1948 Cadillac

Model 6267x

Convertible Coupe

Ground Up Restoration

 

As of 17 September 2006

 

This car was last registered in 1965 in Fillmore California.  We purchased it in December of 2001 in Bakersfield, California where it sat inside and outside over the years since 1969.  We bought it from a gentleman that decided that he was never going to get around to restoring it because it was too NEW.  It also came with a 1948 series 62 Sedan Parts car that was 100% complete.  He rescued the parts car in 1971 from a wrecker.

 

Special items on this car

• First Cadillac to have a tail fin.
• First GM car to have a curved windshield (with Oldsmobile)
• Last year of the flathead motor
• Only year of the “rainbow” dash
• Hydraulic power
• Windows
• Front Seat
• Convertible Top
• Vacuum power
• Windshield Wiper motor
• Windshield Washers
• Power antennae

 

Shows Entered

 

 

The Beginning

 

This is what we started with

The Cars

Convertible Side View

Parts car Side View

Dash

Back Seat

Front Fender

 

And lots of parts

Engine Block

Engine internals

More parts

 

 

 

Teardown

 

Tearing down the Body

Front End

Front Clip

Firewall

Top Pump

Front Fender

Rear Fender

 

Tearing down the Interior

Door Panel

Front Seat

Rear Seat

 

Tearing Down the Chassis

Front End

Front Suspension

Going to the sandblaster

Assembly Line Codes

Rear End

 

Separation

Separating the Body from the Frame

The Body and the Frame

The Chassis

 

 

Starting the rebuild

 

 

Chassis

Bare finished chassis

In position

Bare A-arms

Front shock

Front suspension

Front end

Front brake

Drums

Rear End

Rear end installed

Rear end backing plate

Master cylinder

 

Motor

Bare block with cam

New pistons

Valve springs

Installed Timing chain

Top end

Bottom end

Timing cover

Heads on

Oil pan

Finished assembly and paint

Transmission back from shop

Flywheel

Ready for install

Installed

Carb and manifolds on

First time start

Exhaust insulation

 

Body

Sending the body to the Shop

Hood delivery

Stripped Door

Stripped Rear Wheel well

Stripped Firewall

First coat primer - Rear wheel well

First coat primer - Firewall

First coat primer - Interior Firewall

Fitting body panels - rear fender

Fitting body panels - driver door and skirt

Fender well finishing

Hinges and brackets

Undercarriage finishing

First color

Paint in progress

Fresh paint - rear quarter

Fresh paint - firewall

Fresh paint - body

Fresh paint - interior firewall

Fresh paint - rear seat

 

Completed parts

Bright work

Vincennes Red Wheel and Whitewall

 

 

Reassembly

 

Body

Road test freshly painted body

Body delivery

Body plate

Getting the chassis ready

Ready for set down

It's on - no casualties

Rear fenders installed

Rear splash

Rear bumper

Rear Fender

Deck lid

Completed back

Fender script

Final door alignment and exterior hardware installed

Fender alignment and door hardware

Final firewall

Fog light

Front Pan

Grill Installed

Crest and Lady

Almost Complete Front End

Complete Front End

First Glass Rear Brightwork

 

Interior

Hydraulic lines laid

Hydraulic lines connected

Dash

Hydraulic pump

Wiper transmission

Automatic heating controls

Leather grain dash with clock

Dash with clock and radio

Rebuilding the gauge cluster

Steering column installed

Courtesy light and lighter

Drivers door

Interior Delivery from Jenkins Interiors

 

Convertible Top

Restored pieces

Nearly installed

Rear view

Top Well

Top Installation Exterior

Top Installation Interior

Top Installation Completed (Note correct chrome bar on bow)

 

Completed

Door Panel Installed

Front Seat and Carpet Installed

Dash

Rear Interior View - top down

Exterior - Top up

Exterior - Top down