1958 Cadillac Series Sixty Special Fleetwood

All of the standard Cadillac models were redesigned for 1957, and sales of the Sixty Special reached an impressive 24,000 units. Gone were the chrome fenders louvers, a Sixty Special trademark since 1942, replaced by a giant ribbed metallic panel located on the lower half of the rear fender. The 1958 Sixty Special Fleetwood had broad ribbed stainless steel fairings around the rear quarter panel, below the conical flare. This trim was also used on the fender skirts, which went from the bumper to forward of the rear wheels. These well-equipped vehicles came with power steering, power windows, power brakes, a Hydra-Matic transmission, and power front seats. Available as a four-door hardtop sedan, its base price was $6,200. In 1958, a total of 12,900 examples were sold.

The Series 60 Special Fleetwood was powered by an overhead valve V8 engine with a 365 cubic-inch displacement, a Carter four-barrel carburetor, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and delivered 310 horsepower at 4,800 RPM. With a triple Rochester two-barrel carburetor, horsepower rose to 335 horsepower. The wheelbase measured 133 inches, larger than the Series 62 Cadillac (129.5 inches), but shorter than the 149.7 inches of the Series 75 Fleetwood. Pricing for the Series 62 ranged from the high-$4,000s to the mid-$5,000s. The Series 75 Fleetwood was in the mid-$8,000s. Priced at $6,230, the Series Sixty Special Fleetwood was Cadillac's intermediate-priced model.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019