1939 Cadillac Series 60

Description

This 1939 Cadillac 60 Special is a rather amazing car. On the outside, it's one of Bill Mitchell's finest designs, a car that set styling trends for a decade. However, underneath it's a very modern Cadillac, complete with fuel-injected V8, self-leveling suspension, and even a complete late-model interior. The work is so seamless that it's often impossible to tell where the old parts end and the new ones begin. Wow!

The sheetmetal is 100% 1939 Cadillac, from the lovely pointed grille to the delicately framed door openings that made the 60 Special so unique. The dark green paint even looks right on the vintage body work, although it's rendered in modern urethane so it has a depth and sparkle that the original lacquer just couldn't match. They didn't have this much metallic in 1939, but that doesn't diminish the brilliance of the design and it shouldn't be a surprise that the 60 Special remains popular with enthusiasts today. Fit and finish are excellent throughout, and it's very obvious that this was a cost-no-object project. All four doors close with a thunk that you can't replicate today and every inch of the sheetmetal was sanded and smoothed to look as good as possible underneath the shiny paint. You'll note that while it looks almost entirely stock, little details like the late-model side mirrors give onlookers a few clues that this car is not all that it seems.

Inside, the transformation is simply miraculous. The complete interior from a 1991 Cadillac Brougham was transplanted intact, including the seats, dash, and even most of the controls. Given that the two cars aren't even close to the same dimensions means that the fit of the dash is mind-bogglingly good, with all the original controls not only in their original locations, but fully functional. Dig the digital instrument panel, the factory vents for the A/C system, and even the center stack with a familiar GM AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit. The only non-Cadillac piece is the Vintage Air A/C control head, but that only means that it stays cool inside under any conditions. You'll also note the late-model steering wheel wrapped in tan leather as well as 60 Special door panels with the door controls and pulls from the Brougham expertly integrated into the design. Even the back seat is fitted with the pillow-tufted leather and seat belts of the Brougham.

The engine is a 1991-vintage Cadillac 5.7-liter V8, complete with fuel injection and all its power accessories intact. The swap was made easier by transplanting much of the Brougham's chassis to the 60S, including the front suspension, power steering, and disc brakes. It's a tight fit in the pointed engine bay, but the engineering is impressive and the extensive use of OEM parts means that someone took the time to do the engineering rather than simply cutting and bolting on some catalog parts. It's backed by a 700R4 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission spinning the Brougham's rear end, which hangs on coil springs with load-leveling shocks. Like I said, ALL the major systems on this car were updated and the work is extremely impressive. Modern wide whitewall radials were fitted to 15-inch steel wheels with vintage hubcaps to give it a period look, but it still rides like a much newer car.

If you can't tell, we're just blown away by this car. Come see it and we guarantee that you'll be as amazed as we are by the engineering that went into the build. Call today!