The Sixty Special name has been used at Cadillac to denote a special model since the 1938 Bill Mitchell-designed Series 60 derivative. Though the Series 60 was replaced by the Series 61 in 1941, the Series Sixty name continued for decades.
[] 1938
Series 60 Special
Production: 1938–1940
Engine:
346 in³ Monobloc V8
Wheelbase: 127 in
Related: Cadillac Series 60
A special version of the Series 60, named the Sixty Special, was produced from 1938 through 1941. It was an upscale Series 60 with a low ride height. New features included an integrated trunk, a lack of side running boards, and four front-hinged doors. It rode on an extra-long 127 in wheelbase. This model continued through 1941, and though a 1942 model was planned it was never produced. Each year marked another Mitchell update to the look, and each is highly prized.
[] 1941-1942
Sixty Special Fleetwood
Production: 1941–1942
Engine: 346 in³ Monobloc V8
Wheelbase: 127 in
133 in ('42)
Many consider the 1941 Sixty Special Fleetwood to be the best Cadillac design ever. It used the 126 in wheelbase and was powered by the same 346 in³ Cadillac V8 as the rest of the line.
The wheelbase was stretched to 133 in for the short 1942 model year. This time, the special was less special, with just exterior chrome accents to differentiate it. Just 1,875 were sold that year.
[] 1946-1958
The Sixty Special Fleetwood returned after the war in 1946. This time, it was similar to the C-body Series 62, though with a 2 in stretch to the cabin and doors. More chrome (on the C-pillar this time) denoted the special model.
The Sixty Special Fleetwood continued in the line through the 1950s as a stretched version of the 62. It got the new Cadillac OHV V8 in 1949. The wheelbase was dropped to 130 in for 1951 and brought back up to 133 in for 1954.
[] 1959-1960
Sixty Special Fleetwood
Production: 1959–1960
Engine: 390 in³ OHV V8
Related: Cadillac DeVille
For 1959 and 1960, the Sixty Special shared the wheelbase with all rest sedans. This was the last year that the Sixty Special badge appeared on the vehicle, from then on they were Fleetwoods.
[] 1961
In 1961, the Sixty Special name was retired as a model. Though the Cadillac catalog called the Fleetwood sedan the Fleetwood Sixty Special, there was no badge to reflect this.
[] Sixty Special
Fleetwood Sixty-Special
Production: 1965–1971
Engine: 429 in³ OHV V8
472 in³ OHV V8
The Sixty Special name returned as an independent model from 1965 until 1971. During this time, the Fleetwood name was used on base model cars and the Fleetwood Brougham name on top of the line models.
Sixty Special again became a trim line of the Fleetwood line in 1977.
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