1947 Cadillac Series 60 Special Fleetwood

The 1947 Cadillac models were little changed from the previous year, and the 1946 versions were not much different from the last pre-war offering. Among the most noteworthy new feature was the first use of the wheel covers that would become famous as the Cadillac 'sombreros.' Minor trim and detail changes, most notably the grille which had four layers of rectangles rather than five of the 1946 model, listed among the distinguishable features of the 1947 Cadillac, along with a new V hood emblem, bright metal stone shields on the rear fenders instead of the rubber ones used on 1946 models, and new Cadillac nameplates on the front fenders replacing the small block letters used previously.

Like all automobile manufacturers, Cadillac struggled to meet the pent-up demand for civilian automobiles and pressed their existing designs into service until all-new models were ready.

The 1947 Cadillac model lineup included the Series 61 priced at $2,200 for the club coupe and $2,325 for the sedan. The Series 62 were based on the GM C-body platform with prices that ranged from the mid-to-high $2,000s with body styles that included a club coupe, convertible coupe, and a sedan. The top-of-the-line Cadillac was the Series 75 Fleetwood resting on a large wheelbase of 138 inches. (The Series 62 measured 129 inches and Series 61 had a 121-inch wheelbase). Often reserved for limousine, commercial, and 7-passenger coachwork, the Series 75 Fleetwood was priced from $4,200 to $4,700 (or higher).

All models, except the Series 60 Fleetwood Special sedan, had a new winged trunk ornament and the previous rubber stone shields were replaced by a bright metal type.

All 1947 Cadillacs were powered by a 346 cubic-inch V8 engine with a cast-iron block, 7.25:1 compression, a two-barrel carburetor, hydraulic valve lifters, and three main bearings. It developed 150 horsepower at 3,400 RPM and was backed by a three-speed manual for Hydra-Matic transmission.

1947 Cadillac Series 60 Special Fleetwood
The 1947 Cadillac Series 60 was offered solely as a four-door sedan with seating for five at a base price of $3,200. All of the other 1947 Cadillac models included a four-door, five-passenger sedan, so Cadillac distinguished its pricer (albeit, not as expensive as the Series 75) with two-inch wider doors, heavier upper beltline moldings, four slanting louvers on the rear roof pillar, and individual window loop moldings. The wheelbase measured 133 inches, which was seven inches longer than the Series 61 and four inches longer than the Series 62. Only the Series 75 was longer, but only by five inches. The new Fleetwood trunk ornament was a different variation from the one used on the lower models.

The Series 60 Special had skirted rear fenders and bright metal stone guards.

As one of the most expensive models in the Cadillac lineup, the 1947 Series 60 was exclusive, accounting for approximately 14 percent of Cadillac's total production with 8,500 examples built.

The Cadillac Sixty Special, first introduced in 1938, would be a part of the Cadillac for numerous decades, through 1976. After over a decade of lying dormant, the name was revived in 1987 severing as the top-of-the-line front-wheel-drive C-body model and produced through 1993.

1947 was the final year of styling introduced in 1942, and nearly every 1948 model wore all-new sheet metal. The Cadillac Sixty Special, priced at $3,820, continued to ride atop the 133-inch wheelbase. All-new styling was introduced a few years later, in 1950, a year after Cadillac had introduced new power to the line, in the form of the 331 cubic-inch overhead valve V8. It had a short-stroke, high-compression design that was quiet, smooth, and economical. It was smaller and shorter than its predecessor, yet delivered 10 additional horsepower and weighed 188 pounds less.

The Series Sixty Special was used by Cadillac for many years to represent its most luxurious and finest optioned vehicles.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021