1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham

The Fleetwood Sixty Special offered the highest level of American luxury in a production sedan for 1976, and with prices of nearly $11,000, they were the epitome of opulence, comfort, and style. Aside from the Fleetwood Seventy-Five, the Fleetwood Sixty Brough had the longest wheelbase within the Cadillac lineup, measuring 133 inches and an overall length of 233.7 inches. It was nearly 30 inches longer than the Seville and three inches longer than the Calais and Deville. The Fleetwood Brougham was the flagship of Cadillac sedans, with minor updates going into its final year, including new 'Fleetwood' plaques and a stand-up wreath-and-crest hood ornament. The styling remained similar to the DeVille, although it wore a rear decklid wreath-and-crest emblem instead of the 'V' and crest used on the DeVille and Calais.

1976 was a monumental and pivotal year for Cadillac, being the final year for the convertible body style on the front-drive Eldorado, the end-of-the-line for the 'entry-level' Calais, and Seventy-Five limousine and nine-passenger sedan. The company continued to offer the Astroroof, introduced in 1975, with a sliding sunshade operated as an electrically-operated sunroof or a transparent closed skylight. Along with traditional sunroof panels, Cadillac buyers had open-air options following the demise of the convertible from the Cadillac lineup. The Astroroof was a $985 option and the sunroof was a $701 option.

Under the hood of all full-size Cadillac hoods was the biggest V-8 of modern times, a 500-cubic-inch (8.2-liter) unit with overhead valves, 8.5:1 compression, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and a four-barrel Rochester carburetor. It offered 190 horsepower at 3,600 RPM and 360 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 RPM. With the optional fuel injection system (a $647 option), horsepower rose to 215 hp and torque to 400 lb-ft. All Cadillacs used a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission and variable-ratio power-assisted steering. Eldorados had four-wheel disc brakes while other Cadillac models were equipped with ventilated front discs and rear drums. All full-size Cadillacs, except the Eldorado, included a Controlled (limited-slip) Differential and new-look turbine-vaned and wire wheel covers. An 80-amp alternator was a $45 option, the heavy-duty cooling system added $40, and the trailering package was an additional $85.

The interiors were very similar to their 1975 counterparts, with rosewood grain trim, script plaques, and bright wreath/crest. Full-size models received new trims that included velours, plaids, knits, and 11 distinctive genuine leathers. Exteriors were available in 15 standard and six optional Firemist body colors, with 13 being new this year. The six Firemist colors were Galloway Green, Florentine Gold, Greenbrier, Crystal Blue, Emberglow, and Amberlite.

All Cadillacs came standard with bumper impact strips, automatic climate control, digital clock, automatic glove box light, automatic trunk light, map light, remote-control left-hand outside mirror, inside hood release, and High Energy Ignition. Power door locks were also standard, along with power windows, power steering, AM/FM radio with power antenna, spare tire cover, steel-belted whitewall tires, tamper-resistant odometer, washer fluid level indicator, and Soft-Ray tinted glass. The push-button Weather Band option built into the AM/FM stereo signal-seeking radio was exclusive to Cadillac. Lamp monitors resting atop each front fender showed the status of the front and rear lights. An illuminated entry and theft-deterrent system were optional, and a new option locked doors when the lever was shifted to 'Drive.' A computerized skid-control system, called the 'Track Master' option, shortened stopping distances by automatically pumping the back brakes in an emergency situation. Another new safety feature was the Air Cushion Restraint System, similar to later airbag systems, which was available on all models except the Fleetwood 75 and the Eldorado convertible.

Cadillac offered three full-size special editions in 1976, including the d'Elegance, Talisman, and Cabriolet (not on the Sixty Special). In 1976 the Talisman option (code V4U, $1,813 option price) package was more money than a base Chevrolet Vega. The Talisman option package added a unique vinyl roof pattern, turbine-style wheel covers, Talisman emblems throughout (including on the sail panels), and the ultra-plush Medici Velour cloth interior used on the seats, door panels, and trim. In the front were twin captain's chairs (40/40 front seats with six-way power adjuster and power passenger recliner) with a center console, writing table, pen placement, and special lighting. In the back, there are magazine holders and thicker carpeting.

Updates to the 1976 Brougham's d'Elegance option (an $885 option) included contoured loose-pillow style seats in soft Mansion brushed-knit fabric with five color options available, seatback pockets, 50/50 Dual Comfort front seats, extra-dense pile carpeting, and 'Brougham d'Elegance' script throughout the vehicle. It had an Elk grain vinyl roof with French seams and bright chrome belt moldings, opera lamps, and turbine-vaned wheel discs.

Priced at nearly $11,000, Cadillac produced 24,500 examples of the 1976 Fleetwood Brougham four-door sedan.

Cadillac had first used the name 'Sixty Special' on their 1938 lineup, and the designs of the modern Sixty Special were attributed to Bill Mitchell. The four-door sedans rested on a new X-chassis that allowed the body to be positioned within the frame while increasing structural rigidity. After thirty-nine years, 1976 was the final year for the Sixty Special.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021