Sometimes the measure of a great custom is the subtlety of the mods, making them almost impossible to see without a stock car next to it. But sometimes, simply being outrageous is a better choice, and that’s certainly the case with this stunning 1950 Cadillac Series 62. Starting with a stock Coupe DeVille, this car has been sectioned, channeled, shaved, frenched, pancacked, shortened, smoothed, and tweaked into the one-of-a-kind piece of art you see now. It is entirely rendered in steel, no cheating using fiberglass, and remains completely usable as a car thanks to its original Cadillac driveline (not some common Chevy crate motor). It was obviously a professional build in the traditional mold, but it has not been shown or awarded, making it ready to compete or enjoy at almost any level.

It started out as a coupe but today, this Cadillac is a handsome faux roadster that’s still 100% Cadillac but not quite. That’s all original sheetmetal on the car, but five inches were taken out of the wheelbase, eliminating the back seat and giving it much tidier proportions. All the sectioning came out of the doors, so they were modified to fit in the smaller openings, while the original quarter panels remain untouched (and nearly seven feet long!). The front fenders were sectioned and smoothed, with the headlight frenched into position, but again, you can’t quite see where the changes are because it still looks 100% like a Cadillac. Same goes for the hood, which was pie-cut to sit lower, the trim was shaved, and it sits tight on a simplified Cadillac grille. In back, the deck lid (and in fact the entire trunk) was shortened and trimmed to allow the continental kit to sit entirely within the bodywork rather than hang off the back like an afterthought. It was all carefully metal-finished and covered in custom candy blue paint that’s a special mix just for this car, and our photos just don’t do it justice—you really need to see this car in the sunlight. A few subtle pinstripes highlight the important stuff, but with a shape this dramatic, there’s just no reason to over-dress it. The white top appears to be a Carson-style lift-off unit, but it’s fixed in place and gives the car a low, sleek look that’s very traditional. From any angle, this car just looks right.

The stock bumpers were sectioned, trimmed, smoothed, and filled, then tucked in tight to the bodywork, the windshield was chopped, and you will note that even the stainless trim along the tops of the doors continues onto the rear deck, pieces that were hand-made from scratch but are indistinguishable from OEM. The iconic taillights are also completely stock, too. The rear bumper features twin cut-outs for a pair of tailpipes, but they’re just for show, as the car uses the Cadillac’s original single exhaust system tucked out of sight (although these could easily be hooked up to a custom dual exhaust system if that’s your desire). It is also worth mentioning that the custom chopped windshield is plexiglass, so be aware of that while you enjoy the car (although it has zero effect on how it runs, drives, or feels).

The interior is done the way customs have traditionally been dressed: white tuck-and-roll vinyl with brilliant blue accents. The original bench seat was completely remade to give it a clean, sculpted look that’s still comfortable enough to drive like a real car. Plush blue carpets match the bodywork quite well, and they thoughtfully added seat belts for the road. The original Cadillac dashboard was painted to match the exterior and the steering wheel was restored and painted white to tie it all together. Factory gauges monitor the basics, so a set of auxiliary dials were installed under the dash in the usual location. There’s also a built-in back-up camera fitted to the original radio grille, a good idea given the low-cut top. Everything is beautifully and expertly trimmed, and there’s even a bit of extra storage space behind the seat. You also get a big, fully finished trunk that matches the rest of the interior and includes a neat little light fixture with aimable spots. Even the underside of the trunk lid was dressed in white.

Customs were never about tire-shredding power, but with the original 331 cubic inch Cadillac V8 under the hood, this car is no slouch. And we have to say, seeing that big blue engine with traditional Cadillac Blue paint and those stamped valve covers is a wonderful change from the ho-hum small block Chevys that everyone else uses. It’s fully rebuilt and runs great, and as the first truly modern engine, it still feels quite contemporary in use. There’s a factory carburetor up top, an original fuel pump, and even a 12-volt generator to make it look period-correct. The big heater plenum was finished to the same high standards as the rest of the bodywork, and original style wiring makes it look period-correct. Even the original vacuum wiper motor is still in place, although there are no wipers. It starts easily, idles with a nice V8 burble from out back, and there’s plenty of torque to move this lead sled without much effort. This engine works beautifully in this car and makes a real statement when you open the hood. Why be ordinary?

The chassis is still very much Cadillac, meaning there’s still a frame strong enough to be part of a suspension bridge somewhere. GM’s bulletproof Hydra-Matic 4-speed automatic transmission has no problems with the Cadillac’s power or weight, and the factory rear end is still hanging on modified leaf springs in back. Brakes are the original drums, and before you go squealing about the dangers of drum brakes, take a look at what’s stopping that dump truck next to you at a red light. The car works just fine, drives great, and makes a statement. It cruises at 65 MPH without any apparent effort and cruises through traffic like a shark. As if some aftermarket bolt-on stuff could work this well. It does have a modern dual reservoir master cylinder with power assist, plus and electric fuel pump and a fresh exhaust system, so it’s ready to drive. A new gas tank, fresh tube shocks, and beautiful 235/75/15 Diamondback wide whitewall radials round out the list of plusses this car offers.

This cool Cadillac also comes with a full photo album of the build and you can see just how extraordinary the workmanship really is. All steel, hand formed, beautifully finished. It also comes with a pair of side mirrors that slip into the vent window frames for driving on the street—they aren’t exactly pretty but they do make it a lot safer to prowl around.

I can’t imagine the amount of time it required to build this car, and the finish quality is the equal of anything you’d get in Hollywood circa 1955. The fact that this custom is 100% functional as a car makes it all the more remarkable, because it drives beautifully. No excuses, no trailer required, just a very cool custom that’s ready to cruise. Call today!