WTB 1948 cadillac Club Coupe

[Hans1965]

Hi there,
I am interested in a 1948 Club Coupe Series 62 in fair condition. Any hint would be highly welcome.

There is one on Hemmings for 32,500 since a few months that looks reasonably GOOD, located in Scottsdale.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/cadillac/62/2200223.html

Does anyone have an idea about this car? Is it worth the money?

Thanks a lot for any advice!!!

Best,
Hans

[holydagmars]

Hans --
      I'd say that the value of that sedanet would be far closer to the asking price if the car were a '49 instead of a '48.  In spite of the (to my eye, at least) more pleasing details of the '48 (such as the grille and the instrument panel), I'm sure that, among collectors, the iconic first-year Cadillac OHV considerably trumps the old flathead in terms of desirability -- not to mention performance.
   
      However, a buyer's preferences are important, and I suspect that your posted collection of OHV Cadillacs might be steering you toward a flathead so as to round out your fleet a little.  If that is the case, I'm with you.  I love those massive, ultra-torquey, silent-running flatheads.  But, everything else being equal, I wouldn't be willing to pay nearly as much for a '48 sedanet as a for a'49.

[Hans1965]

Charlie, you have read my thoughts!

In fact to me the design of the 1948 is just much smoother than the 49th. The grill looks so much better, the dash board with the rainbow instrument panel, the radio that mimics in design the grill and especially the chrome applications underneath the rear lights just look amazing to me.
You are so right, with already owning two ohv cars the thrill would be to have a flathead in comparison which I have never seen, heard or driven so far. Germany is not a Cadillac country, unfortunately. And the dash boards of 1949 and 50 are the same, although it is as elegant as it can be I got it already in my 50th Club Coupe. Many small reasons to go for a 48.
I offered the seller 25.000 but did not get any reply. Considering the rust issues underneath of the car I thought it is fair.
Somewhat happy to see that there is someone understanding my intentions!
Thanks for the message.
Best,
Hans

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

We watch Big Bang a lot. In the first episode, the second lead (Leonard) is going to inspect Sheldon's apartment. He meets the previous room mate in the lobby, who says, after being asked about what kind of guy Sheldon is, says quite emphatically, "Run far. Run fast!"

Notice how smoothly the seller glosses over the imperfections. For this kind of money, the car should be perfect. Period! It should be a "turn-key" purchase. There should be no need to "take it to the next level." There are simply too many nice (r) cars out there.

If $32,500* is "pocket change" to you, fine, go ahead and buy it. Otherwise, see the quote above. (Run far, run fast.)

P.S.* No offense intended, there is nothing wrong with having $$$. It's just that this car is definitely not worth that kind of cash.

[Hans1965]

Barry.

Thanks for the comment. If you know where to find a car nicer and possibly cheaper I am happy to take that advice. I usually prefer anyway to buy from private sellers whenever possible.
I never bought a US car for more than 15 grand. 32.500 is a lot of money for a car still in the need of a lot of work.

Again thanks for your opinion. Appreciate it.

[holydagmars]

Hans --
      If I can add to Barry's comments (as well as yours), I think it's a fair assumption that a dealer-promoted car is going to be over-priced and hyped-up.  In that light, your 25k offer is surely more than generous.

      On the other hand, values on all of the senior ("C" body) GM sedanets (Buick 50/70 series, Olds 98, as well as Cadillac) have risen steadily and apparently are continuing to do so.  For example, when I bought my '54 Buick Roadmaster hardtop coupe in 1999, it booked for about 25% more, in all condition categories, than a '49 Roadmaster sedanet, in which I was also interested.  Currently, those comparative values have been reversed -- suggesting that, financially speaking, I should have gone after a '49 sedanet instead of the '54 hardtop.  (Recently, a very nice, mostly original '49 Roadmaster sedanet sold on eBay for $32,100.00!)

        Clearly, these sedanets are aging well esthetically, and true bargains on them are now few and far between.  Regrettable though it is to admit, I think that anyone who wants one anytime soon is going to have to pony up more than he/she would like.  However, Hans, your preference for a '48 over a '49 Cadillac surely improves your bargaining position.

         By the way, I'd have jumped on the Cadillac sedanet bandwagon myself quite some time ago if I weren't a stick-shift diehard -- at least concerning Cadillacs (and it's hard to find manual post-war jobs!).  If you're like me, once you've driven a flathead, stick-shift Cadillac (my current is a '41 60S), the Hydra-Matic will seem no more than a necessary evil.
         

[Jeff Maltby 4194]

Here's a head turner for $35,500 WOW!
http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=22092&country=us

and a bunch more here:
http://car-from-uk.com/search.php?cx=partner-pub-7753934566543631%3A7070478113&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=1948+cadillac&sa

[Bobby B]

Here's a head turner for $35,500 WOW!
http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=22092&country=us

That car looks Super Clean! I don't live too far from there. It used to be the next town to me.....
                                                                                          Bobby