Cadillacs received their first post-World War II designs for the 1948 model year. These cars received fastback styling that recalled the stunning Cadillac World’s Fair Aerodynamic Coupe, though the rear end was punctuated by the industry’s first tailfins—trendsetting features inspired by the P-38 Lighting fighter plane. In 1949, the exceptional new Seaholm-designed 160-horsepower, 331-cubic-inch overhead-valve V-8 engine replaced the ponderous, aging 346-cubic-inch, side-valve unit of the previous year.

Combining the iconic tail-fin design with the lighter, more powerful V-8 proved a winning combination. The 1949 Cadillac was one of the fastest production cars built in America that year, proving so impressive that it was named Motor Trend’s very first Car of the Year. Success soon followed, both on the street and the racetrack, with 1949 Cadillacs famously campaigned by Briggs Cunningham at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Sydney Allard using Cadillac power for his iconic J-2 Allard racing cars.

This 1949 Cadillac left the factory with the desirable body style number 6207, the Club Coupe. It was finished in Cypress Green (5) over a Tan and Brown (42) broadcloth interior, and it was sold new by Gibson Motors of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. By 1966 the car was in the Bay Area of California under the ownership of Douglas Strohl.

By the early 1990s it was owned by Don Knopp, who sold it to a private collector from the Bay Area that would keep it for over three decades. At the time of acquisition, the Cadillac was white with wire wheels and an orange velour button-tufted interior. In March of 1993 the car was sent to Mikey’s Hot Rods in San Jose, California, for body work and paint. The owner eventually settled on the Chrysler shade of Wildberry, with Mikey’s shop applying six coats of color and six coats of protective clear. In June 1997 the car was moved to the Cadillac specialists at Ray Menefee’s Gasoline Alley in Redwood City for final assembly, and in October 1997 the Cadillac moved to Rich Santana’s upholstery shop in San Jose for the interior. The potent Cadillac 331-cubic-inch V-8 is likely a period replacement, as the engine number does not match the chassis. It was restored with period hop-up parts including a polished aluminum Edmunds intake featuring a pair of Carter two-barrel carburetors which, in addition to the chrome valve covers, gives the engine bay a dressed-up Allard racecar-look. The engine is backed by a 1954 four-speed, dual-range Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, perfect for local and highway cruising.

The restoration was completed in June 1998, with the car’s first showing that August at Hot August Nights; there, it was recognized with the GMC award. It was later shown at the 2002 Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance at Stanford, where it won the Meguiar’s Trophy. It was featured in James A. Dietzler’s 2000 book, Classic Cadillac, in addition to Cadillac-LaSalle club publications—including serving as the car for December in the 2001 club calendar and a feature story in the March 2006 issue of The Self-Starter, the club’s official magazine.

The Cadillac was acquired by The Groendyke Collection in Spring 2026. Following acquisition, the car went through the normal high-quality sorting all cars go through after joining the collection. It was subsequently sent to Hot Rod Garage in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, where it received an aftermarket radiator with cooling fans, along with the installation of Vintage Air and a RetroSound radio unit.

Nineteen forty-nine marked the final year of Cadillac’s flowing fastback styling, famously showcased on the celebrated Club Coupe. This well-preserved older restoration features thoughtful subtle modifications for improved drivability and comfort. Few classics offer such an appealing balance of timeless style and modern-day usability.