A one-of-a-kind collaboration between Detroit engineering and Italian design has resurfaced in remarkable condition after a years-long restoration driven by persistence, sentiment and a nudge from the owner’s wife. The car, a 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe re-bodied by Carrozzeria Ghia, is one of only two ever constructed. Its revival has caught the attention of enthusiasts worldwide — including Jay Leno, who rarely finds himself impressed by unfamiliar machinery.
The story begins in the early 1950s, when American automakers clung to large, conservative styling while Italian coachbuilders pursued sleek new forms. Under Luigi Segre, Ghia became a secret styling powerhouse for Chrysler, producing concepts such as the D’Elegance and Firearrow series. But while under contract, Segre executed an independent and audacious idea: taking Cadillac’s engineering foundation and reshaping it into an Italian-bodied two-seat grand tourer at a time when Cadillac itself wasn’t building anything similar.
Ghia sourced two Cadillac Series 62 convertible chassis to support hand-formed aluminum bodies that were low, streamlined and sculpted far from Detroit’s prevailing design language. Power came from Cadillac’s 331-cubic-inch V8 paired with a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, maintaining reliability beneath a distinctly European exterior. The cars featured unique touches, including a gold anodized grille and restrained bumpers, details that elevated them beyond even Cadillac’s top-tier Eldorado. Their price reflected that exclusivity; one was offered in 1955 for roughly $10,000, placing it among the costliest American-related cars of its time.
One example eventually surfaced in the Imperial Palace Collection in Las Vegas. There, Lee Carr discovered it decades later, worn and largely nonfunctional after years as a display piece. Encouraged by his wife, he pursued the car at auction and committed to a seven-year restoration that involved rebuilding its electrical system, fabricating components from historic photos and transforming a showpiece into a roadworthy machine.
While Carr notes that its dynamics remain true to a 1950s Cadillac rather than a sports car, the coupe now runs smoothly and carries the visual drama Ghia intended. Its history includes rumors of Hollywood ownership and years on the European show circuit, deepening the mystique that surrounds both surviving examples.
Today, the restored coupe stands as a rare fusion of American confidence and Italian craftsmanship, a piece of automotive history that required equal parts determination and passion to preserve. Its presence on modern roads is a reminder of a moment when creativity crossed corporate boundaries and produced.
