Original 1949 Cadillac Coupe De Ville Prototype To Be Shown In March

Concept cars and prototypes have always been a big deal. These cars show the way of the future and they often feature styling cues that will make their way to models in the coming years. The technology offered on some may be quirky, but is often an indicator of some variation to come as well. Often these cars too are powered by exotic, or future engine platforms, which these dream cars serve as the test bed for.

At GM’s 1949 Waldorf Astoria Transportation Unlimited, Cadillac debuted a car that was nothing like what the “Standard of the World” was then producing. With the reins of wartime manufacturing off, GM was once again showing the way of the future, this car was the first ever to wear the moniker Coupe de Ville.

The car featured a slew of firsts for GM. The first curved one piece front windshield. The first overhead valve engine, a 331 cubic inch V-8. The car’s wheelbase was seven inches longer than any other coupe that Cadillac produced at the time. Inside there was luxurious leather upholstery, a two way radio/telephone, a lipstick holder, perfume atomizer, and a rear seat secretary’s kit. The entire car cost $30,000 to build in 1949, an astonishing amount of money for the time, roughly equivalent to $288,000 of today’s dollars.

Unlike many of the concepts of today, which due to environmental and safety regulations, are eventually either destroyed, or must be relegated to show only duty after their testing phase never to see the open road again, this car was built road worthy. In 1953, GM’s then CEO, Charlie Wilson was leaving the company to serve as the Secretary of Defense, for president Eisenhower. As a parting gift, the company gave Wilson the Coupe de Ville prototype car, which he then used for his daily driver.

The car, which has not been shown publicly in 64 years, and has since been restored. It will be shown at the Amelia Island Concours de Elegance, this March 8th through the 10th. We’ll definitely be looking forward to new photos of this, and many of the other beautiful cars from the event.