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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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

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