Since we’re going to be ragging on poor GM all month, let’s also find a little love for the General. I actually started a series titled GM’s Greatest Hits, as a counterpart to the GMDS, but it kind of petered out at some point. Maybe we’ll have to revive it for December.
Anyway, the classic Cadillacs would undoubtedly dominate that list, and the 1954 was already given that designation. yes, the ’54 – ’56 models are my favorite: big, brash and still tall, like a true luxury car should be. Making Cadillacs any lower than this was a big mistake. There’s enough chrome to set off the handsome, smooth lines, but not slathered on like starting in 1957. Aaron nailed it with his paean to a ’55 Coupe DeVille here recently. OK, your turn. What’s your favorite Cadillac ever?
IMHO Cadillac got it done best when their nose had the point in it. Immediately recognizable. Something was missing when they flattened it out, as in 1948/49, 1957 -’62, and any time after that when it was prow-less. The mid 1960s were optimal, as the look said, “Better get off the road, there’s only room for one”. That Eldo was certainly a beauty, but the big cars had amazing presence.
’62 was a clean, elegant design. Just enough of everything. ’48-’50s were also great looking cars, but I still prefer Buicks and Pontiacs of the same vintage. ’65-’68s are also not bad, and ’77+ RWDs are significant to me as the last “true” Cadillacs.
My vote—-the 1957-58 Eldorado Brougham 4 Dr Hardtops were the most over the top Cadillacs ever produced and still have a commanding presence. The 1959-60 Eldorado Brougham 4 Dr Hardtops are not as distinctive but even more interesting because of their Italian coachwork.
The most Cadillac of all Cadillacs: The ’30-’31 Sixteen 452 Style 4264-B Transformable Town Brougham by Fleetwood. And the ’34-’37 Sixteen Sport Phaeton Style 5859 by Fleetwood (this one never seen in the metal in the ’30’s but exist now due to vision, coach-building mastery and willingness to finally create it).
For production highlights: The ’38 and ’41 60 Special, the ’49 60 Special and Coupe de Ville, ’60 Eldorado Brougham, ’66 Fleetwood Brougham and ’67 Eldorado.
I hope that in just a few years, I’ll be able to say: the 2018 Cadillac __fill in name__.
Cadillacs are getting darned good. I’m hoping soon they’ll be good, and memorable too.
Hard to say but I’ve always liked the 1967-68 Cadillac Deville’s and Fleetwood’s the best with the 1967-68 Cadillac Eldorado and 1969-70 Cadillac Deville and Fleetwood close behind
Honorable mention:
1971-72 Cadillac Sedan Deville (because of the movie License To Drive)
1979 Cadillac Eldorado (wish the 350 V8 gas engine was available on the remaining Eldorado’s)
1965-66 Cadillac Fleetwood
I’ll probably never own one just because I can’t ever pull the trigger no matter how tempting. The Cadillacs that tempt me the most though are the ’62’s, the 67 Eldorado and the 75/6 monstrosities just because I grew up riding in one. If ever a Cadillac could actually find its way home with me though it’d undoubtedly be a ’77 deVille. The downsized 77’s were not exactly the height of Cadillac quality, but they were certainly the best mix of practical size combined with the last vestiges of classical American excess.
In agreement. A ’77 is as pretty any any of the sixties sculptures, and a lot more affordable. Make mine a Coupe DeVille, sans vinyl roof of course.
I owned a couple of Cadillacs in my time and I am without one now. My favorites fall into two categories, true class and guilty pleasures.
The True class would include:
The post war Coupe de Ville ending with the 1956 models. Although the Sedan de Ville of ’54 to ’56 seem better proportioned than the CdVs of the same period.
1960 Eldorado Seville with air suspension. I knew someone that had one in perfect condition. When that thing came into sight was akin to witnessing an alien space ship landing. Awsome!
1965-1966 Fleetwood Eldorado convertibles, with a nod to the 1966 editions less chromy headlight cornering light treatment.
