Today’s car is a 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe owned by Tyrone Smith, which I photographed at the Net Cruze’s Cars & Coffee event held at the Ladera Senior Citizen Center in Los Angeles, CA. The car is finished in cream with a peanut butter colored interior, matching convertible top, and boot. Power comes from Cadillac’s 346 cubic inch L-head flathead V8 producing about 150 horsepower, backed originally by Cadillac’s Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and a 3.77:1 rear axle ratio.. Braking is handled by four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, while suspension consists of independent front suspension with coil springs and control arms, with the rear using a live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs. With its long sweeping fenders, broad chrome grille, and unmistakable Cadillac presence, this convertible captures the confident look of an American luxury car returning to the road just after World War II.
Tyrone’s Cadillac wears the cream finish beautifully. Although the car originally left the factory in Lotus Cream and was later repainted a bright yellow, the current cream suits the flowing postwar body lines exceptionally well. Against the generous chrome trim and wide Cadillac grille, the lighter color highlights the elegant curves of the front fenders and the long hood stretching forward. The peanut butter interior, top, and matching boot add warmth to the presentation, giving the car a classic late-1940s luxury feel that fits the Cadillac personality perfectly.
Cadillac’s story began in 1902 in Detroit, Michigan, when the company was founded by Henry Leland and named after the French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Detroit. From the beginning Cadillac set out to build automobiles with a level of precision and quality that few manufacturers could match. Their early adoption of interchangeable parts earned Cadillac the prestigious Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club in 1908, cementing its reputation for engineering excellence. General Motors acquired Cadillac in 1909, and by the 1920s the brand had firmly established itself as America’s premier luxury automobile manufacturer, known for innovation, refinement, and a level of prestige that other manufacturers aspired to match. Packard was long regarded as America’s premier luxury marque, with Cadillac and Pierce-Arrow rounding out the top tier of early American luxury automobiles. By the 1930s, however, Cadillac had begun to take the lead, backed by General Motors’ resources and engineering advancements such as the V16 engine, earning its reputation as the “Standard of the World.” It’s also worth noting that while Lincoln was founded in 1917, Ford did not begin producing Lincoln automobiles until 1920, when the division stepped in to compete directly with Cadillac. By 1947, Cadillac had firmly secured its position at the top of the American luxury market, outpacing its long-time rival Packard in total sales and becoming the best-selling brand in the segment, a position it would continue to build on in the years that followed.
Much of Cadillac’s distinctive styling during the 1930s and 1940s came under the influence of Harley Earl, head of General Motors’ Art and Colour Section, the first dedicated automotive design department in the industry. Earl believed automobiles should be styled as much as engineered, and under his leadership Cadillac began to develop the sweeping fenders, dramatic grilles, and elegant proportions that would define American luxury cars for decades. The 1947 Series 62 carried those ideas forward, presenting a confident, streamlined appearance that hinted at the styling evolution soon to follow.
The Series 62 itself had been introduced in 1940 as Cadillac’s entry into the growing market for stylish yet relatively accessible luxury cars. After civilian automobile production stopped during World War II, Cadillac resumed building cars in late 1945 using updated versions of its prewar designs. By 1947 the Series 62 had become one of Cadillac’s most popular models, combining elegant styling with dependable V8 power and smooth road manners. The convertible coupe represented the glamorous end of the lineup, offering open-air luxury for buyers who wanted both prestige and style.
In 1947 Cadillac produced approximately 61,900 automobiles across all models, with the Series 62 Convertible Coupe accounting for roughly 6,800 cars. The convertible carried a base price of about $2,820, placing it firmly in the upper tier of American automobiles of the period. Performance was strong for the era, with the 346 cubic inch flathead V8 capable of pushing the car to a top speed approaching 95 miles per hour, while acceleration from 0 to 60 mph took around 16 seconds, respectable numbers for a luxury convertible weighing well over two tons. Buyers were drawn not only to the performance, but to Cadillac’s reputation for smoothness, durability, and effortless cruising.
Tyrone Smith is the third owner of this 1947 Cadillac. The car previously belonged to a collector named John Lowenstein of Rhode Island, who had purchased it from the original owner. Tyrone’s path to the car came about almost by accident. While traveling in the Boston area on business, he noticed an advertisement for cars for sale in USA Today and decided to follow the lead rather than spend his time sightseeing. That decision led him to Rhode Island, where he discovered a collection of more than forty cars housed in a 10,000 square foot garage. Among them was this Cadillac, and as Tyrone describes it, the two seemed to gravitate toward each other. What began as a casual visit quickly turned into something more, bringing a West Coast owner together with a car that had spent its life on the opposite side of the country.
Standing there at the Net Cruze gathering in Los Angeles, it’s easy to see why the 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible still commands attention nearly eighty years after it was built. The long hood, sweeping fenders, and generous chrome reflect a time when American cars celebrated optimism and style in equal measure. With the top down and that smooth Cadillac V8 quietly doing its work, you can almost picture it cruising the Pacific Coast Highway, the kind of car that doesn’t just take you somewhere, but makes the journey feel like something special.
Thank you for riding along with me and for being part of the Frank’s Cars in the Hood community.
Frank
