So which vehicle will we send out on that next service call? You’re in the mood for some comfort? Then load the ladders and conduit on the Caddy; the Econoline is such a rough-riding beast.
Mike Hayes has posted a scene that is not likely to be found outside of the Pacific North West: A 1962 Cadillac Sedan deVille (based on the interior trim) with a roof rack, and obviously still being used as a regular driver as well as hauler. Too bad he didn’t catch it with a load on its roof.
The interior makes it pretty obvious that this is no garage queen. From the looks of that seat bolster, the driver is short. Or just likes to see over the steering wheel, which was a problem with all of GM’s 1959-1964 B and C Bodies. It was a perpetual complaint, but never got fixed until the all new 1965s. A tilt wheel helped, but the basic seating configurations on these cars was never ideal. Blame it on the quest for making the ’59s lower.
Here’s a look at the tail end. What; no trailer hitch? That’s disappointing. What will they use when they need to haul a big rental trailer for the big jobs? But plenty of room in the trunk for the tools and such.
Just needs a sign on the side: Jim’s Electrical Service – We Arrive In Style
Good to see this. Actually, there should be no reason why cars of that age could not be used as everyday cars; there is a good aftermarket support and the mechanical side of things can go forever if properly maintained.
The 8 mpg on premium fuel could be a drawback. But if a guy is going to go down that road, there would be worse times than now.
HIs rates must be way high to afford to run this baby…
Well, actually I believe you could get 13 MPG out of them (nothing to write home about either, but still), but I believe using electronic ignition, modern carb/inlet manifold, headers and (again) modern cam grind would improve this quite a bit; a lot would depend on rear axle ratio and how you drive of course.
Keep in mind, 8 mpg and no payments to make can outweigh 20 mpg and the need to finance a vehicle (of course, factor in repair bills going the other way).
Indeed… What is also forgotten is that if you have mechanical aptitude you could do almost all maintenance and repair on 60s cars on your own; fat chance of doing the same on the modern rolling computers. Once the factory guarantee has ran its course, heaven help you if the electronic gremlins decide to strike, because no matter what it is, it will cost you – a lot.
Hmmm, what does the owner haul that is too big to fit in that trunk but lends itself better to roof racks than a trailer? My guess would be a canoe or kayak.
A ladder.
My brain cannot accept that this Caddy is actually being used as a work vehicle. 🙂 …despite the fact that it’s parked opposite a Ford van which also has a roof rack.
You need to get out to the PNW some time; it’s a different world.
I’m not suggesting its an actual professional work vehicle, but it probably hauls things for someone who is a DIY/handyperson, etc. Ladders, pipe, conduit, small loads of lumber/trim/etc… FWIW, a kayak or canoe is the last thing that comes to mind for me.
What wouldn’t fit? Anything tall! Those old trunks may be long and wide, but they’re shallow.
Yeah it is a boat rack, here is a set with the clamps to hold down the boat. Just add some EMT from your local hardware store.
Agreed, T. And back East, this would be a prime resto candidate. The lack of rust on this example is just stunning.
Not to mention from what little we can see here, the interior, besides the seat covers, looks pretty decent for its age and use.
Not sure I’ve ever seen one of these in dark gray, but it looks nice. I still prefer the 4 window sedan roofline, but I would not kick this one out of the driveway.
Nice. Great that it never went to that big junkyard in the sky. Wouldn`t mind having it, I like the six window configuration.
I actually prefer the six window configuration on the ’61-’64 sedans. On the ’59-’60 I like the four window version for the awesome rear window.
Sweet looking Cadillac. I’ve always liked this year. It’s perhaps the best year for Cadillac in terms of style and appearance, at least until 1969. 🙂
I’ve seen this car all over the Seattle area, and, sorry to burst your bubble, have never seen anything on the rack.
Nice ride. If is used for a work truck, he takes good care of it. If u are interested in selling shoot me a text. Rob Evans
One thing about these cars…even with the whitewalls dirty (& the rack), it still looks good, as opposed to the left front tire, which appears to be blackwall and looks (IMO) cheap! 🙂
Its that old depreciation thing again. At some point most were probably junked because a repair cost “more than it’s worth”, so hello crusher. Too bad there are not more survivors, at least in the no rust states.
I don’t remember the last time I saw a roof rack like this. Once seen everywhere, now never seen. At speed empty they would vibrate in the wind and drive you crazy.
I see a set of those every time I go in the garage, but I can’t remember the last time I used them.