1966 Fleetwood Brougham. Had one triple black with the walnut wood door caps and t picnic tables. Very elegant.
1967 Eldorado especially in triple black with no vinyl roof. Bill Mitchell razor lines at their best.
Guilty Pleasures
1971-1973 Eldorado convertibles.
1980-1982 Seville Elegante
I had a 1978 Eldorado Biarritz. What a barge but extremely reliable. Next time around I want the earlier 500 and no plastic bumper fillers.
I would go for the 1963 Fleetwood Sixty Special. I had a ’64 Convert but the taller fins of the ’63 and flatter quarter panels just look a little more classic. Also the front end has a softer look than the stern looking ’64. But it has to be the Fleetwood.
Jose. Check out the Dayton Ohio Craigslist. There was a 63 there for sale. It is in a junkyard, and the owners are seeking a home for it. . It was painted gray, looks like rattle can primer. It has been awhile, I would guess it is still there, had a 390 in it, complete car.
All Cadillac previously mentionned and I add to the list the 1953 Cadillac with a body designed by Ghia who was used by actress Rita Hayworth. http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/news/a29295/rita-hayworth-cadillac-ghia/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT0x6y_WcqA
And the 75 limousine, like the one used in the tv series Banacek. http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_190795-Cadillac-Fleetwood-75-1972.html
My grandfather used to enjoy telling people that Cadillacs drove like trucks. He based this on his experience with a 1915 Cafillac.
In 2013 this 57 De Ville came to us for a complete, frame off restoration . Even if it came on a truck, soon we realized the car was drivable.
The day before it was scheduled to be taken apart, me and two other sales guys decided to go for a spin… the true story?
The old Caddy was a blast to drive: the engine had a steady idle, transmission was shifting smoothly, brakes working good
We took turns at the wheel around town for over one hour.
If the car was mine I wouldn’t restore it… maybe not even paint it. Just drive it the way it was.
I’m not really into Caddys but this one brings me some very good memories.
Talisman.
+1. Not a fan of 1967-1976 regular Cadillacs but these things are so outrageous they deserve a spot if not in the garage at least in your heart,
Very, very tough call.
Anything from the ’30s was superb. The ’49 looks almost perfect, probably the most graceful fastback design ever. The ’59 is so bad it’s good. The ’67 Eldo is a rolling sculpture. So many to choose from…
I’ll go for this 1942 Derham convertible sedan.
Any ~1930 Twelve or Sixteen roadster with the old-style fenders and standalone headlights. To go with my imaginary Packard.
Realistically a 1965 or ’66 two-door coupe with buckets. Classy but not stuffy, great engineering advances and mid-century clean lines. A design so good it caught up to Elwood Engel’s Continental without looking derivative.
After arguing with myself, 1963 or 1964…the decision went to the 63 with its straight-lined grill and rear bumper-mounted lights, and its more-prominent but not excessive tailfins. The Coupes’ roofs looked a bit short (were they really from the same stamper dies as the 1963 Chevrolet four-door hardtops?) so I’m going with the Sedan de Ville.
easy!
1964 Fleetwood sixty special.
you had one on here a while back that was a twin to my dads. in Cadillac black of course!
I’m gong to be bidding against you for that one, Bill.
For me, there will always be only one:
1978/79 Cadillac Seville Elegante.
And, if you please, do not forget to add the optional Astroroof and Trip Computer.
Mine too!
Good choice; that is a mighty sharp-looking car.
In spite of this being “Deadly Sin” month, all the responses highlight the fact that when GM was good, they were really good. When I was growing up, our neighbors ordered up a new Coupe DeVille every year from ’65 to ’74. When the Mrs. died, that was the end of the parade since her husband didn’t drive. The Cinnamon Firemist 1970 CDV (with what I presume was the Antique Dark Brown interior) was my favorite of all. I walked home from school one day in the fall of 1969, and there it was in the driveway. Fred showed me all around it – what a beautiful car, and he was delighted with their choice of color. Most of the 10 cars they bought were some sort of shade of blue, and a couple of them were red, but only one Cinnamon Firemist. This is my favorite.
