1940 Cadillac Series 62 - Reader Ride

By: James Secher

Date: 30.04.2023

Houston we have a problem, we're heading to Australia

In 1940 Cadillac released the Series 62; it featured a sleek design with elements such as a slanted windshield, curved rear window, and chrome window trim. The "projectile" or "torpedo" body style, which carried over from the previous year featured a revised grille with bolder bars and the introduction of louvre bars on the bonnet or hood.

The headlamps were uniquely shaped, reminiscent of the 1930s, while the body had a modern, flowing design available with or without running boards.

The Cady’s paintwork is stunning

Available body styles for the Series 62 included a passenger sedan, coupe, and convertible sedan and coupe. The car was powered by a 135hp L-head 346cu (5.7lt) V8, propelling the luxury beauty to a top speed of over 160km/h. Available with a three-speed synchromesh gearbox, a single disc clutch and gearshift controls on the column, with a 4-speed Hydra-Matic automatic option available in later models.

The Series 62 was five inches wider than previous models, making it a true six-seater, the perfect family car to cruise the newly built interstate highways connecting the US.

The low and sleek "torpedo" style look of the Cadillac has made them very popular with the Hot Rod community, like this example owned by Mario Andrado.

"I just happened to be flicking through some cars online and came across the Cadillac; I thought, wow, that’s a really cool car. I rang the owner Jim Beddow and organised to look at the car in the US. We ended up staying with Jim and his lovely wife Marla; they entertained us and were just lovely people and we’re still friends with them today. The Caddie was their wedding car as well, so there was a lot of nostalgia attached to the car."

Jim got a little nervous once Mario announced his plans to get the Cadillac to the port for shipping.

"I told Jim I was going to drive this thing across from Houston to LA. I remember him saying, "Mario, I don’t think I’d be doing that. This is a 79-year-old car you’re trying to drive 3000 miles.

"I explained I wasn’t going to put it on a tow truck at his place and instead drive it to LA. Well, you know what, if it breaks down anywhere in between, I’ll put it on a tow truck."

Unfortunately for Mario, the Cadillac did end up on the back of a tow truck during the cross-country jaunt. Mario explained. "One of the callipers collapsed and fell on the disc when I was on the highway; it locked the wheel and came to a stop in a straight line; fortunately, it didn’t happen around a corner."

When Mario acquired the car in 2013, the original flathead V8 had been swapped out for a 390 V8 Cadillac motor mated to a turbo 700 transmission with overdrive. Mario just added a few little touches of his own, kept up the maintenance, and even got rid of some mischievous gremlins.

"Jim will tell you he could never get the thing running right. Everyone thought it was fuel, electrical, or something else. But my Maori friends say someone was on board, a mischievous spirit that hadn’t let go. The Cadillac was so unpredictable. It would stop when it wanted to, and you couldn’t start it again.

There were so many stories I could tell you about this car, and I have just accepted the theory or the spirituality behind it. After the Maoris blessed it, it has been quite good since. But I’ve also spent a lot of money fixing the electrics, fuel system, and brakes, which could have little to do with it."

Mario didn’t muck around when it came to the electrics and had the whole car rewired in Australia. The Caddie also came with a working Wurlitzer Jukebox in the boot, which was pulled out and replaced with the wild-looking airbag suspension control setup. The jukebox now adorns the wall of Mario’s garage.

The styling depth is amazing

"The car’s been gone over from front to back by Charlie and the team at Heavy Metal Garage. They installed the airbag suspension and replaced the whole braking system. I feel a lot more comfortable driving it and confident it will not break down. But that is old cars". Mario said with a smile.

The Cadillac has had a full respray in Australia in what Mario believes is a Pontiac Maroon, which is not too far from the Cadillac "Oxblood Maroon Iridescent" colour available on the Series 62s.

A keen eye would notice the guards throwing off a hint of gold with a subtle finish of chameleon.

Mario takes the Cadillac out quite often and heads to the occasional car show, where it’s always a head-turner. But one of his all-time favourite trips in the Cadillac was a Hot Rod run in Yamba about eight years ago.

A few more neddies under the bonnet now

"The event organizers had everyone drive through a nursing home in their cars. That was one of the best things I’ve ever done in this car. When we drove through, all the nursing home residents were outside, and their eyes lit up when they saw all these old cars going through.

They came and talked about their days when they were kids. ‘Oh, my father had one of these,’ or ‘I used to date someone in one of these.’ It just makes my day when I make some old people happy to see the old cars and rejuvenate memories for them."

Big tiller and full set of gauges

(Ed’s note: this car is for sale, see the listing here)

From Unique Cars #476, March 2023

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