Cadillac Introduction History 1960

 Cadillac  Introduction Models & History 1960

The1960 model year was an impressive beginning to a new decade. During the Sixties, Cadillac styling became more graceful and restrained as Bill Mitchell gradually unified the design. Few new engineering advances were introduced, but orderly design development and a conservative styling approach set Cadillac apart from other luxury makes and maintained its reputation as “The Standard of the World.” To the American public, Cadillac remained a symbol of prestige, success, and good taste.

1960 Cadillac

The 1960 Cadillac began the evolutionary process of toning down the excesses of 1959. Although it continued the jet plane styling theme of the ’59, its fins were clipped (but still prominent) and Ed Taylor redesigned the taillights into a thin strip of red plastic neatly blended into the end of the fin. Supplementing that was a second taillight in each “exhaust port,” now a vertical oval that still housed the backup light as well. the simplified grille lost its horizontal divider bar and the front bumper was also simpler and less bulky. New, too, was the instrument panel. All in all, the ’60 Caddy had a more formal, yet youthful, look.

1960 Cadillac

The Cadillac Series Sixty-Two hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan, and convertible were the “entry level” Cadillacs of 1959 and ’60; they were priced at $4892, $5080, and $5455, respectively. The sedan was available in four- or six-window form for the same price. Series Sixty-Two models were distinguished by a narrow full-length chrome rub strip that ran from behind the front wheel to the rear bumper. Cadillac script was located on the side under the rubbing strip on the front fender and the rear grille had only one row of “jewels.”

1960 Cadillac

One step up the Cadillac ladder came the four- and six-window Sedan de Ville and Coupe de Ville, priced at $5498 and $5252. Interiors were finished in Camden cloth with matching leathers, and a metallic cloth was also listed. Like the Series Sixty-Two, one row of jewels graced the rear, and a narrow chrome strip ran from behind the front wheel to the rear bumper, but the Sedan de Ville or Coupe de Ville script was located on the rear fender.

1960 Cadillac

Cadillac’s 1959 and ’60 bold sweeping lines stood out as a modern masterpiece of automotive sculpture. Every luxury and convenience coddled both driver and passengers, with comfort enough for even the longest journey. Here was a car designed for comfort, but one that offered a pleasant surprise when a quick response was needed — 0-96.6 km/h in just 10.3 seconds. And with the windows up, the interior became hushed, like a living room on wheels. Cadillac engineering and design had come together in creating a sumptuous machine.

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1960 Cadillac Convertible

The 1959-60 Cadillacs were designed during a period of great change within GM. Harley Earl was heavily involved with the ’59s, but Bill Mitchell took over after Earl’s retirement and was mainly responsible for the 1960 models. Under Mitchell, a new freshness permeated the air — a freshness and youthfulness that was to become the hallmark of most cars developed under his regime.

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1960 Cadillac

The ’59s and ’60s have had their share of foes over the years, but there is certainly a time and a place for them. Perhaps Earl, Mitchell, Hols, Glowacke, and Scheelk designed a car whose time is now. It is seen everywhere these days: TV, movies, and even in commercials for new Cadillacs! People can’t get enough of the 1959-60 Cadillac’s flamboyance, and prices are escalating accordingly. It is such a welcome relief to see one parked amongst the little boxes-on-wheels of today. Ah, the genius of it all.

HISTORICAL NOTES

1960 Cadillac Notes

  • Car Life magazine selected the 1960 Cadillac as its “Best buy in the luxury field.”
  • This was the last year for air suspension and for wraparound windshields, except on the Series 75 Fleetwood models.
  • According to contemporary road tests gas economy ratings for 1960 Cadillacs were approximately 16.8 L/100km at a steady 96.6 km/h.
  • James M. Roche was general manager until June
  • Harold G. Warner became general manager in June
  • Charles F. Arnold was chief engineer
  • Charles Jordan was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
  • Fred H. Murray was general sales manager
  • Cadillac production figures
Series 6270,824 (increased 88)
Sedan de Ville31,804 (increased 338)
Coupe de Ville21,585 (decreased 339)
Eldorado2,360 (increased 65)
Series 6011,800 (decreased 450)
Series 70 Eldorado Brougham101 (increased 2)
Series 753,710 (increased 208)

