1961 Convertible Special Trim Code - SO12675

[Eldo1953]

I have a '61 Convertible (61-6267) with a trim code of SO12675. Anyone know why my trim code is so strange? And is there any way to tell what the original interior is? I have the Optional Specifications Manual for the '61 but it does not give any details on this kind of trim code.

- Joe

[jagbuxx #12944]

Please post a photo of your interior. We may be able to determine what the deviation from standard was. The SO # matches your body number which is normal.
My ‘61 Coupe was an SO Car also, full leather interior, which was not a normal production option for 1961. It also has a number that matches my body number...

[Eldo1953]

The interior has since been changed and I do not have the original interior. Is there any way to tell what the original might have been even without a witness?

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

This side of original documentation it's impossible to know what the special order was.

[Cadillac Fleetwood]

The two staples on Joe's body plate, and the three staples on Frank's, once held a piece of IBM cardstock which described the special order components/colors/materials. Being paper, they did not last very long.
Charles Fares

[Eldo1953]

Is the SO interior limited to only 61 interior styles and fabrics? What are the limitations of an SO interior?

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Is the SO interior limited to only 61 interior styles and fabrics? What are the limitations of an SO interior?

SO can be any year. The only limitation was one's imagination.

[D.Smith]

Without the paper that was stapled to that tag, or the original sales order with the dealers remarks noting the interior deviation we will never know.     The factory did not keep records of special order details.

We can only speculate what it was.    Leather was standard in convertibles. And bucket seats were a regular production option in convertibles, so we can rule those two things out.

The exterior color is/was Fontana rose.  So we can only guess what interior a person ordering the car new would have wanted as a deviation that would look good on that color car.    A Rose interior was not offered in the Series Sixty Two convertibles.    But it was in a Coupe deVille.    So my guess is that the S.O. was for rose leather that was available as a special request in a Coupe deVille was what was special ordered in your car.   Just a guess.  But I can't think of any other deviations that were not already listed as available choices.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Would the build sheet specify the special order interior?

All the build sheet would indicate is the presence of special order item(s); ie: paint and/or trim. Will not identify what the changes were. The same information is listed on the body plate already so there would be nothing further to be learned from the build sheet however there may be some rare exceptions.

[D.Smith]

The interior has since been changed and I do not have the original interior. Is there any way to tell what the original might have been even without a witness?

Joe,  I think your only hope of finding out is to ask the previous owner what it had, or if they don't know, ask if they know the previous owner and try asking them.   Someone must know.    Aside from that, the only other thing I can think of is to look thru the interior , under panel edges, under trim etc where you might find remnants of the original material. 

[Clewisiii]

Or take this as an opportunity and make the interior in any combination of original interior materials you want.  It was SO there is no one who can tell you it was not correct.

[jagbuxx #12944]

I think D.Smith has the most likely answer, ordered with Rose leather which would have been code 49L on the dealer order card...

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

The interior could have been entirely regular production except something as minor as steering wheel grips were ordered in color other than they would have been for that interior code, it becomes SO.

Could also have been white leather with rose colored upper door panels, dash and carpet with white lower dash and door armrests, white steering wheel rim with rose grips.

As I said, impossible to know - all is speculation.