Travel Back to 1960 and Admire the Cadillacs of the Day
The 1960 Cadillac portrayed a flamboyant, graceful style, a unified design, and was a symbol of excellence, taste, and prestige. The 1960 models featured smaller fins, redesigned taillights, and also a simplified grille, a rear bumper with less bulk, and a new instrument panel for an overall fresh, youthful design. They were fast too. The 1960 Cadillac models achieved 0-60 mph in only 10.3 seconds.
The new, general features of the 1960 Cadillac included pointed front bumper guards. Engineers eliminated the full-width grille, lowered the tailfins and added oval shaped nacelles, which enclosed the stacked taillights, back-up lights, and mounted directional indicator lights on the front fenders.
Series Sixty-Two
The entry-level Series Sixty-Two hardtop Sedan, hardtop Coupe, and Convertible were priced at $4892, $5080, and $5455. The Sedan was available with four or six window styling at the same price. The Series Sixty-Two had narrow, full-length chrome rub strip extending from behind the front wheel and on to the rear bumper. The Cadillac script was located on the rear grille with one row of jewels, and on the side, beneath the rubbing strip on the front fender. All Sedans featured a pillar-less hardtop.
Sedan de Ville and Coupe de Ville
The four- or six-window Sedan de Ville and Coupe de Ville were priced at $5252 and $5498. Interiors consisted of metallic cloth or Camden cloth with matching leather. The 1960 Series Sixty-Two models featured script on the rear fender, a row of jewels on the rear fender, and also were designed with narrow chrome strips running from the back of the front wheel to the rear bumper.
6200 Series
The 6200 model 1960 Cadillac included narrow, three-quarter-length body side spears and had plain fender skirts. The Cadillac crests and lettering appeared on the short horizontal front fender bars, which mounted behind the headlights. The rear window one-piece wrap-around backlight and flat-top roof were available with the four-window model, and a sloped roof-line and sloped rear window were available with the six-window model. The 6200 model's standard equipment included power steering and power brakes, dual back-up lights, an automatic transmission, dual speed window wipers, window washers, an outside rear view mirror, wheel discs, and an oil filter.
The 6200 Series included a cast iron block V-8 engine with overhead valves, a 390-cubic- inch displacement, 10.5:1 compression ratio, 4.00-inch by 3.875-inch bore and stroke, 325 at 4800 RPM brake horsepower, and a Carter two-barrel model 2814S carburetor. The power-train option included a 345-horsepower Eldorado V-8 engine with three two-barrel carburetors with a $134.40 extra installation fee on other models.
More options and extras
Additional options included electric door locks, air suspension, Series Sixty-Two air conditioning, cruise control, door guards, EZ Eye-glass, Autronic Eye fog lights, a license plate frame, a six–way power seat, Series Sixty-Two automatic heating system, power vent windows, power window regulators, a radio with a speaker in the rear, or a radio with the rear speaker and optional remote control, a remote control trunk lock, four-ply 8.20 by 15 or 6-ply 8.0 by 15 white sidewall tires, and 20-degree or 40-degree anti-freeze. An "A" accessories package included whitewall tires, radio, heater, EZ Eye-glass, air suspension, the Eldorado engine, and cruise control. The "B" package included air conditioning, whitewall tires, radio, heater, EZ Eye-glass, a six-way power seat, power windows, and power vent windows.
Extras for the Convertible included power windows, Two-Way power seats, finned rear drums, a tubular X-frame, and a vacuum-operated automatic release floor control parking brake. The interiors were available with gray, blue or turquoise Cortina cord, or fawn, green, Persian Sand, or Black Caspian cloth with bolsters of Florentine vinyl. The Convertibles featured Florentine leather with single or two-tone upholstery combinations, or were available with combinations of monochromatic Cardiff leather.
Fleetwood Sixty Special
The 1960 Fleetwood Sixty Special model sold for $6233, and had a 130-inch wheelbase with a large faux air scoop extending from the rear door and continuing on close to the rear bumper and the chrome strip outline on to the front of the vehicle. The Fleetwood Sixty Special featured extensive chrome on the fin taillight pods with a sporty hubcap design. Fleetwood appeared in block letters on the lower front fenders, and three rows of jewels were located on the rear grille.
The Fleetwood featured elegant bullet taillights, fins designed one inch lower than previous models, chrome molding extending from behind the front wheel, along the bottom edge and then to the end of the taillight. Nine small vertical louvers were located on the extreme rear fenders, and it also included a new small cloisonné Fleetwood insignia. A leather-grained fabric top matched the 1960 Cadillac body color, and a combination of leather and wool broadcloth adorned the interior.
Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limo and Sedan
The large Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine and Sedan models accommodated nine passengers and sold for $9533 and $9748. They had a 149.8-inch wheelbase and were 244.8 inches in overall length. These models included separate heating and air conditioning for the front and rear, had power door locks, and auxiliary rear seats. Basic black, fawn or gray leather upholstery was used in the Chauffeur's compartment, complementing the rear compartment upholstery. The rear passenger compartment area was available in fawn or gray Bedford cords, and with wool broadcloths. Lights at the bottom of the doors illuminated the ground while the doors were opened. A smaller back window and square window treatment lines offered privacy.
Other 1960 Cadillac models included the Eldorado, the Biarritz, the Seville Coupe, the Eldorado Brougham, the Eldorado Brougham Sub-series 6400 and 6900, the Seville two-door hardtop Biarritz Convertible Coupe, the 60-64H Seville hardtop Coupe, the 60-64E Biarritz Convertible, and the 60-69P Brougham, the Sixty Special Fleetwood Sedan, the Series 6700 Fleetwood Seventy-Five limousine and sedan, the 60-67R, the 60-67S, and the 60-68 commercial models. The commercial model was used for funeral and ambulance vehicles. There was also a Series 6700 Fleetwood Seventy-Five model.
Enthusiasts today still enjoy viewing, driving, and restoring these amazing Cadillacs from the past.
