(Last updated Sunday, 4 September 05)

1950 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan

Bob & Jodi Hedderick

(click on thumbnail for larger image)

This automobile is featured in the May 2003 issue of "Caddy Corner".  Below, is the feature article...

In 1995, as I was planning for my retirement, I began  looking for a collector/antique car to restore and enjoy. After looking at several different makes and vintages my daughter and son-in-law saw a 1950 Cadillac that seemed in decent shape. The seller stated that he didn’t do any mechanical work on the car, but did repaint it close to the original colors. He also indicated that he bought the car from the owner of a Go-Go bar where it sat for about one year. He also understood that the car was driven across the country from Oregon. The odometer indicated that the car had gone 109,000 miles.

At this point I should add that I have limited knowledge and skills (enough to be dangerous) necessary for   restoring anything!! I purchased the car after crawling around looking at the condition of the body and frame as well as driving it. I also had input from my son-in-law that this was a solid car with no obvious major mechanical problems.

Once I had the car at home I learned several things that increased my interest in completing an accurate restoration. First, I determined that the car had matched serial numbers on the engine and the frame. I sent for the factory build sheets, specifications and data book.  My car was shipped to Portland, Oregon and was priced at $2905.84.  The options and colors as shipped from the factory matched the car closely. Papers I found in the glove box indicated the car was sold by Sunset Motors in The Dallas, Oregon to an individual in the same city. The purchasers name and address was shown on the Owners Identification Card in the engine compartment as well as on the folder from Sunset Motors in the glove box. I affectionately named the car “Money Pit” and the more I learned, the greater became my desire for a first class restoration.

Since the car ran well and didn’t burn oil , I had the engine and engine bay detailed.  I had new wiring harnesses installed to improve the 6 volt electrical system and to avoid the possibility of a fire.  While I was at it, I also had the gas tank cleaned along with the carburetor.  With the engine detailed and  the previous owners paint job, I am proud to report that Money Pit was awarded a first place in its class at the New Jersey Region of the AACA Annual Spring Show of 1998.

By the year 2000, the bug REALLY hit me!! I had been collecting literature on Cadillacs and in particular details on 1950 Cadillacs for the past five years. I decided that since I probably will never have a collection of more than two collector cars, it was time to try to do a first class restoration on “Money Pit”. I must say the research, the hunting for parts, speaking with providers of various services has been a great experience. The opportunity to learn so much more about the hundreds of details about my car has been an even greater experience!  I only wish I could have done more of the work myself (my ultimate goal).

In  2000, the brake system was restored and a compression test done on the engine. Very low compression in one cylinder and low compression in others led me to have the valve train replaced and cylinder heads machined. The generator, starter and voltage regulator were all rebuilt as well.

Even though “Money Pit’s” paint and body looked fairly good a first glance, I was noticing some deterioration appearing mainly surrounding the trim. In 2001 the car was disassembled, stripped to bare metal, all body parts were restored to eliminate imperfections, repainted and reassembled. This took most of the year. My contribution to this was to scrape and paint the frame. At least I could do the grunt work. While this was going on,  I was seeking, repairing and replacing damaged trim, worn emblems, imperfect flat glass so that Money Pit would look showroom new.  Over 120 pieces were re-chromed.  Her worn interior was next to be restored to closely match the fabric and colors she had when she left Sunset Motors in 1950.

I did allow myself two deviations from the original specifications. Her colors do not exactly match the codes on the firewall, but I felt they were so attractive  I kept them. Also, when I purchased the car it appeared that it had mountings for an outside sunvisor  though there was no sunvisor on the car. After a tenacious 4 year search a complete sunvisor was found, where else, --- at Hershey!  Needless to say I had to have it! This too was restored. I feel it adds to the look of Money Pit even though it wasn’t part of the build sheet.

In  2002, Money Pit was entered into its first National AACA  car show. She was awarded a First Junior at the Special Fall Meet in Purchase, NY  I continue to refine this car and also continue to thoroughly enjoy driving and showing Money Pit.

pages have been visited since February 23, 2003.