Cadillac was the lead bearer of American luxury vehicles for about half a century. Indeed, no other model best describes this than the 1938-1941 Cadillac 60 Special. The 60 Special was unveiled when America was pulling out of one of the worst recessions of the century. Despite this, the model quickly won the hearts of many petrolheads (indeed special). Further, the 60S was the most luxurious and exclusive Cadillac model, with a 1939 front engine.
As the styling brainchild of the legendary Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell, the 60S was more like a reprieve to what was a difficult time for the country. Its modernized styling served as a beautiful show of what the future had in store for the industry. It demonstrated hope and excitement.
What Was So Special About the 60 Cadillac Special?
Design
Harley Earl was a breath of fresh air to the world of luxury automobiles. The 31-year-old was brought from Cadillac's West Coast custom body shop, where his design work stood out. At the time, automotive designs were by engineers and independent customizers but never by stylists. The gamble to bring Earl on proved a great success. In fact, the Earl-inspired cosmetic upgrade of the 60S stood out from its predecessor and most others in the industry. The cosmetic surgery added some bug-eye style headlights and a beautiful grille, spilling over to either side of the front fascia.
The 60S pioneered the front-hinged windows and the steeply-raked windshield and had smoothened body panels and a notchback roof design. As if that was not enough, the 60S had a longer 127-inch wheelbase and significantly better handling. The 5-passenger sedan set the tone for the emerging 3-Box sedan design with a hardtop, bright metal window frames, and convertible-style doors. The Cadillac was designed to be smaller but more personal than the other 60s. Indeed, 1939 60 Special was designed as an owner-driven luxury sedan because most of the comfort came from behind the wheel – much like our cars for sale in Bradenton.
Price
Despite the futuristic upgrade of the 60 Special, the price, which stood at $2000, was the same as the previous model. So unlike the Cadillac 90, which drained the pockets of luxury vehicle buffs, the 60S was relatively affordable - despite having a less impressive engine. Not cheap but affordable.
Engine
Under the hood, the 60S was a behemoth, boasting an impressive 346 CID V8 and 130 horsepower. This naturally aspirated 5.7L (5616 ccs) engine with a 3-speed manual transmission was built in-house.
The only Cadillac that could hold a candle to the 60S was the Cadillac 90. It had an impressive V16 naturally-aspirated petrol engine and 185 horses in its stables. Unfortunately, the 90 required a much bigger purse - out of reach of most folks.
Options for a Luxury Automobile
The 60 Special had the bells and whistles expected of a luxury car, such as the vacuum-operated antenna, fog lights, heater, and seat covers. Even though 3 inches lower than other Cadillacs, the silhouette of the 60 Special was smarter and more modern in every aspect.
The reception of the sixty specials by the luxury car buyers was overwhelming, and GM knew they had a winning design. There was no need to alter anything that was winning. The changes to the 1939 Cadillac only came in a newly-designed dashboard layout, rubber rear fender guards, and a rear axle change.
Learn More About the 60 Cadillac Special
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