A long time ago I lent one of them to my brother in law who needed to carry some really long lumber on his truck. It was supposed to be for the day. Didn’t see him again until several weeks later. He was complaining that something was wrong with his truck. As part of his diagnosis he had put it on jack stands and ran it at speed while climbing under the truck to listen for the noise/see the vibration to no avail.
I looked out at the truck saw that my rack was still on it. Went out took it off and said “there I fixed it for you”. Sure enough the noise and vibration was gone and I had my rack back to sit in the corner of the garage.
Doubt it’s for work. Those racks aren’t proper ‘headache racks’ and wouldn’t hold conduits or studs without special strapping. Also, the paint would have been scratched by serious usage.
The second photograph is stunning. Just the right light, and the cameraman knew how to use it. You can see everything the stylists worked to create. Glancing at the car in sunlight, you wouldn’t see those subtle shapes.
Stunning? Thanks!
A headache rack is the one that goes on the front of a bed on truck to prevent cargo from coming through the window and giving you a headache.
I do agree that this rack is not for carrying materials it is for carrying a boat. There are clamps with large wing nuts to put over the edge of the upside down boat.
Alright, I learned my thing for the day, thanks Scoutdude!
I had always assumed that a headache rack was the kind that goes in all 4 or 6 stake pockets to give a cab-height carrying structure. The headache came in when you hit your head on the @#%&$ thing, AGAIN. Not that I’ve ever done that, repeatedly….
What a find, and the exterior appears to be in great condition!
Not so unusual using a car like this for work. Old acquaintance of mine stopped by the dealership last year looking for a used truck for his one-man air conditioning/refrigeration biz. Drove in in his ’92 Lincoln Town Car with an extension and a stepladder strapped to the roof. It was a pretty nice car. Too much of a cheapskate and a drunk to sell him, but he was getting the job done. His main complaint was it didn’t project the proper image. Ya don’t say?
I remember helping my dad do a side job pouring some concrete for a parking pad years ago. His buddy had a ’65 F-100, but showed up late and said he had something come up and couldn’t haul the dirt we dug out. Dad was furious. We wound up hauling the dirt by filling the trunk of his ’67 New Yorker several times. It was motor-boating, but did the job.
I brought 800 lbs. of bagged topsoil home once in the trunk of my 1987 Mercury Grand Marquis LS. I went to back into my driveway and had to stop and partially unload to get the bumper to clear the apron. I was able to back about half the load down to my backyard which was accessible from the driveway.
I too am challenged to think this clean straight car sees much use as a trade vehicle.
It looks like the freaky sort of thing I would drive in my high school and college years – skis, bikes and kayaks seem more likely. And, I’d have probably protected the interior like that during some of those adventures.
I did take a new 24 foot extension ladder home once on the roof of my 1972 Pontiac Grandville 4 door hardtop. I carefully padded the roof and tied it to the four bumper corners. After I got home, the car returned to its regularly scheduled daily driver duty as a retro luxo cruiser. As it turns out, that ladder and the wheel covers from that Pontiac currently share the same wall in my garage. The car itself is unfortunately long gone.
Man, I do love the ’62 Caddy – all models and trims.
my dad could never pass up a freebie. was helping a friends mom move and it came to light they were leaving all their firewood behind. my buddy had a 76 Malibu sedan, I had a 76 Newport 4dr hdtp and the old man had a 74 parisienne(catalina) 4dr hdtp.
my buddy and I filled our trunks but flat out refused to go any further. dad dropped the windows on the Pontiac, cut a piece of wood to split the front bench seat and proceeded to fill the trunk, the back seat and the front passenger seat to the windows with firewood.
his attitude was I covered the interior, it was free wood and those old gunboats were meant to haul stuff. somehow, literally loading it to the gunwales with wood was not what I think Pontiac had in mind back in 1974 when they said they were the family hauler!
but it worked. he got it home, vacuumed the daylights out of it and it was back to business the next day.
This is identical to the car I learned to drive on. Same color, everything. Of course that’s in the late 70’s. My father used it a lot for hauling stuff, with roof racks and all.
My mom, an architect, often worked with a wonderful old-school mason named Angelo DelMauro, whose work vehicle was a white 1969 Coupe DeVille. It was immaculate and he kept all his tools and basic materials in the trunk. He died a couple of years back but I remember him using it into the 90s.
RE: Trailer Hitch
Surely you remember the clamp-on bumper hitches they used to rent at U-Haul?
That would solve the hitch problem and be period correct, too!