The original Cadillac Series 60 was produced from 1936-38, but the model was maintained as the Series 60 Special from 1939 to 1976, and then again from 1987-93. The eighth generation of Cadillac to bear the name 60 Special was built from 1961 to 1964 on the full size rear-wheel-drive C Platform. The car was popularly known as a Fleetwood.

The Fleetwood Body Company ofFleetwood, Pennsylvania, was founded by Harry Urich in the nineteenth century.It began as a small community of craftsmen founded by Henry Fleetwood, Esq. ofPenwortham, nearLancaster, England(the Fleetwood family flourished inEnglandin the 17th and 18th centuries).The rich traditions of 300 years of coach-building that the Fleetwood Body Company applied to its work on cars secured for it a high reputation in automobile circles worldwide by the 1920s.Coachwork was built by Fleetwood for a variety of luxury makes through 1924. However, after the Fisher Body Corporation purchased the Fleetwood Body Company in 1925, Fleetwood bodies were reserved exclusively for Cadillac.By 1929 GM had purchased the remaining stock holdings of the Fisher Body Corporation and thus became sole owner of both the Fisher and Fleetwood companies.

With the exception of the Eldorado Biarritz convertible, the Fleetwood 60 Special was Cadillac’s most expensive passenger car. The prices of the Series 6700 were higher, but those were extended-length limousines, hearses, and ambulances. The Fleetwood 60 Special was available only as a four-door hardtop, with a long list of standard features including power seats, power windows, power steering, power brakes, automatic transmission, dual backup lights, windshield washer, two-speed wipers, and a remote control trunk lock. Available options included air conditioning.

Engine power was provided by Cadillac’s 390-cid V-8 with a single Rochester four-barrel carburetor, which offered 325 horsepower. From 1961-63, the 60 Special used GM’s trusty Hydramatic automatic transmission.

Styling changed substantially over the years, with 1961 models sporting the sharp tail fins, popular since the late 1950s, but in 1962 these were toned down and the fins were almost gone by the end of 1964. In 1961, the grille was creased across the midline and sloped back towards both the hood and chrome bumper. For 1962, the crease was vertical, with the grille sides sloping towards the headlights. A strong horizontal center bar divided the grille in 1963-64, and the lower portion of the grille swooped over the fog lights.

Cadillac made about 14,000 per year from 1962 to 1964.