Beautiful Original Interior/Nice Smooth Runner/Older Respray/Big Chrome!
1951 Cadillac Series 61 Sedan
1951 Cadillac Series 61 Sedan
Advertising of the time made heavy use of an upper middle-class society at play with women in furs, heavy use of jewelry with their badging in the ads, and even depicting supposed royalty being kissed on the gloved hand by a foreign dignitary. It was a lifestyle that included transporting oneself around in the car of cars.
For consignment a car literally owned by 1 family for 3 generations! This heavy rounded example of Detroit iron exemplifies the expensive lifestyle with its overuse of big chrome, early beginnings of tail fins, and luxurious interiors. Put on some wide whites, and we are ready to go out on the town and spend some serious money, on frivolity.
Exterior
With its massive steel panels bathed in Exeter Green in very nice condition the care taking of one family shines brightly. There are areas of some crazing of the paint and one area where it is cracking off, but overall maintains its shine. With its dual "Dagmars" up front leading the way for the massive bumper and rounded hood complete with Cadillac badging, single headlights on the front of rounded fenders, and a chrome trim spear which leads us rearward to the rear of the front door. In the middle of the rear door, a vertical trim piece, plunges downward and starts the bump out for the rear quarter panel. When it reaches the rocker is heads back and frames the lower portion of the rocker and fender skirt. The mass of chrome gets picked backed up on the back of the car in the form of a large rear bumper that frames the lower fins and flanks the trunk lid, as well as the slight fins which are formed to house the taillights on the top of the rear quarters. A triple pane wrap around rear window with more chrome trim is at the rear of the roof, and chrome trim continues around the car at the belt line, framing all windows and the swept back roof. Big wide whites are capped by Caddy chromed wheel covers on all 4 corners.
Interior
A swing of the massive doors one may go into textile overload with all the different surfaces on just the door panel. This design is carried through to the dash where it wraps around to the passenger door. Seen are gold ribbed aluminum, brown painted metal, brown velour, and a lower textured stitched broadcloth with vertical pattern. These surfaces are broken up by thin chrome trim that runs the length separating the tactile surfaces. The chrome smattered dash is fronted by an original steering wheel in excellent condition, and below is noted dark brown thick pile carpeting. Front and rear overstuffed benches are original to this car and show some slight wear and fading. These are covered in a 2-tone cream, and light mauve broadcloth paneled configuration. A brown mohair headliner in near perfect condition hangs tightly above all this luxury. Nicely restored trunk needs looked at as well, a perfect environment for that steamer trunk, or a picnic basket for the weekend.
Drivetrain
Within the confines of a nice engine bay, we see a 331ci V8 engine, all buttoned up and draped with some royal purple valve covers, a clean intake topped with a 2-barrel carburetor with a jet black oil bath air cleaning system, and a 4-speed Hydra-Matic transmission on back which drives 3.36 gearing on the rear.
Undercarriage
Beautiful patina, non-rusted surfaces abound underneath, and signify a life well lived in a garage, with plenty of fastidious maintenance.
Drive-Ability
Starts right up, idles smoothly and quietly, and runs very nicely. The interior is comfortable, and its steering is tight, and handles well for such a large automobile. Brakes were good, and all functions were operational.
With some paint crazing, but remaining mostly original, this could be called a survivor, as it is mostly original. A consigner stated 83,029 original miles which is amazing in and of itself, we have a cream puff here awaiting to be enjoyed by another family for another 60 years.
VIN Decode
516139521
51-1951
61-Series 61
139521-Sequential Unit Number
Trim Tag
STYLE NO 51 6169-1951 Cadillac Series 61 Sedan
BODY NO FW2042-Fleetwood Body #
TRIM NO 32-Dark Tan Novelty Cord, Light Tan Plain Broadcoth
PAINT NO 3- Exeter Green
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 450 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
- Condition: Used
- Make: Cadillac
- Model: Series 61
- SubModel: Sedan
- Type: Sedan
- Trim: Sedan
- Doors: 4
- Year: 1951
- Mileage: 83029
- VIN: 516139521
- Color: Green
- Engine size: 331 V8
- Transmission: Automatic
- Interior color: Tan
- Vehicle Title: Clear Want to buy? Contact seller!