Beautiful older restoration. Former Cadillac-LaSalle Club award winner. Beautiful, correct interior. Runs and drives very well. Newer Diamondback wide whitewall radials. Upgraded LED lighting. A handsome, restored 60 Special ready to tour!
Weve long argued that if you can have just one old car, the Cadillac 60 Special is an excellent choice. Handsome styling thats just the right size combined with one of the most reliable powertrains of the era, and you get a car that looks great and drives even better. The 60S is a Full Classic with the CCCA, so its eligible for all the big events, and parts are plentiful so theyre easy to maintain. In short, it does everything well. The Bill Mitchell styling has aged extremely well, with trim proportions and clean styling that was widely copied by the rest of the industry. The 1939 Cadillacs featured new front-end styling that was a big improvement over the barrel-front 38s, giving the 60S a much sleeker look. Thanks to a very well-done restoration about 20 years ago, this car was able to win awards at the highest ends of the hobby. Since then, its been a favorite tour vehicle with suitable upgrades to make it a great travelling partner. That isnt to say that it has deteriorated, because the black paint still shines up beautifully with crystal-clear reflections in its surface. Panel gaps and alignment are exemplary, and all the chrome was refinished-you can imagine how expensive those pot metal grilles must have been to re-chrome. Essentially, all the important stuff is already done and still in fantastic condition, making this a car youll be very proud to own.
The spectacular interior features correct Bedford Cord upholstery with its distinctive striped pattern. Stitchwork is first rate and correct door panels give it a suitably luxurious feel. Plush carpets help keep things quiet and comfortable inside and that big ivory steering wheel was re-cast and remains in excellent condition. All the instruments are operational, including the clock and radio, and even the under-seat heater works properly-nice! Aftermarket turn signals were added for safety on the road and use LEDs in the front fog lights as indicators. In back, theres plenty of room for two and three can squeeze together in a pinch, and the woodgrained garnish moldings add warmth to the luxurious interior. The trunk is correctly finished with correct fabrics, and includes a full-sized spare and jack assembly.
Cadillacs 346 cubic inch V8 was so reliable, it was used in tanks during World War II. In the 1939 Cadillacs, it made 130 horsepower and the kind of silky smooth torque that makes the 60 Special feel quick around town and effortless on the highway. It cranks over slowly (they all do) but right about when youre about to give up, it catches. Every time. Once its running, it settles into an even burbling idle thats a little bit muscular but never intrusive to the passengers. With well-chosen gears in the transmission and 3.92 gears out back, its plenty quick off the line and is happy to cruise at 55-60 MPH all day long. The engine is correctly detailed in corporate olive green engine enamel with satin black accents and real porcelainized exhaust manifolds. A heat shield has been added to keep the carburetor cool on hot days, but thats about it for modifications. Clutch action is light and the manual drum brakes are powerful enough to make this a very safe car. The 60S was the last GM car to use wood as a structural member, and those massive oak rocker supports are completely solid and in excellent shape with no issues-the most critical part of any 60 Special. The floors are uncut and in great shape and a reproduction exhaust system with transverse muffler provides just the right sound. 16-inch steel wheels carry correct hubcaps and a recent set of 215/85/16 Diamondback Classic wide whitewall radials that look right and handle great!
If you can only have one old car, the 60 Special is our recommendation, every time. And if youre adding to a collection, doesnt it make sense to buy a car with proven reliability and front-of-the-pack road manners? The 60 Special does it all and does it well. This one is quite nicely restored and has been used as intended for several years, making it ideal for the hobbyist who likes to drive. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
