'58 Series 62 Convertible

[TonyZappone #2624]

Just got '58 Convertible back from Castle Cadillac.  Chris did great job replacing pump, hoses and cylinders for convertible top.  Very nice, talented people.  I have used them before.  This car is original paint (been touched up all over, for sure) and interior.  Front and rear chrome has been redone or NOS stuff used.  Runs as nice as it looks.

[55 CDV Fan 82]

Nice!

[marty55cdv]

  Beautiful Tony ! Is that Calcutta Cream ?

[TonyZappone #2624]

It is Calcutta Cream.  Car is unusually optioned.  No tinted glass (unusual in a convertible), and just white walls and am radio.  No fog lites either.  One day I checked the serial number against the master parts book.  The car was probably built on the last day, or day before the last day of production.  It has the black and white interior also.  We called these build out cars.  Many times colors were changed, equipment added or eliminated, you took what was left.  Very common with Chevrolet into the early seventies.  I have owned car around 35 years.  Thank goodness it drives as nice as it looks.

[cadillacmike68]

Very nice.

you've had it for 35 years? congrats.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Always enjoy seeing originals.

Q: By any chance does the data plate contain the letter "P" in the ACCY codes? I'm told for '59 it was used to indicate "plain glass" as opposed to EZ Eye (tinted glass).

[TonyZappone #2624]

I just looked yesterday to get the paint number.  It does have a P, and I think an H

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

I just looked yesterday to get the paint number.  It does have a P, and I think an H

Yes H for heater as I'm sure you're aware.

Can you clarify the "build out" cars thing where colors and equipment etc, would be changed? Interested in hearing more.

[TonyZappone #2624]

For example.  In the early 60's  the Impala coupe was one of our best sellers.  Our stock coupes were 283, powerglide, c&c group (two speed wipers, day nite mirror, maybe one other thing) wsw wheelcovers, power steering.  By not loading these cars up, we could be price competitive with other dealers who really wanted to do-dad up their cars.  One day I was standing in the lot, and a carrier pulled up.  It had an Impala coupe,,silver,that they were unloading.  I was immediately aware that it had been changed to an SS, I could see the tinted glass also.  When it was on the ground I found that it had been changed to a 6 cyl. air cond car.  We never stocked air cars in western new York in the sixties.  The factoy changed it to get rid of what they had. Meanwhile, with the 6cyl, a 6 pass. load, and the air on, climbing a hill was tough.  You swallowed hard, and sold it.   I ordered a base Impala convert in 67.  White, blue top, blue interior same standard equipment.  Saw the transport driver unoading oneof those crap metallic lite brown convertibles, (unlike today, we never stocked beige, browns, etc).  The tops came covered with a foil like material.  Not only did the car have the brown paint, it had the ordered blue interior.  When I ripped the top cover back, the car had the blue top also!  This one I called the zone on and said enough is enough.  The car looked like a birthday cake.  They relented, and sent a complete white top assembly from one of the plants, which took some of the sting out. Put it on the showroom floor for a joke, and some one from Orleans count bought it, thinking it to be the prettiest thing they ever saw.  I am sure I can think of more of these, as time goes by..

[TonyZappone #2624]

35 years as you get older, no longer seems such a long time.  Keep in mind, I have owned my Pierce-Arrow for 50 years, since I was 26