Styling and horsepower sold cars in the Fifties, and nobody knew that better than Cadillac. Stylewise, its famous tailfins debuted on the 1948 models, a design hallmark that was destined to last nearly two generations. A year later the trend-setting Series 62 Coupe de Ville hardtop bowed. Although styling changed from year to year, Cadillac carefully maintained a continuity of design so that even though the car always looked "new," there could never be any mistake that it was indeed "The Standard of the World."

In 1949, Cadillac and Olds were the first to market new lightweight, high-compression, overhead-valve V-8s, which marked the beginning of the horsepower race. Caddy's version churned out 160 horses, 18.5 percent more than Olds, even though its 331-cid engine was only 10 percent bigger. It thus became one of the fastest cars of its time.

Cadillac also enhanced its image with some of the classiest advertising of the day. In the early '50s it ran a series of ads with the car displayed above a necklace of diamonds, emeralds, or rubies, with simple, direct, and devastating mini-stories underneath. For example, one of them told of the paperboy who had admired Cadillacs 31 years earlier, and now was an industrialist about to purchase his first one: "No compromise this time!" the ad declared.

Three GM divisions had 50th anniversaries in 1953, and celebrated by issuing expensive, flashy limited editions, all big convertibles with Motorama-inspired styling features. Buick offered the Skylark and Oldsmobile the 98 Fiesta. Cadillac's birthday model appeared in the Series 62 as the

SERIES 62

Changes seen in 1953 included a redesigned grille with heavier integral bumper and bumper guards, the repositioning of parking lamps directly under the Headlights, chrome "eyebrow" type headlamp doors and one-piece rear windows without division bars. Wheel discs were fashioned in an attractive new dished design. Series 62 models were identified by non-louvered rear fenders, the use of thin bright metal underscores on the bottom rear of the cars only and the decoration of both hood and deck lid with Cadillac crests and V-shaped ornaments. As was the practice since 1951, Series 62 sedan bodies measured five inches less than the other styles.

A Coupe DeVille roof pillar script was seen again on this luxury hardtop. Standard equipment included all items featured the year before. Late in the production year the limited-edition

I. D. NUMBERS

• Serial numbers and engine numbers were again one and the same.
• They appeared on the righthand side of the crankcase above the water pump and on the right frame side bar behind the engine support.
• The first two symbols were "53" for 1953.
• The next two symbols indicated the series as follows:
  • "62" = Series 62 (including Eldorado)
  • "60" = Series Sixty Special Fleetwood
  • "75" = Series 75 Fleetwood
• The remaining digits represented the consecutive unit number and began with 00000 for all series.
• All series had the same ending number, which would be misinterpreted if listed.

Model Number	Body Style	Doors	Model	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
53-62	6219(X)	4-door	Sedan	5	3666	4201	47,316
53-62	6219(X)	4-door	Sedan	5	3666	4201	324
53-62	6237(X)	2-door	Coupe	5	3571	4189	14,353
53-62	6237DX	2-door	Coupe DeVille	5	3995	4252	14,550
53-62	6267X	2-door	Convertible Coupe	5	4144	4476	8,367
53-62	62	-	Chassis only	-	-	-	4
ELDORADO SPECIAL
53-62	6267SX	2-door	Sport Convertible Coupe	5	7750	4799	532

NOTES:

• The export sedan was shipped in CKD form to foreign countries.
• The symbol X in brackets indicates hydraulic window lifts optional
• without brackets indcates this feature standard.

ENGINE

• V-8 Overhead valves.
• Cast iron block.
• Displacement: 331 cubic inches.
• Bore and stroke: 3-15/16 x 3-5/8 inches.
• Compression ratio: 8.25:1.
• Brake horsepower: 210 at 4150 rpm
• Five main bearings
• Hydraulic valve lifters.
• Carburetors:
  • with Hydra-Matic Transmission: Carter WCFB four-barrel Model 2005S - also - Rochester 4GC four-barrel Model 7005100.
  • with Dynaflow Transmission: Carter WCFB four-barrel Models 2088S, 2119S, and 2119SA also - Rochester 4GC four-barrel Model 7006215.
• Note: After the Hydra-Matic plant fire approximately 19,000 Cadillacs were sold with Buick Dynaflow transmission attachments. This was referred to as the "Twin Turbine" drive.

CHASSIS

• Wheelbase: 126 inches
• Overall length (Sedan): 215.8 inches
• Overall length (Other): 220.8 inches
• Tires: 8.00 x 15.
• Dual exhaust system standard.
• Rear axle ratios: 3.07:1

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS

• None available.

CONVENIENCE OPTIONS

• Hydraulic window lifts optional on some Series 62 models.
• Heating and ventilation system ($199).
• Power steering ($177).
• Signal-seeking radio with preselector and antenna ($132).
• Remote control signal-seeking radio with preselector and antenna ($214).
• Five white sidewall tires ($48 exchange).
• Tinted E-Z-Eye glass ($46).
• Autronic Eye Automatic headlamp beam control ($53).
• Chrome wire wheels ($325).
• Air conditioning ($620).
• Other standard G.M. accessories.

HISTORICAL

28000 Cadillacs were built with Buick Dynaflow transmission after GM's Hydramatic plant burned to the ground.

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