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Series 62 Saoutchik Cabriolet
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  Cadillac Series 62 Saoutchik Cabriolet      

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Country of origin:United States
Produced in:1948
Numbers built:2
Designed by:Saoutchik
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:November 13, 2017
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Click here to download printer friendly versionRestarting his business after the War, Jacques Saoutchik set his sights on the lucrative American market, where he reckoned the demand would be much stronger for his luxurious custom creations than in war-torn Europe. His extravagant designs will have surely already appealed to the Americans but just to make sure, he ordered two examples of the range-topping Cadillac Series 62 as rolling chassis. These were the only two Series 62s of the 1948 model year that were delivered clothed without one of the standard body options.

Both Cadillac chassis were clothed with lavish Cabriolet bodies that were unmistakably crafted by Saoutchik. The two creations differed only in detail and featured prominent, scalloped fenders with large chrome accents. The lines front fenders were not interrupted by the headlights, which were instead mounted on either side of the tall grille. A thoroughly modern design, Saoutchik's Cabriolets did not sport running boards. The first example produced was shown at the 1949 Paris Auto Salon and to make absolutely sure it was not missed, it was finished in a two-tone purple.

Underneath the exquisite Saoutchik styled and built body, the pair featured a standard Cadillac Series 62 chassis. This meant that despite their exotic appearance, that they could indeed be serviced by any local General Motors dealership. Like most cars of the day, the Series 62 was built around a steel ladder frame with double wishbones at the front and a live rear axle. The Cadillac was powered by '346' V8, which, fitted with a two-barrel carburettor, produced around 150 bhp. This power was fed to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic gearbox.

Following the Paris Auto Salon debut, both cars were indeed sold to the United States but Saoutchik received no new commissions for custom coach-work on American chassis. The allure of even more exotic French underpinnings from the likes Talbot Lago of Delahaye was perhaps too large. The customer that had commissioned the second Cadillac Series 62, for example, also acquired a Talbot Lago from Saoutchik. Owned by many great American collectors, the pair of Saoutchik Cadillacs remain highly sought after today.

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  Article Image gallery (21) Chassis (2) Specifications