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Cadillac's 60 Special was always the top-of-the-line car for owners who wanted to drive themselves. Sure, you could still get limousines and a divider window existed for the 60 Special for many years, but ultimately it was intended to be a cost-no-object car for an owner who preferred to take the wheel. Riding on a three-inch longer wheelbase than the Series 62 on which it was based, the 1958 Cadillac 60 Special was an enormous car in every sense of the word, yet it offers sparkling road manners and the kind of luxury you can't buy today. Thoroughly redesigned for 1958, it remained an exclusive machine with only 12,900 being built, about half as many as the previous year, and its many unique features made it instantly identifiable even from a distance. If you had it made in 1958 and wanted the world to know it, a Cadillac 60 Special was the best way to advertise. There's no way to be subtle in this handsome Arctic White 1958 Cadillac 60 Special. Sitting on a 133-inch wheelbase, it's simply immense and there's no question that this is a Cadillac, I don't care how little you know about cars. The trim tag says this one was originally code 30 Acadian Green, but that was before a rather extensive and well-done repaint perhaps 15 years ago. There's simply no trace of the original green paint anywhere on the car. The current white finish was quite well done and shows only light signs of age, and we have to admit that we like the contrast of the green interior on the white bodywork far more than the original green-on-green combination. Fit and finish are excellent and there's no evidence of major rust repair or accident damage, although it's hard to know all the details of a car that's been on the road for more than 60 years. All four doors close easily and with the all-new 1958 4-door hardtop styling, that's easier said than done. Those massive doors certainly feel substantial and close with a solid thunk that almost feels permanent. Impressive. Other details include the 60 Special's unique ribbed cladding on the rear quarters and trunk lid, which must be insanely expensive to restore properly, lending more credence to the idea that this has always been a clean, solid car. Of course, no discussion of a '50s Cadillac is complete without mentioning the chrome, and the '58s look like they were showered in brightwork before going out the factory door. From the new grille that features dozens of bullet-shaped pieces to the many wonderful little details all over the body, to the growing tail fins out back, this Cadillac is just dazzling. The chrome was likely restored when the car was painted, so it remains in very good condition with only light polishing marks visible on any of the major pieces. Most of the details are crisp, so the workmanship was well done and the only real demerit we can find is some spotting on the left rear bumper that looks like something might have splashed on it and discolored the chrome. The exhaust is no longer routed through the bumper openings, which is good for the shiny stuff's longevity, and it appears that the emblems are nice original pieces that show some age. And the 60S was indeed built by Fleetwood, with block letters on the trunk letting everyone know that this was unquestionably Cadillac's best. The spectacular code 67 green brocade fabric and leather interior was restored two years ago and really makes this car special. The funky fabric is both stylish and comfortable, and the subtle tones used throughout suggest that Cadillac's stylists were at the top of their game. Dark carpets and dash pad help keep it from being green overload and someone has thoughtfully added a pair of matching Cadillac-logo rubber floor mats to keep everything tidy. The two-tone steering wheel is probably original and has a few cracks—typical of the era—but isn't coming apart and I'd leave it as-is. There's no fake wood here, just chrome and stainless trim that makes the dashboard one of the most gorgeous designs of the '50s. You'll note that this 60 Special is loaded, including power windows (including power vent windows!), factory A/C, Autronic eye, and a signal-seeking AM radio. Of those, everything works except the Autronic eye, which isn't a surprise. The A/C system has been completely rebuilt, but since it was designed for R12 refrigerant, it was never charged—instead of converting it, we would recommend finding some surplus R12 to make it work its best. The rear seat is cavernous thanks to the extended wheelbase on the 60S, and it rentains all kinds of old world luxury touches, including map pockets on the back of the seat and small grab handles to make egress easier. The headliner with its chrome support bows is just gorgeous and there's a fully upholstered trunk that includes a full-sized spare tire and jack assembly. Cadillac's OHV V8 got exponentially better throughout the '50s, and by 1958 it was 365 cubic inches and making 310 horsepower inhaling through a 4-barrel carburetor. Rebuilt to stock specs, the burly V8 doesn't seem to mind pulling around almost 5000 pounds of luxury sedan and performance is lively, even by today's standards. The engine bay is dominated by the big air cleaner and A/C compressor, but underneath you'll see Cadillac Blue paint, correct stamped steel valve covers with CADILLAC proudly embossed on their faces, and options like power steering and power brakes. It starts easily, idles nicely, and as I said, makes the 60 Special easy to drive under any circumstances. It isn't a show car, of course, but it's a fine driver where someone has invested a great deal of money making it work right. Underneath you can see that it has led a good life, with clean, solid floors and no issues in the rocker areas (critical on these X-frame GM cars). There's also a new dual exhaust system with an appropriately hushed tone, rebuilt brakes, and a restored gas tank handing out back. The Hydra-Matic automatic transmission shifts cleanly and is still one of the most durable automatics you can own, so don't let that scare you. The ride is Cadillac smooth and that long, long wheelbase just smothers bumps, making this a great highway cruiser that just eats up pavement with ease. Looking around, you'll also see new fuel system components, new U-joints for the driveshaft, a lot of new rubber parts, and a recently rebuilt steering box, so it tracks down the road rather well. 15-inch steel wheels with ornate hubcaps are correct for the 60 Special, and it sits on a set of L78-15 wide whites that are older but in good order. Extras include an owner's manual and a factory shop manual. This Cadillac makes a statement wherever it goes, even today. The fact that it remains so affordable is rather remarkable and the luxury it delivers will feel decadent, especially if you're used to what passes for luxury today. There's just nothing like looking out over a hood that seems a mile long, seeing those tailfins in your mirrors, all with the big V8 purring away as you aim the big Caddy towards the horizon. The more time we spend with this car, the more we like it—what it represents and what it delivers even today. And given how expensive a car like this is to restore, you can be grateful that someone else did all the heavy lifting for you and all you need to do is get in and enjoy. Call today! Harwood Motors welcomes and encourages personal or professional inspections of any vehicle prior to purchase.
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