Of course, there are many others that catch my eye, the ’49 sedanet, the ’57 CDV, the ’61 and ’62 cars, as well as the ’67 Eldo. Even the bustle back Seville.
” GM was good, they were really good.” GM is very good now.
41 Sixty Special
49 Coupe DeVille
59-60 Eldorado Brougham
61-67 Any owner driver model (’67 despite the plastic, just because the exterior looks so good)
I’ve no experience with any but have high hopes because of National Geographic and Harry Winston
Thank you!
Lots of good suggestions already, but I’ll also toss in a sentimental vote for the 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Seville, which has most of what’s groovy about the ’59 while looking ever so slightly less like it should come with its own space helmet.
If I could only choose one Cadillac it would be a 1967 Cadillac Calais 4-dr sedan. Not the hardtop model. (4-door pillarless sedans give me visions of driving in the rain with the windows up . . . but they don’t quite fit together so water comes in and goes everywhere). I believe 1967 was the last year of 4-door Calais sedan with the pillar. Only 2,865 were sold according to the old Cadillac book I’ve got.
Few other things: I picked the Calais because power windows were not standard on the Calais in ’67. They were in ’68. If I have a choice between power windows or roll-down windows I’ll take the crank windows every time. Also, in 1967 the windshield wipers were still ^up^. In 1968, the Caddy hoods were longer to accommodate recessed wipers. I like the visible wipers just fine. Doesn’t detract from the appearance of a 1967 Cadillac to me. They look *nice*. Visible wipers and all.
There’s plenty of other Cadillac’s I’d gladly own from the ’60s and ’70s, but not from 1977 onward. It’s not that I don’t think the downsized ’77 models look nice, but if I’m going to have a Caddy I want a MONSTER-sized one. I wouldn’t turn down a ’76 Fleetwood beastie. 😀
That’s gotta be the lowest production model for the year . . . .
1994-96 Fleetwood. Last and best B body, powered by the potent LT1 engine.
I’ve owned several Cadillacs, even though the recent ownership of a Lincoln converted me to the Ford family of fine cars…… Some of the Cads I loved, none of them did I really dislike, but a few details below….
1985 Eldorado – all class, even with the HT4100
1987 Brougham – S L O W…. 0 – 60 in 10 minutes, but somehow I managed to get a
speeding ticket on this one…
1993 Sedan de Ville – quality and FAST, in a big car kind of way
2006 DTS (Luxury III) – This is the one that I would buy again… it was everything I ever
wanted in a car.
2006 STS – FAST and handled like it was on rails, but not comfortable or roomy
As a side note, my cousin owned a 1998 Deville… drove like silk and very roomy, but felt very plasticky and cheap….
Yeah, the DTS was my favorite……
I could talk myself into any Caddy between 1940 and 1967.
After 1967 they slowly became cartoon parodies of themselves.
The largesse of the 59 is appealing to me.
The cars of the 1930s were Cadillac’s best creations, but for daily driving, I’d take a 1967-70 Eldorado, followed by a 1966 or 1967-68 Fleetwood.
I have two all-time favourites; the 1967 Eldorado (had the Johann model kit) and an early CTS-V sedan.
2003 generation CTS
61-64 De Villes
76-79 Seville
77-80 De Ville with 425/368 ci Caddy V8
’72 De Ville, only since it was my parents car growing up.
Maybe not my absolute favourite, but this 1949 deserves at least a showing.
My favorite is 1941 Fleetwood Sixty Special. It’s not just a groundbreaking design, but a very new concept about what a luxury car have to be.
