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 |  | View more photos Coupe Designer: Harley Earl |
By the time the dust settled, Keith Andrews and Blu Plemmons, from Colorado Springs, had driven the Caddy to a remarkable second-place finish, beating all of the factory teams over the final two stages of the race. They completed the 1,907-mile race in less than 21 hours, averaging more than 115 mph over the final 410 miles.
To celebrate the accomplishment, General Motors Performance Division has re-created the car with 'frame-on' restoration of a vintage car discovered in GM's vehicle inventory that matched the original racer's specs...even in color.
Updates were made to enhance vehicle and occupant safety, but the original design intent was maintained. 'Their performance in 1954 was consistent with Cadillac's DNA,' said Kevin Smith, Cadillac's Communications Manager.
The 1954 Cadillac Series 62 LaCarrera finished third in the 1954 La Carrera Panamerica Race. The team was only two minutes and fifty-five seconds behind first place. The 1,908 mile five-day Panamerican road race was across Mexico from Tuxtla to Ciudad Juarez.
Keith Andrews (Pilot) - Died May 15, 1957 in trial runs at Indianapolis Speedway. Keith ran at Indy in 1955 and 1956. Keith placed first in two out of eight legs in the five-day race. Keith also ran the Panam in 1953.
Blu Plemons Copilot - Lives in Denver and raced over 30 years short track using stock and modified cars. He still participates in racing with his grandchildren.
Wilson McCule (Mechanic) - Passed away in June of 2005. He was a mechanic at Raybestone Brake Service of Colorado Springs one of the original crew and helped to obtain the car and pull together the team.
 |  | View more photos Eldorado Sport Convertible Coupe Designer: Harley Earl Chassis Num: 546222206 Engine Num: FW350 |
The name 'Eldorado' was in honor of the mythical City of Gold. When most cars of the era offering equipment as optional, the Eldorado offered it as standard. Included in the list were windows that could be opened or closed with the touch of a button. Power assisted steering and brakes meant this larger vehicle with a 115-inch wheelbase was easy to drive. The radio had a travel-tuner that would stop when a power transmitter was intercepted. The antenna could be raised by the touch of a button. The Autronic-Eye system would automatically dim the headlights when approaching motorists were detected. Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels could be found on all four corners, with the rear quarter panels covered with bright aluminum trim. An optional Sport-Deck tire carrier, commonly known as a continental kit, was offered for those who wanted to travel.
This particular 1954 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held at Meadow Brook. The estimated value was set at $60,000 - $80,000 and offered without reserve. There is a 331 cubic-inch overhead valve V8 engine capable of producing 210 horsepower. There is a hydramatic automatic gearbox and four-wheel power assisted drum brakes. It has an older restoration that has been well maintained and appears in good condition. It is finished in red and fitted with white leather interior in factory correct pattern.
At auction the estimated value proved to be accurate as the car was sold for $71,500 including buyers premium.
For 1954 the Cadillac Series 62 was lower, had many changes to the front fascia including an inverted gullwing bumper and tapered bumper guards, and a slightly updated body design. Changes were made to the rear as well, including a redesigned bumper and dual exhaust outlets in keeping with the jet-inspired style of the era. A new, long-wheelbase version was now available and vehicles fitted with the feature were void of rear fender louvers. All Series 62 models had the Eldorado-style wraparound windshield.
The Series 62 was offered in a variety of 2- and 4-door bodystyles, including sedans, coupes, and convertibles. The Eldorado two-door sport coupe was the most expensive, costing $5,730. A total of 2,150 examples were produced in 1954.
The base two-door coupe cost $3840; a total of 40,940 examples of the two-door coupe (all versions excluding the Eldorado) were built in 1954. 34,253 examples of the four-door sedan (all versions) were created.
The Series 62 was offered in a variety of 2- and 4-door bodystyles, including sedans, coupes, and convertibles. The Eldorado two-door sport coupe was the most expensive, costing $5,730. A total of 2,150 examples were produced in 1954.
The base two-door coupe cost $3840; a total of 40,940 examples of the two-door coupe (all versions excluding the Eldorado) were built in 1954. 34,253 examples of the four-door sedan (all versions) were created.