1960 Automotive Notes

  • John F. Gordon was president of GM
  • Frederic G. Donner was chairman of the board at GM
  • Industry production is over 6 million
  • Fins diminish in size throughout the industry
  • New compacts are introduced: Chevrolet Corvair, Ford Falcon, Plymouth Valiant, and Mercury Comet
  • Lee Iacocca heads up Ford
  • Unibody construction found on Corvair, Falcon, and all Chrysler Corp. cars
  • Last year for England-built Metropolitans
  • Studebaker offers a $100 rebate on late 1960 models
  • Buick is first to offer a separate rear heat control.
  • Cadillac adopts self-adjusting brakes and automatic vacuum parking brake release
  • Corvair takes a page out of VW by offering an air-cooled rear-propelled 6-cyl engine
  • Dodge and Plymouth introduce a “Slant Six” engine to replace the L-head engine
  • Chrysler 300F and the big Dodge and Plymouth V-8 feature optional ram-induction
  • Valiant first to feature an alternator instead of generator; other makes will follow
  • Last year for the Edsel after producing only 3008 units
  • Thunderbird offers a sunroof, the first since WWII
  • Thunderbird, like the 1957-59 Ford Skyliner, stows its top in the trunk
  • The big Fords are longer, lower, and wider
  • Rambler replaces the L-head with an ohv 6-cyl engine
  • Rambler station wagons are first to have a side-hinged rear door
  • Studebaker Lark adds a station wagon
  • Studebaker Hawk offers only a V-8
  • Oldsmobile gets an optional vacuum-operated remote decklid opener
  • Chrysler offers vacuum door locks
  • Ford Falcon features an air-cooled torque converter
  • Glenn Pray buys the assets of the Auburn / Cord / Duesenberg plant
  • Top American Automobile Corporations for 1960


1. General Motors2,793,017 (increased 137,331)
2. Ford1,738,530 (increased 65,780)
3. Chrysler972,858 (increased 225,239)
4. Others599,389 (increased 75,734)


  • Top model year production for 1960
Chevrolet1,439,893
Biscayne & Fleetmaster287,700
Bel Air381,500
Impala411,000
Station Wagon212,700
Ford1,348,527
Falcon435,676
Custom 300874
Fairlane204,790
Fairlane 500244,275
Galaxie289,088
Ranch71,008
Country Sedan100,816
Plymouth483,969
Valiant V10066,734
Valiant V200127,558
Savoy78,204
Belvedere62,744
Fury55,487
Suburban56,997
Rambler458,841
American120,603
Six297,378
Rebel17,062
Ambassador12,798
Pontiac396,716
Catalina210,934
Venture56,277
Star Chief43,691
Bonneville85,277
Dodge367,804
Dart Seneca138,904
Dart Pioneer111,089
Dart Phoenix73,178
Matador27,908
Polara16,728
Oldsmobile347,142
Dynamic 88189,864
Super 8897,913
Ninety Eight59,364
Mercury271,331
Comet116,331
Monterey102,539
Montclair19,814
Park Lane10,287
Commuter14,949
Colony Park7,411
Buick253,807
LeSabre152,082
Invicta46,411
Electra35,698
Electra 22520,616
Corvair203,014
500 coupe14,628
500 sedan47,683
700 coupe36,562
700 sedan139,208
900 Monza coupe11,926
Cadillac142,184
Series 6270,824
DeVille53,389
Eldorado2,461
Series 60 Special11,800
Series 753,710
Studebaker120,465
Lark VI70,153
Lark VIII57,562
Hawk3,939
Thunderbird90,843
Coupe78,983
Convertible11,860
Chrysler77,285
Windsor41,158
Saratoga15,525
New Yorker19,390
300F1212
DeSoto25,581
Fireflite14,484
Adventurer11,597
Lincoln24,851
Lincoln7,160
Premier6,575
Continental Mark V11,116
Imperial17,719
Custom7,786
Crown8,226
LeBaron1,691
Crown Imperial Limousine16
Metropolitan13,103
Corvette10,261
Checker6,980
Edsel3,008
Ranger2,571
Villager Wagon275