The 1942 model year was abbreviated throughout Detroit due to the United States’ entry into World War II. As a result, many of the cars produced that year are quite rare, with Cadillac’s sleek Series 60 Special Sedan selling only 1,684 examples. It was a shame, as the Series 60 Special had that year adopted sleeker, more streamlined styling, with tapered pontoon-style fenders that gave a new grace to the latest evolution of Bill Mitchell’s handsome original design. A version of the design would re-enter production following the war, but would be produced in considerably higher numbers. Thus the 1942 is truly “the one to have.”

This particular Series 60 Special was sold new by Bob Feferman Motor Sales of South Bend, Indiana, as noted in its factory build sheet. William B. Ruger Jr. acquired it from longtime fellow CCCA member Ray Levy of Frankfurt, Illinois, in whose ownership it had undergone considerable mechanical sorting, including a rebuilt transmission and cosmetic restoration. Once acquired, additional work was undertaken by Chris Charlton’s Classic Car Services of Oxford, Maine, to Mr. Ruger’s usual perfectionist standards; for example, leather was sourced with a grain similar to what was used by GM for the seat-bottom and seat-back upholstery in place of the original cloth. The result made a wonderful comparison to the V-12 and V-16 Cadillacs in the Ruger fleet as Cadillac’s most modern Full Classic statement in engineering and design.

This would be a splendid candidate for CARavan tours, using it on the road in the spirit of its most recent owner, a man who thrilled at the driving experience of a great Full Classic.