Cadillac series 62 convertible coupe 1947

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Model number: 30335

Review of the model:

The 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe is one of the most beautiful cars of the post war years and in 1947 it was the last Cadillac without fins, as the 1948-49 slowly developed small protruding bumps, that later evolve in the big fins of 1958-59.

To my knowledge only two produce 1:18 scale model cars of the 1947; Best of Show 1947 Fastback and this model from Anson. There is one more Auto world have one too, but it’s a remake of Anson mould. Anson had over the years many fine American model cars in its inventory, but this model is one of the lower grade qualities in my opinion. So one will ask why you will buy one anyway. Yes this is a good question, and the easy answer is because the 1947 Cadillac is so pretty! –and this is the only one.
The 1999 model comes in two versions; top down or top up, the latter is my favorite as I like the curving “roofline”. The mould is rather bad with too big gabs around the doors and hood. But if you like me, pick one in a dark color, the gabs seems much smaller.

And when we are speaking about the paint the high gloss black paint is fantastic! Just have in mind, some of Anson older model cars can have starting problems of bubbles in the Zink alloy molding – this major issue can be a game changer to choose the newer Auto world model to a rather higher cost.

Anyhow this is the 1:18 Anson model and what can be done to lift this model up in a higher grade that gives it a more realistic appearance? First we most see what pro and cons we discover on the model itself. I always do a good research on the real car from the internet and being familiar to the features that can be improved. My conclusion is that this model can be rather good with only some extra hours on the workbench!

If we start from below and up; the white wall tires is very fine with small Firestone lettering in the rubber moulds and the big Sombrero hubcaps are well made with centre crest that can be highlighted with red and gold paint . Also the emblems on the front and back were painted by a tooth stick – you can go all the way by printing new decals to apply on top of the emblems if you like. The headlights are well detailed and can be left alone, but the fog lights or directional lights are just black on the model, I gave them silver paint to enhance the contrast. If we go back again to the rear of the car we see the brake lights need a little attention in form of red paint. It will have been fine if Anson had made real plastic rear lights on this model; we are in scale 1:18 and not in 1:64 -a bit shame Anson. I gave also the number plate frame and it lights some chrome detailing.

The last thing I modified on the exterior is the B-pillar on the soft-top. This B-pillar is only visible if you have the rear side windows up and the pillar itself is a chrome trim. One can choose to paint the pillar and insert plastic windows, but I remove the plastic pillar from the soft top and let all side windows in down position. The front vent windows on the doors are shown without the glass, so I had to make some of clear plastic card.

The interior can be in need for some extra work too, this is a matter of the mood of the model car owner. I choose to dissemble the model from below and give the interior a refit.
The color combo is good, but I find a brown hobby felt very suitable for carpet in the salon and trunk. The instrument panel and dashboard need some paint too; Dashboard upper part of inside doors got a matching body color and the gauges on the instrument panel were painted too.

A rather odd issue from the assembling department of Anson; the steering wheel is 180 degrees wrong as the spoke shall pointing at six o’clock instead of twelve. The big Cadillac motor is just one big clonk of black plastic and now it is out, the motor block, sparkplugs wires and air filter etc. were painted too. This is easy fixed when all parts are out! Lastly I gave the model car new “chrome” internal running board made of household metal foils, plus some minor detailing with paint.

When the model again assembled and buffed up I most say I fall in love with the Anson Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe from 1947.

How about you are you ready to give this “old model” a second try?
 

I will give this model 3 out of 6 stars  ******

Below here are pictures of the model, historical description, old brochures, technical data and a little movie clip for the real car. So please enjoy!

Hoax Promo photo shoot with fashion model

Lovely car!

History:

1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe

 The Cadillac Series 40-62 is a series of cars which was produced by Cadillac from 1940 through 1964. Originally designed to complement the entry level Series 61, it became the Cadillac Series 6200 in 1959, and remained that until it was renamed to Cadillac Calais for the 1965 model year. The Series 62 was also marketed as the Sixty-Two and the Series Sixty-Two. The Series 62 was used to introduce the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and the Cadillac Eldorado which started out as special appearance packages that were later placed into production.

