the color and pattern of the interior – that will tell a lot, too. The more description, the better.
What to do with it is the dilemma. Are you into classic cars, or do you prefer the cash? An original ’61 Cadillac convertible will certainly hold its value, and with new tires, will be an excellent cruiser, guaranteed to turn heads. They are modern enough to be excellent road cars, and with jet-age styling that will never be seen again. Think well before you sell it – especially with the family connection. How many old family cars do I wish I still had???
Another excellent source of information & support is the Cadillac & LaSalle club. Their forum is also very helpful.

Post those codes, or email me directly.

Best wishes,

Jim Eccleston
1961 Coupe de Ville
BATILAC

You have certainly gave us a lot of good information and a lot to think about. I will get all that info next time I go over there. As for me and cars, I'm fairly knowledgeable. I've built my share of off road trucks and usually work on all my cars myself. I've never had a classic car, always wanted one but never had the extra cash. Just a little apprehensive about taking care of such a valuable car. We would love to keep it, but I am not much of a collector. I would want us to drive it. I would not be able to just let it sit.

It sounds as if this is the perfect car for you. Modern, but with style, comfortable, guaranteed to turn heads, and still keep up with any other car on the road. Drive it and enjoy it. Parts are available, and you can do much of any work yourself. Also, it is not a supercharged Deusenberg, worth a million in Phoenix. You really don't need to trailer it and defend it against interlopers. If you chip the paint, or even get a dent, well, those are the risks and costs of enjoying it. What good does it do in some collectors garage??? It is no more valuable than the daily drivers that many people risk on the road every day. If you sell it and buy, for example, a new Mustang convertible, and someone slams into it, the monetary loss on your investment is the same. But you'll have a world more fun in the Cadillac... I drive mine to shows, cruise-ins, and even to work, on a frequent basis.

Just to extemporate on Quadfins last comment...if you get hit in the Cadillac, you'll probably survive as opposed to being hit in a Mustang!

Thanks guys, I will post some images as soon as the weather breaks!

Well, I was over the in-laws today getting his mustang started and out of the garage. I was going to take the cadillac out, but it started raining so I left it for next weekend. I took a look at the title and it doesn't say much at all, it just says it's a 61 convertible and gives the weight and the VIN. The weight is 4720 and the vin is 61f010913 I didn't look for that metal tag cause I had forgot where you said it is. I see now you said it is on or by the cowl. The interior is black leather with stitching running parallel with the car. Also, I think we have to decided to sell it while it is in the condition it is. We will keep his mustang, less worries. Any thoughts on how to go about selling it?
Thanks
-Joe

As a suggestion, clean the car inside and out and get pictures of it from every angle, including the engine and the interior. List all of the accessories and the mileage. If there are any blemishes and dents, say so and show them as close up as you can.

Do some research on Ebay, Hemmings, and ask around about the value of your car. That gives you a ballpark to work with. There are also some good sites and books to use for valuation. Edmunds.

Some reputable places to advertise would be Hemmings Motor News , here on the AACA site, and the Cadillac LaSalle site. Cars and Parts Cars and Parts is another good magazine to use if you are interested.

Good luck!!

Well here she is! Everything is original except the battery and oil filter. Also, I was wrong on the mileage, it has 27,612. There is a white piece of toweling in front of the carb, I'm not sure why he had that there. It possibly leaked a bit? I drove it today and did not notice anything. It rode and ran perfect. I took a picture of all the imperfections I could find, I feel bad, like I have disrespected this car but I know if someone is going to buy it they need to see all the spots. Flickr I put them on Flickr.

Your car is amazing!!! What a beauty! You definitely won't have trouble selling this one. I really enjoyed the pictures.

That IS a beauty!!!

The data tag tells me:

Convertible body #1151 (out of approx 15,000)

Built 2nd week of October, 1961 this corresponds to the early body tag

trim - 21 - black Florentine leather
paint - 48 Fontana Rose
top 1 - ivory

(we could see all this anyway...)

Accessories:

E - E-Z-Eye tinted glass
H - heater
Y - 6 way power seat.

There may be more, depending on which basic and equipment groups were ordered. These would not be indicated on the body tag, but the build sheet would have it.

Any other questions we can answer?

What are you thinking of asking for it?

Best wishes,

Jim

Thanks Jim, that's a lot of great info. You know your stuff. It also has power windows, I can't remember if the locks were power or not. Also, the antenna is power and the radio works great. I'm not sure what to ask, I've been talking to a few people trying to get some ideas on where to start with a price. Thanks again.

Jim, she sure is a beauty! As a word caution, take your time, to make sure you are getting the best price possible!
There are too many individual out there who take advantage of unknowing sellers and "flip" the cars at twice what they paid for them.

the ratio of double your money flips against overpriced,over rated monsters ias at least 100-1!!!!!!

beautiful car. It appears the entire front end has been repainted some time in the past ...

I would not sell if it were mine, it is worth way more than the Mustang and a lot easier to get the whole family to a show in

if you are in Michigan, there is a TON of help from fellow car nuts

DO NOT TAKE THE 1st OFFER you get IF you decide to sell it

too many people will try to steal it from you to flip it (as already stated)

Thanks for the advice, I'm pretty sure it has never been painted. I can not know for sure, but my father in law took a lot of pride in keeping it completely original. I do see that the front fenders look like they have a different reflection and tint in these photos. Not sure why

In case anyone is from the area, this weekend is the downriver cruise, we will have the car out on Saturday.