The end of World War II signaled a dramatic shift in the American auto industry. Car production had halted suddenly in 1942 as factories were retooled for the war effort. Now that the conflict was over, auto production could resume—despite the fact that development of new models had all but halted during the war. Most manufacturers had to make do with hastily refreshed versions of their existing prewar models. In the case of Cadillac, that meant resuming the brilliant Series 62.

The front end design was subtly reworked with a new grille and fender profile to beautiful effect. The proud grille and beautifully contoured body would serve as the basis for Cadillac’s design language through the rest of the 1940s and into the early 1950s. The car was available in a number of body styles and trim packages, with the Series 62 Convertible Coupe the ultimate of the two-door offerings. The model proved very popular with buyers, with nearly 40,000 units of the Series 62 sold. Of this figure, only 1,353 were reported to be the 1946 Series 62 Convertible Coupe.

An accompanying copy of this Series 62 Convertible’s factory build record shows that it was delivered new to Eberts Cadillac of Grand Rapids, Michigan on 28 October 1946. Specified optional equipment included a Hydramatic automatic transmission, wheel skirts, radio with aerial, and automatic cabin heater. Added to the model’s standard fare of amenities which included power windows, seat, and convertible top, this Series 62 example was quite nicely specified by its original owner.

By December of 1990, this esteemed Series 62 had made its way to a private collection in Pennsylvania. In 2002, the Cadillac was acquired by the consignor—also a Pennsylvania resident and collector of preeminent classic automobiles. The car has evidently been restored to an impressive and factory-correct standard some years prior during previous ownership, and the appeal of this restoration has not been dulled by the years.

As presented today, this Series 62 Convertible still wears its original color combination of a black exterior over tan bedford cord and red leather upholstery beneath a tan convertible top. All the features listed on its built sheet have been faithfully maintained over the past 75 years of enthusiast ownership, and observation of the car’s 346 cubic-inch V-8 engine reveals it as the numbers-matching unit to the chassis number. This remarkably presented and rare Series 62 Convertible Coupe is now accompanied by a spare wheel, original owner’s identification card, and a copy of its factory build sheet.