 Second generation (1942–1947)

The grille became more massive in 1942, with even fewer bars and was the beginning of the traditional "egg crate" appearance that all future products adopted. Parking lights became round and fog light sockets became rectangular and were included in the grille area. A bullet shape appeared on the tops of the bumper guards. Fenders were rounded and longer and no longer featured side ventilation grilles. Front fender character outlines now extended into the front doors, a feature GM called "Airfoil" for all products for that year, and rear fenders extended forward into the rear door. The new fenders had heavy moldings along the sides. The appearance was more expressive and expansive in comparison to the all-new Packard Clipper introduced at the same time. A new fresh air ventilating system with air ducts leading from the grille replaced cowl ventilators. Handbrake control was changed from lever to tee-shaped pull handle. Radiator shutter control of engine temperature was replaced by a blocking type thermostat in the water return fitting in the radiator. Vehicles that were built until February 1942 could be identified as lacking chrome trim starting in January when it was prohibited due to wartime production and trim pieces including bumpers were painted.

The first postwar Cadillac rolled off the line on October 7, 1945 and for several months, only Series 62s were produced. 1946 Cadillacs were not significantly altered from 1942 outside a few styling changes and the addition of a negative ground battery. The Series 62 retained the same lineup of body styles as in 1942—coupe, sedan, and convertible, and 18,565 total were produced for the model year, approximately 65% of Cadillac's total 1946 output of 29,000 vehicles. Resuming civilian production was a difficult task for the entire automobile industry and demand for new cars much exceeded supply. Cadillac had as many as 100,000 unfilled orders into 1947. Due to materials shortages, some Cadillacs shipped from the factory with wooden bumpers, dealers being expected to install proper ones as they became available. Postwar inflation pushed the sticker price of a 1946 Cadillac over $1000 higher than 1942.

In 1946, the Series 62 used GM's C-body platform, as did the Cadillac Sixty Special, Buick Super and Buick Roadmaster, and Oldsmobile 98. Notchback styling characterized the cars except for the Club Coupe which had fastback styling. It was easy to distinguish the Series 62 coupe from the Series 61 because the door skins did not flare out above the rocker panel moldings, and the side window openings were lower and the reveal window moldings circled each window individually instead of looping around all the windows. The Series 62 sedan featured ventiplanes on both the front and rear door windows. It was also the first Cadillac to enter production after World War II. Interior styling and technical features were similar to those seen on the Cadillac Series 61 but with slightly richer interior appointments. Late 1946 models introduced technical changes to the V8 engine in the form of hardened ball seats for the hydraulic lifters.

The 1947 models received minor styling changes and the addition of Hydro-Lectric window lifts on the Series 62 convertible, which remained the sole ragtop in Cadillac's lineup. Polished metal stone guards on the fenders replaced the rubber ones used on 1946 models. As before, Series 62s remained Cadillac's bread-and-butter lineup with 39,834 produced, 84% of the make's total 1947 volume.

 In 1947 Cadillac slightly upgraded their model year that included a new 5-bar front grill and numerous trim differences. These include a new Cadillac fender script, stainless-steel fender guards. Cadillac also offered optional fog lights built into the grill and Sombrero wheel covers.

                                                                                                                                                   Technical specification:

Model years 1942–1947
Designer Harley Earl

Body and chassis
Body style
2-door coupe
4-door sedan
2-door convertible
Platform
C-body


Engine
346 cu in (5.7 L) Monobloc V8
Transmission
3-speed selective synchromesh manual
4-speed Hydra-Matic automatic

Dimensions
Wheelbase: 129.0 in (3,277 mm)
Length 1946–47: 219.2 in (5,568 mm
Width 80.8 in (2,052 mm
Height 63.1 in (1,603 mm)
Curb weight: 4,300–4,700 lb (2,000–2,100 kg)
 

Old brochures of the car

Video of the real car from You Tube

If you have any question or comment your are free to contact me at: aeronautic@stofanet.dk

Dealers are welcome to get their models reviewed too.

Aeronautic Jan. 2022

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