In the early Sixties, Cadillac Motor Division received a bit of flack from some of their customers as to the growing girth of their offerings. Said irritated customers, living like Mr. Burns from The Simpsons in their Victorian era mansions in New York, Philadelphia and Boston, were finding that their new Cadillacs were too big for their garages. So Cadillac decided to offer a new model. A shorter Cadillac.
And so, for the 1961 model year, there was a new model, the short deck Series Sixty-Two sedan. (UPDATE: The ’61 was actually in the de Ville series, the brochure showing it as a Sixty-Two series is incorrect. Thanks Dave Smith for the info!). Its primary difference was a shrunken rear deck, all the better to fit in 1920s-era garages and to assist in parallel parking in Manhattan or on Boylston Street in Boston. Standard equipment and interior trim were just as elegant and luxurious as the regular, long-tailed model. That ought to show those moneyed East coast swells, right?
Unfortunately, no. As it turns out, despite the irritated letters sent out to Detroit on bonded, 24-lb. stationery, sales were not good. At $5,498, it was priced exactly the same as the long deck Sedan de Villes. But it seems that what people want, or claim to want, and what they actually buy, are two different things. Sales of the short-deck model were 3,756, compared to 26,216 Series 62 six window hardtops and 26,415 Sedan de Ville six window hardtops.
Despite the unencouraging sales, however, the model returned for 1962, rechristened Park Avenue. There was also a new, less-expensive Sixty-Two Town Sedan that had the short rear quarters. Yes, the Park Avenue was a Cadillac years before it became a Buick!
Model 6289D, the Park Avenue Sedan de Ville, was priced the same as the standard length four-window 1962 Sedan de Ville, at $5,631. As in 1961, standard features and interior trim were identical, it was strictly the reduced rear quarters that differentiated it.
And as in 1961, sales were poor. Only 2600 ’62 Park Avenues were built, compared to 27,378 full-length Sedan de Villes.
It was an interesting idea, but it seemed those well-heeled city folk, when push came to shove, were more interested in a full-sized Cadillac, and never mind if their fins and rear deck stuck out two feet beyond their 3/4 closed garage door!
Cadillac gave the model one more chance in 1963. The base Sixty-Two town sedan was dropped, leaving only the more highly-trimmed Park Avenue version. After 1,575 of the $5633 1963 Park Avenues were built, Cadillac wisely said forget it, and discontinued the model. No Park Avenue would be on the 1964 roster, and there would be no more junior edition Caddys until the 1976 Seville appeared in early ’75.
Naturally, any of these slim-caboosed are a rarity in 2018. But as luck would have it, my friend, Dave Smith, of the American Brougham Society Facebook group, found this very nice ’62 model last week at the amazing, always interesting annual show in Hershey, PA. Let’s all give him a nice round of applause for finding such a rare Cadillac! And remember friends, keep calm and Brougham on.
Remember seeing one of these a the Peterson Car Museum in LA. Very cool.
Nice, very nice .
-Nate
I really like the thick-C pillar they did on the 62 deVilles it gives the sedan a great coupe like roof line. The short-deck cars are an interesting footnote, even with the good styling, your eye sort of seems to notice something is off with them, the “long deck” cars just have better proportions.
Is the length really short enough to make a difference fitting it into a garage? It’s still enormous.
I wonder why pressure sensors in the rear bumpers that activates a light or buzzer on the dash was never invented. I’m thinking of the 57 Caddy with the two bullets sticking out, what if the bullets could fit into holes in the back of the bumper of a car in front?
Love that color !
As I predicted Mr Sloan, the poor sales of the shortened Cadillac prove the public just isn’t interested in small cars. Those VW and Mercedes sales are just a fad that will end just as soon as the public sees our longer and wider 8.2 liter V-8 powered 1971 models.
I’ve never seen one of these in the metal, but it sure looks good to me, especially in that color.
Great story. The car pictured is for sale. View the ad with more pictures and info at http://www.clcpotomacregion.org/62cadillac2forsale.htm.
I had a 1962 Cadillac Park Avenue. White exterior and aqua interior. I purchased it in 1988 from the original owner who was no longer able to drive. I had just started graduate school and drove a Grand Prix as my primary vehicle. I sold it in 1996 to a man who wanted it for his daighter’s wedding. Oh, how I loved that car!
As an 8 year old living on a dead end street in Toronto in the middle of winter and snow up to our knees, we would use our neighbors New 62 Cadillac Park Avenue and start at the end of the street and plow the entire length of the street, with about 5 or 6 kids pushing and listening to the great rumble of the Cadillac engine as it moved slowly up the street clearing the way so all the other cars could leave, ahh great memories.
I love my “62 sedan and am looking forward to getting her painted. Any thoughts? I’m right outside of Austin and she is beautiful-her name is Lois
I have one I”ve been driving for a couple years , sadly it needs a litttle more work than I”m able to do right now . So , My 63″ Park Avenue will be on the market . I would think some serious collector would want to find a decent ,drivable 63″ Park Avenue to restore , Runs like a top with its original 390 (6.4) V8, newer carb . but does need interior work and modernizing.. almost buy and drive it home .. Fair priced ,,negotiable ,Thanks Jack