1959 Cadillac Series 6700 Fleetwood 75

The 1959 Cadillac model lineup included the Series 6200, the DeVille, the Eldorado and Brougham, and the Series Sixty Special Fleetwood, all resting on a 130-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 225 inches. Above them, in all aspects, was the Series 75 Fleetwood offered as a sedan or Imperial limousine, both with seating for nine passengers, with a wheelbase of 149.75-inches and a length of 244.8-inches (the commercial wheelbase measured 156-inches). Pricing on the 1959 Cadillacs ranged from $5,080 to $7,400 (not including the Italian-bodied Brougham Hardtop) while the Series 75 Fleetwood began at $9,530. The Imperial Limousine body style had a moveable glass division and auxiliary jump seats.

During the 1950s, styling on the Series 75 Fleetwood was approximately every two years, and the 1959 models came with all-new Bill Mitchell-penned styling that would carry through to 1960. In keeping with the extravagant and excessive styling of the era and the ultimate expression of Harley Earl's jet-plane-inspired designs, the Series 75 received a large tailfin, new jewel-like grille patterns with similar deck-lid beauty panels, and twin bullet taillamps. Fleetwood lettering was placed on the rear decklid trim strip and single-side trim moldings extended from the front wheel housing to the rear of the car.

Power was from a 390 cubic-inch V8 with overhead valves, 10.5:1 compression, three Rochester two-barrel carburetors, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and delivering 345 horsepower at 4800 RPM. It was backed by a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and power brakes provided the stopping power. Standard equipment included dual backup lamps, windshield washers, two-speed wipers, wheel discs, power steering, dual outside rearview mirror, oil filter, power vent windows, and a vanity mirror.

Production remained limited with 710 examples of the sedan and 690 of the Imperial sedan. An additional 2,102 examples were supplied as chassis to be bodied for various commercial purposes including ambulances, hearses, and limousines.

The following all Cadillacs including the Series 75 received more subtle and refined styling, with the Series 75 being fitted with a full-width grille, less chrome trim, lower tailfins with oval-shaped nacelles encasing stacked taillights and backup lamps, devoid of the pointed front bumper guards, and front fender-mounted directional indicator lamps. Prices remained unchanged and production was also similar, with a total of 3,710 examples built (an increase of 208 units).

Fleetwood
The name Fleetwood was in reference to The Fleetwood Metal Body Company founded in 1909 in Pennsylvania which quickly earned a reputation for producing top-tier bodies on the upmarket chassis of the day. Their work was used by royalty, American presidents, dignitaries, and screen stars alike. The business was acquired by Fisher Body in 1925 and thereby subsumed into General Motors combine in 1929. For many years Fleetwood continued to manufacture bespoke bodies, in particular for Cadillac, with the name eventually being adopted for the high-end versions of that company's regular model range.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021