A 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible that spent roughly five decades sealed inside a Virginia garage has resurfaced after nearly being lost forever. The car, found on an old estate in Richmond, was reportedly destined for the crusher until a junk removal contractor recognized its value and bought it for $500 during a property cleanout.
The convertible had been parked since the early 1970s and still carried signs of its former owner, believed to have been a Philip Morris executive. Despite its long dormancy, the car retained unusually straight body panels and much of its original equipment. Layers of dust covered the paint, but the underlying structure appeared intact, a testament to the robust construction Cadillac employed during the era.
The 1959 model year marked Cadillac’s boldest design statement, defined by sweeping chrome, dramatic fins, and a visual language that helped turn the Series 62 into one of the decade’s most iconic luxury cars. Beneath the hood, the rescued convertible features Cadillac’s 390-cubic-inch V8 paired with a four-barrel Rochester carburetor. Factory output stood at 325 horsepower and 435 pound-feet of torque, routed through a four-speed Hydra-Matic transmission. Period testing placed the car’s zero-to-60 time at 10.5 seconds, with a top speed of 121 mph.
The car was also equipped with advanced features for the period, including power windows, a power seat, a power top and the Autronic Eye, a photo-sensor that automatically dimmed headlights. These systems reportedly still function after sitting idle for half a century.
Bringing the Cadillac back to operating condition required a full brake system overhaul and an alternator upgrade, but the car’s massive components—such as its 1,000-pound front bumper—showed surprising resilience.
With only 11,130 Series 62 Convertibles built for 1959, surviving examples command strong interest. Similar cars, even in unrestored but running condition, have recently sold for more than $110,000. For the buyer who spent $500 to save it, the once-forgotten Cadillac has become an extraordinary return on a near-miss rescue.