The Harley Earl designed Cadillac Series 62 De Ville was a very large vehicle that featured a large, 6,390 cc (390 cubic inch) V-8 engine. The back had large fins that did little for performance and handling but was all about the style of the vehicle. The design of the vehicle was inspired by the space program and the era of jet engines. The large, 4400 lb car was fitted with drum brakes. These often wore out quickly. If a U-turn needed to be made, the driver would need a parking lot. The turning radius was 24 feet.
The car was a luxury vehicle that could carry six individuals comfortably. The car was a convertible with the top being raised and lowered automatically. The interior had electrical gauges. The head lights would turn on at dusk and were also capable of switching from high beam to low beam when they sensed oncoming traffic. In total, there were eight lights on the front of the vehicle. The four on the top were the driving lights while the lights mounted on the bumper were the parking lamps. To add to the driving comfort, air suspension was used. This aided in providing a very soft ride but there was significant body roll when cornering. With the V8, it was capable of creeping to sixty in 11 seconds. This reinforced the notion that this Cadillac was built for comfort and not for speed. The drivers enjoyed the ride and they looked good cruising along, enjoying the large open road.
The car was a luxury vehicle that could carry six individuals comfortably. The car was a convertible with the top being raised and lowered automatically. The interior had electrical gauges. The head lights would turn on at dusk and were also capable of switching from high beam to low beam when they sensed oncoming traffic. In total, there were eight lights on the front of the vehicle. The four on the top were the driving lights while the lights mounted on the bumper were the parking lamps. To add to the driving comfort, air suspension was used. This aided in providing a very soft ride but there was significant body roll when cornering. With the V8, it was capable of creeping to sixty in 11 seconds. This reinforced the notion that this Cadillac was built for comfort and not for speed. The drivers enjoyed the ride and they looked good cruising along, enjoying the large open road.
| Carrera PanamericanaThe Carrera Panamericana was raced from 1950 through 1954. It was held on open roads in Mexico that ran from a southern Mexican west-coast city towards Texas. The race was formed to celebrate the competition of the Panamerican Highway. It was a multi-staged race across the country that counted towards the World Sportscar Championship. The race saw entrants from factory teams, privateers, and amateurs. On average, only one-third of the entrants were able to finish the race. The race was canceled after the 1955 LeMans fatal disaster, where a car went into the crowd killing over 80 spectators. The fatal accident by Bill Vukovick at Indianapolis secured the decision to no longer run the race. The first cars to run the race had top speeds of around 100 mph. By 1954, the cars were easily running at 170 mph. The vehicles were not adequately designed to protect the drivers at speeds this great. Being run on open roads meant that many areas of the course could not be managed; live stock, people, obstacles, and a number of other scenarios could make their ways into the road and cause disaster. The decision to cancel the race was sad, but necessary. |
1954 Cadillac Series 62 |
|
| Year | 1954 |
| Make | Cadillac |
| Model | Series 62 |
| Body Style | Sedan |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Production Years for Series | 1954 - 1958 |
| Body Designer | Harley Earl |
| Price | $3,931.00 |
| Weight | 4328 lbs | 1963.2 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Chassis Number | 546222206 |
| Engine Number | FW350 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | V |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Engine | Dual Exhaust System |
| Hydraulic valve lifters | |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 331.00 CU IN. | 5425.1 cc. | 5.4 L. |
| Valves | 16 valves. 2 valves per cylinder. |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Horsepower | 230.00 BHP (169.3 KW) @ 4400.00 RPM |
| Torque | 330.00 Ft-Lbs (447.5 NM) @ 2700.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 18.8 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 42.6 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 8.25:1 |
| Main Bearings | 5 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| 1 4-barrel carburetor | |
| Block | Cast-iron |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Transmission | Hydra-Matic |
| Final Drive | 3.07:1 |
| Optional Transmission | |
| Gears | 4 |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Final Drive | 2.94 |
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2 pictures of a '49 included by mistake?
Replies: 1 Thursday, May 31, 2007 |
| 1954 Cadillac models |
| Series 75 Imperial |
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