1955 Cadillac Series 62

Purchased new by Los Angeles resident Pierre La Vine on May 12, 1955, this amazing 1955 Cadillac Coupe de Ville with a special order Eldorado leather interior is a true survivor with less than 49k original miles. I am only the third owner of this truly unique piece of automotive history. Pierre was a middle class guy who pampered this car until his passing in 1999, leaving it with only 17k miles on the odometer. When I met his widow, Charlotte, in 2002, she told me he would let it warm up completely in their modest one car garage prior to taking it out for a drive, and then only on days with zero chance of rain. Adding to that, she also told me that if by chance she and/or their daughter happened to be joining him for a drive, he kindly asked them not to "touch anything" while in the car. This car was his pride and joy! After Pierre's passing, Charlotte (who never had a driver's license) sold both the Cadillac and Pierre's daily driver (Lincoln) to a neighbor who had grown up just a few houses down and always admired the Caddy as a young man watching it slowly cruising up and down their Blythe Ave neighborhood. From 2000 to early 2002 the car simply moved a few garages down the street but still was cherished and rarely driven. In early 2002 I had decided to look for a late 50's Cadillac and was fortunate enough to find the car I would affectionately refer to as "Sophi." I flew to LA and fell in love - the car at that time had 17,165 miles! Over the past 19 years I've traveled over 30k miles behind her wheel and have accumulated nearly as many memories, including an epic East to West Rt. 66 road trip with a swing through Las Vegas and returning through the Rocky Mountains on the way back to WI. Countless car shows, the pinnacle being honored as the "poster car" for the first ever "Elvis Presley Motor Classic" event held in 2010, where Sophi was awarded "Best Original" and was photographed outside the front doors of Graceland, looking VERY much at home, I might add. As she sits today, with 48,475 miles, I would not hesitate to jump in and drive across the country. Coker wide whites are only 4 years old with very few miles. Brakes are like new. Stainless exhaust from front to back after the Rt. 66 trip still keeps her as quiet as a Caddy should be. She's just as comfortable cruising for hours at 70mph as she is 35. A Pertronix ignition is about the only "non-stock" change I made. A full service of all fluids was done in 2015. I have every receipt going back to 2002, as well as the full report from the Cadillac Archives in Detroit documenting her "special order" lineage, build date of 4/27/55, and complete ownership history down to the days. On the day I became the third owner, I was able to share a few minutes with Pierre's widow, Charlotte, and I sure wish I could go back and spend a few more - so many questions that I wish I had thought to ask! But the memories she did share proved to me that this was a special automobile that had always been cared for like a queen. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Wedgewood Mist Green (80) beneath a Pecos Beige (42) top. She is a beautiful survivor who has aged gracefully. Paint, chrome, and Eldorado leather (95) interior have never been restored. All gauges and lighting in working order. Beautiful dash lights after dark! There is some wear, mainly in the driver's area, most notably the split seam on the seat back and the carpeting in the footwell area. Other minor items to mention include the power window on the passenger side only operates from the driver's master switch, clock is inop; WonderBar radio did work when disconnected in 2003 in favor of a hidden stereo/CD player in the glovebox, connected to a disc changer in the trunk. Autronic eye may or may not work, never cared to try. Heater only blew warm on one side last time I tried some years back. All in all, she is a no-excuses cruiser ready for a trip across town or state, wherever you'd like to take her!