1963 Cadillac Coupe De Ville

Description

This 63 Cadillac is a true survivor! It is a rust free TX car, that has been garaged it's whole life. This was a one owner car from 1970 till I bought it last year. It has 79,000 actual miles, most of it's original Aspen White paint, and all of it's original Black Leather interior! The paint shines very nice, but is mostly original and has some chips here and there. The interior is about as perfect as you could ever hope! The seats show very little wear, and the leather is soft. The carpet and headliner are next to perfect. The dash in this car is also almost as perfect as it was when new. The padded dash is perfect with no cracks and is soft. The paint on the dash is almost perfect, with the exception of some paint scratching around the ignition switch. The door panels are excellent, along with the all of the interior chrome, (NO PITTING!!) The steering and suspension on this car are amazingly tight. The ride and drive quality of this Cadillac is unbelievable for a 56 year old car. After driving 100 yards, you will understand the distinct quality that this Cadillac represents. There are no squeaks, rattles, or vibrations as you go down the road. With the exception of new shocks in 1975, the rest of the suspension appears to be completely original. The 390 runs great! It has plenty of power. On the highway, because of engine torque and highway gears, within a couple of miles if you are not paying attentionit will creep up to 74 MPH! It's sweet spot, as I like to call it. Theradiator has been re-cored by the previous owner, and the engine runs nice and cool. I had the tires replaced last August in Sumner, NE, ( 25 mi drive for me). That Day it was in the upper 90's with around 90 percent humidity, she ran perfectly cool. The 4 speed hydramatic transmission was rebuilt back in May, and carries a 3 year warranty that will be honored by any ARTA associated shop.
There are many documents that come with the car, INCLUDING EVERY FUEL RECEIPT FOR THE FIRST 9 YEARS OF IT'S LIFE!!! These receipts where kept by all of the first three owners, and documented ownership change. I could see maybe one owner keeping receipts, but all three is just mind boggling to me! Also included is a receipt for tires DOCUMENTING THAT THIS CADILLAC HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN A LITTLE OVER 5000 MILES SINCE 1977!!
When I bought the car it had been sitting in storage for quite a few years. To get it back on the road again, I changed the spark plugs, plug wires, cap, rotor, coil, points and condenser, fuel pump, fuel line, boiled and coated the gas tank, thermostat, tires, battery and rebuilt the transmission. There were also a few places that had some sympathetic touch up paint to the right front fender, ( which was blended into the hood), and trunk lid on both sides of the Cadillac Crest. The rest of it is the paint is what it left the factory with! Almost all of the chrome is near perfect for it's age except for some peeling on the left side of front bumper, ( the upper part of the bumper hides it pretty well), and on the left side of the bumper where it looks like it caught a curb, ( also fairly hidden). I have put about 300 miles on the Cadillac since I've owned it.
The only options that don't work are the power seat ( Motor runs but seat doesn't move. I'm told that the seat transmission probably needs taken apart and cleaned.) A/C, (Everything works, but the low pressure line needs replaced), windshield wiper motor, the wonder bar, (Radio works great, but wonder bar doesn't) and the gas gauge (was working but quit).
This 63 Cadillac was purchased new at Frank Kent Cadillac in Fort Worth, TX on February 16,1963, by Leon and Valera Pope of Grand Prairie TX. Leon was a tool planner for LTV Aerospace Corp. The Pope's had no children. Leon passed away from a heart attack in 1973 at the age of 62, and Valera just passed away in 2017, at the age of 98. Leon sold the car privately to Franklin and Joyce Early of Arlington TX. Franklin was an Air Force pilot, and flew KC-135 refueling jets. They have four children. Both Franklin and Joyce are alive and well and living in TX. They only owned the car for a year, and after talking with their son, nobody can remember why they only had it a short period of time. They sold it to Franklin's Air Force buddy, Clifford "Buck" Shiers in 1970. Buck was a bachelor with no children. Buck also flew KC-135 refueling planes, and was stationed in many different places. Buck must have loved his Cadillac, because he took it everywhere he was stationed, including having it shipped to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. Buck was last stationed at Offutt Air Force Base when he retired after 22 years in the Air Force, reaching the rank of Major, and flying 222 operational reconnaissance missions, Buck then moved back to TX to work for an aviation design company, till he retired in 1998. He then moved back to Nebraska to be closer to family. Buck owned this car till his death in 2018, at which time I purchased it off his estate auction. The Early's were the only ones to have children, so the back seat in this car was rarely used! Included in the documents are the obituaries of Leon Pope and Buck Shiers.
I am willing to store the car for ample time to arrange for pickup, BUT THE CAR MUST BE PAID FOR IN FULL WITHIN 7 DAYS OF AUCTION ENDING!! Yes this car does have a reserve to protect my investment, but it is a very realistic number!
THIS CADILLAC HAS BEEN LOVED AND CARED FOR IT'S WHOLE LIFE!Thepictures don't begin to tell the story of just how much of a timecapsule this car is.Ifyou are looking for a high quality, original Cadillac, this is it!