Big, impressive, comfortable cars have been around from the earliest days of the auto industry, ostensibly designed to carry dignitaries, celebrities, and other notable figures. They were often the finest, most expensive machines money could buy and the very best automakers catered to their clients in a way that few other industries ever could. Among those distinguished names, Cadillac must surely rise to the top, offering the unbeatable engineering and financial might of General Motors to create cars that were not only opulent and splendid to look at, but powerful, reliable, and comfortable at a level that few others could match. The Series 75 was long Cadillac’s top-of-the-line, offering a myriad of body styles to suit any occasion or need and doing it with style and performance at every level.

With that in mind, it’s remarkable that this 1947 Cadillac Series 75 7-passenger sedan should be so affordable today. In 1947, it was the second-most-expensive car in the Cadillac lineup and only 890 were built, yet today it probably represents the most high-end sheetmetal you can get for your dollar. It encompasses a bespoke interior, a proven V8 powertrain that was refined on the battlefields of World War II, and simply has presence that few other cars of the period could match. Having spent the last 25 or so years in the service of a funeral home following a restoration in the 1980s, it remains in very good overall condition and obviously, reliability was paramount, so it’s ready to tour and enjoy immediately. During its tenure with the funeral home, it and its sister, a restored funeral coach, were used occasionally—who would have known there was a demand for vintage cars in funeral processions? Nevertheless, like all the cars in such service, it was expertly maintained, seldom used, and stored under ideal conditions.

The body tag says this Model 7523 was originally Antoinette Blue, a finish so dark it could easily be confused for black, but when it was restored it was formalized and given a coat of Tuxedo Black to match the hearse with which it would share a garage for many years. The car’s early history is unknown, but it’s clear that this was never a rusty car and while the odometer stopped working about five years ago, the owner believes that the mileage shown was authentic at the time and estimates that it probably has 40,000 miles on it today. The condition of the various working components on the car bears this out, and it’s clear that the cosmetic restoration performed in the late-80s was quality work. The black paint shows a few signs of use and wear, and maybe some very light orange peel that’s not unexpected, but the body panels underneath are smooth, flat, and reflect clearly, all signs of good base stock and quality work. All four doors fit with precision and close with that permanent-sounding “WHUMP” that only good, original cars exhibit. There are no signs of previous repairs in the usual areas at the bottoms of the doors or in the trunk pan, and you’ll note that the gaps everywhere are pretty darned good. No, there’s no reason to doubt that this was a low-mileage, well-maintained car all its life.

Some of the chrome has been refinished, probably at the same time the paint was done, but much of it remains original, so it has a very unified look throughout. Nothing is too perfect nor too deteriorated, and details like the streamlined goddess hood ornament are crisply rendered suggesting that it has not been restored. The bumpers and grille are extremely nice and the stainless trim throughout has been shined up to look great against the black paint. The Series 75 was among the last cars to use running boards, but they make for graceful entry and exit and are in good condition. Sadly, the fender skirts were removed decades ago and lost to the sands of time, but I’ve seen reasonably-priced replacements on eBay several times in the past few months, so they are not impossible to find and would be a worthwhile addition to the car.

The interior is as opulent and as spacious as anything else on four wheels following the war. The original upholstery was called tan “Vogue” broadcloth, and the soft fabric that is in the car now is probably a pretty good facsimile. It looks correct and is quite comfortable without the scratchy feeling of wool. The interior was most likely restored at the same time the paint was done and the workmanship is quite good; they clearly made a lot of effort to replicate the original look. Button-tufted seats and door panels have a stylish 1940s appeal and remain in very good condition with no rips, tears, or stains, although it appears that one of the buttons on the driver’s seat back is missing. You’ll note that this car carries both a power front bench seat (which was not available on cars with a division window) and power windows, which have just been serviced at great expense by Hydro-E-Lectric with the pump and hydraulic cylinders being entirely new.

All the wood you see in the car is genuine walnut, not painted steel, and remains in exceptionally good condition throughout. If this were my car, I’d spend an afternoon rubbing the trim with some linseed oil to brighten them up and give them a proper soft shine so they’d truly glow. The dash was restored more recently and uses correct woodgraining patterns to replicate the original look. The gauges are probably original and in good order save for the temperature gauge, which has been supplanted by a larger, more legible modern dial under the dash (probably critical for low-speed funeral processions). The steering wheel has surely been re-cast and it appears that everything is fully functional save for the radio and the clock, which is typical. Rear seat accommodations are incredibly spacious, with two jump seats folding out of the back of the front seat. Special compartments and wonderful little panels with power window switches, ashtrays, and cigarette lighters give it an appropriate upscale feel. Only the assist straps hanging from the ceiling show their age, but that would be an easy and inexpensive fix if you’re inclined and it’s hardly noticeable. The well-appointed and surprisingly big trunk is finished in matching tan carpets and includes a full-sized spare that’s never been used. If there’s a better car for long-distance vintage touring, I can’t imagine what it would be.

Despite the 75’s size, Cadillac’s 346 cubic inch flathead V8 never seems to work very hard to move it. Under the long, pointed hood you’ll find a largely original powerplant which has probably never been opened. Thanks to a lifetime of expert maintenance and care, it runs superbly, starting easily with a fresh battery and idling so smoothly that you can’t feel it from inside the car. There might be a very minor exhaust leak that vanishes when the manifolds get up to temperature, but otherwise it is quite robust and healthy. All the factory equipment is intact and while the engine bay isn’t detailed for show, it has nothing to hide, either. Thanks to duty in Sherman tanks in WWII, the V8/Hydra-Matic combination is virtually bulletproof and pulls the big sedan around with genuine authority. The muffler is recent and has a pleasant V8 burble that’s muted at speed and this car is not a leaker, although the usual areas are moist as you’d expect. Judging by the more recent paint on the case, we believe the Hydra-Matic automatic transmission was rebuilt recently and as a result it shifts properly with a wonderful precise, firm feel, and with 3.77 gears in back it’s happy to cruise at 60 MPH without complaint and in almost eerie silence. An examination of the undercarriage shows undercoated original floors that have been protected most of their lives and there are no visible patches or trouble areas that would suggest previous issues. It’s not detailed for show, but for driving duty it’s ideal. It has also been fitted with new 16-inch wide whitewall radials from Diamondback Classic that look great and handle superbly.

Service receipts for the past 25 years are included with the car.

This is perhaps the most affordable CCCA Full Classic available anywhere, and given its size, accommodations, and highly competent mechanicals, it is an outstanding tour vehicle. It’s impressive, attractive, and very nicely preserved, and with all the recent service work, it’s ready to roll immediately. Perfect versions of this car have sold recently at auction for more than twice the asking price, but I think it would be a shame to restore this car. Instead, enjoy it as intended and don’t let anyone know how affordable this much first-class elegance really is.