Before 1938, a halo car have to be gargantuan, complicated, and all hand-made. But Sixty Special offered a viable alternative: it was reasonably-sized, a lot cheaper than V12s or V16s, yet it was world-class in every other aspect: look, quality or engineering.
I always thought there is something strange with the first two model year, but I couldn’t find out what bothered me. Now I think their front was it: it’s just too – usual, compared to the other parts of the body. The eggcrate grill of the ’41 completed the work, and became also a hallmark for Cadillac.
I think Sixty Special made a new template for automobile makers, and was the point where GM irreversibly triumphed over venerable Packard. The Clipper was a serious attempt to compete with Caddy, but they screw it up when the design was implemented on every series after the war. Independent luxury brands were all dead by that time, by the way. Lincoln had the Continental, but it was kind of specialty, while Sixty Special defined the design language of the postwar era.
Maybe I’m a bit pathetic, but I really think it was a visionary product of its time. I simply adore it.
1963 and 1964 Fleetwood Sixty Special. Black with grey cloth interior, if possible.
That said, I have a soft spot for the ’75-’76 DeVilles and non-Talisman Fleetwood Broughams and would like to have one. I also have a significantly higher chance of this happening than even getting a ride in a ’63-’64.
92-97 Sevilles
79-85 Eldorados
I so happen to like the look of the 85-86 Sedan DeVilles with the vinyl top of course, not so much the updated 87-88 although.
These CC’s are a treasure trove, always well written and with great comments. Wish I had found and followed them years ago.
Took note of the number of folks who hold in high regard the ’62-68 Cadillacs, also the ’71 SdV and ’79 Eldorado. Am in same camp.
Like Tuco creating his perfect gun from the parts of many, my favorites are an assemblage. Pre-war gravitate towards the ’37 for its streamlined styling, beautiful cast grill, long hood, slender bodies forward of B-pillar and engine still far enough rearward to avoid Pinocchio nose. The extra long-hooded Sixteen reminds me of the Bugs Bunny car that must bend around corners. Great as a museum piece but as an owner/driver I prefer the standard Fisher-bodied 60 Series sedan in fastback form. Problem is, only Pontiac, Olds and Buick used this style, Cadillac/LaSalle offering only the bustle back except for convertible sedan. I would add fender skirts but not side mounts, and remove the running boards. Sixteen instrumentation and interior trim would be great, and if it could be shoe-horned in, the V16 that came out in 1938 would make it one of the fastest “stock” cars of the era. But not supersonic fast, which is what the ’37 hood ornament lady looks like she is flying through. Would probably go with the toned down, very elegant ’36 ornament.
Post-war would mate the ‘60 sedan body to the ’62 limo’s front fenders, hood and bumper/fascia/grill, which would probably fit because the ’61-62 limo front fenders are different from the rest of the ’61-62 line and appear to have been designed to mate to the ’59-60 doors. The only metal work needed would be to either wash away the ‘62 front fender skegs or add skegs to the ’60 body (which look great on the ’60 Eldorado Brougham). For the greenhouse would go with lower windshield and roof height of 4-window sedan and coupe and work in the coupe’s backlight, positioned further back like the 6-window sedan. Inside, the highest trim available including plush carpet.
Read Paul N.’s earlier article about the ’54 Cadillac. His point about height is well-taken. So why is one of my choices a low slung Cadillac? Because I think there are two other dimensions that come into play, the first of course being style. The second is width, which increased about the same time height was lowered, and was perhaps a key reason why American cars got away with low heights from 1957 on, the increased shoulder room helping to balance interior space. It was only years and decades later when cars got narrower without getting taller – through multiple rounds of downsizing and because of the consumer shift to fuel efficient small cars – that interiors started to feel too tight. Today the market has shifted towards max comfort, utility and visibility, styling be damned. Tomorrow who knows, style may yet make a resurgence and in ways that minimize losses in space and utility.
Getting ever closer to favorite Cadillac: ’57 Eldorado Seville married to 133 wb 60 Special and 5 inches added to front overhang.