1949 Cadillac Series 60 Special Fleetwood

Cadillac introduced the first Sixty Special in 1938 as a halo model and a paragon of the luxury car segment. The Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell designed model received a redesign in 1948 with all new sheet metal and fitted with amenities such as electric windows and a power bench seat. By 1949, Cadillac sold 11,399 examples of these sedans, nearly double that of the previous years. The Sixty Special rested on an exclusive 133-inch wheelbase and came with special trim to distinguish it from the lesser-priced Cadillac models. In the front was a new and wider grille and the Sixty Special was now being advertised as a six-passenger car. Priced at $3,820, it was on par with the Series 62 which ranged from $2960 to $3,500 depending on body style. The series 61 sold for approximately $2,800 while the Series 75 was in the $4,750 to $5,200 range.

Styling for the 1949 Series Sixty remained essentially unchanged.

Cadillac introduced the world to tailfins in 1948 inspired by Lockheed's P-38 fighter plane, followed by an all-new modern overhead-valve V8 engine in 1949. The work of Charles F. Kettering, GM's Director of Research, the 331 cubic-inch engine developed 160 horsepower and quickly became the engine-of-choice for hot-rodders and customizers through the early 1950s. The overhead valve V8 had a short-stroke high-compression design that provided economical and quiet operation.

Kettering's many accomplishments during his career included the invention of the electric automobile starter, founding Delco Corporation, and earning 186 patents

Motor Trend honored Cadillac with its first Car of the Year award in 1949, which helped Cadillac sell a record 92,554 cars.

The updates to the late-1940s Cadillac Series 60 Special Fleetwood were the work of GM designer Bill Michell, who helped design the first 60 Special in 1938, and became Harley Earl's successor in 1958 as head of GM Styling.

A single one-off two-door Sport Coupe was built on the 1949 Series 60 Special Fleetwood line.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2020