Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: 61Caddy9090 on January 29, 2023, 04:33:59 PM

Title: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: 61Caddy9090 on January 29, 2023, 04:33:59 PM
I have a 61 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible and I need help in determining what the "Special Order" SO 11847 means on my VIN plate.  I know what the "ACC" EHKY stand for but I can not find any reference to what the Special Order items are.

I'm also curious as to what the "04D" stands for just above the STYLE on the plate.

Any help would be appreciated.  Thank you.3CD5F8D8-7542-45A2-BD48-2C9A410302D0.jpeg
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: Clewisiii on January 29, 2023, 04:44:44 PM
Build date. 04 is fourth month D is fourth week.
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: David Greenburg on January 29, 2023, 05:58:53 PM
Is your interior a non-standard color or pattern?
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on January 29, 2023, 07:14:49 PM
Could be something as minor as, for example, black steering wheel grips in an interior combination that called for an all white steering wheel. Any deviation from factory spec would trigger an SO.
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: billyoung on January 29, 2023, 11:02:04 PM
Your 1961 Series 62 Convertible was assembled the 4th week of April 1961. It is the 11,847th '61 Series 62 convertible body built of a total of 15,500 for the year. it was born with a white conv. top and the Accessories stated are EZ Eye tinted glass, Heater, Air Conditioner and Six Way Seat. So it was a Basic Group B car. I wish I could see the rest of the aluminum body plate as I cannot see the Paint color number. Notice the rusty staples along the bottom of the plate. That originally held a paper that stated what the Special Order consisted of. If you can post the rest of the plate and any photos of the interior maybe I can help. I want to see the rest of that B O on the plate ?
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: 61Caddy9090 on January 30, 2023, 01:23:26 PM
Hi Bill,

The only option that I can see in the car other than the "B" option group is White Ostrich Leather on the front seats, rear seats and door panels.  Everything else seems stock.  IMG_8234.jpeg I know that the paint color was Dresden Blue.  It was painted red some time ago.
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on January 30, 2023, 02:24:03 PM
Quote from: 61Caddy9090 on January 30, 2023, 01:23:26 PMHi Bill,

The only option that I can see in the car other than the "B" option group is White Ostrich Leather on the front seats, rear seats and door panels.  Everything else seems stock. I know that the paint color was Dresden Blue.  It was painted red some time ago.

Are all leather surfaces completely white with no contrasting sections? 
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: jagbuxx #12944 on January 30, 2023, 06:58:53 PM
A4BBA604-6A27-4B37-B768-3445579D67F0.jpeg My '61 Coupe deVille is also an SO car. The interior was ordered in blue leather. Leather was not an RPO until 1962...
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: David Greenburg on January 30, 2023, 08:46:35 PM
Perhaps its the Ostrich leather? Wasn't that a '61 Biarritz choice? 
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on January 31, 2023, 07:01:39 AM
If the interior is all white leather and if the upholstery is still original, that would have been the SO since solid white wasn't a regular production interior combination on a 1961 Series 62 convertible. (Still awaiting a reply on the interior).

An image might help shed some light as the data plate is of little use in determining what the special order was.   
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: quadfins on February 01, 2023, 03:54:35 PM
As Dave says, it would be the Ostrich leather.

Regular series 62 leather was Florentine. Ostrich was for Eldorados.
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: Mike Baillargeon #15848 on February 01, 2023, 05:37:12 PM
I see where the staples are on the metal body ID tag....

does that tag get ripped off after the SO items have been installed at the factory/dealer?....

or does it fall off after decades of use?

I would think that tag would have all the SO info on it....

Mike

Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on February 01, 2023, 05:45:06 PM
I've seen one mid-50s Cadillac where the tag was still attached but it wasn't legible. The tags were paper and were unprotected from the elements so they rarely survived. 
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: billyoung on February 01, 2023, 10:21:15 PM
It appears your car was painted Dresden Blue and the Special Order on the interior was the Eldorado Ostrich Grain leather rather than the Florentine leather that was standard.
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: 61Caddy9090 on February 02, 2023, 12:49:57 PM
IMG_9384.jpegIMG_8305.jpegIMG_8109.jpeg   
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: 61Caddy9090 on February 02, 2023, 12:50:47 PM
Entire interior is white leather
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: Caddyholic on February 02, 2023, 03:09:00 PM
ITS HARD TO TELL FROM THE PICTURE IF IT IS OSTRICH LEATHER. LOOKS LIKE DEVILLE PATTERN.
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on February 02, 2023, 03:14:56 PM
Correct, upholstery is in Series 62 convertible pattern. Supposedly this is ostrich grain (inserts).

(https://cdn1.mecum.com/auctions/sc0518/sc0518-327057/images/05-1522698519262@2x.jpg?1524078974000)
Title: Re: 1961 Cadillac “Special Order” HELP
Post by: 35-709 on February 02, 2023, 07:44:10 PM
Cool!  You have a picture of the original owner in your car!