Introduced in 1938, the Cadillac Series 60 Special immediately injected a fresh stream of momentum, and money, into the marque’s coffers. The model featured progressive and modern styling thanks to the new Cadillac styling chief, Bill Mitchell. The design featured a longer wheelbase and lower “double drop” frame, which is aesthetically complimented by Mitchell’s trimmed and sloping treatment to the body’s rear roofline. The car’s exterior was further streamlined via the addition of integrated fog lights, rear fender skirts and internal (within the door frame) running boards.

By 1940, the Series 60 Special was firmly secured in the top of Cadillac’s sales chart. Using this momentum to their favor, marque executives pushed the model line into the Fleetwood portfolio and outfitted it with finer trim and deluxe build materials. As such, the model was rebadged as the Series 60 Special Fleetwood; despite its new trim level, nearly 4,600 examples were sold during the course of the 1940 model year. In 1941, Cadillac followed up with a comparable bounty of 4,100 examples sold, of which the vast majority were Sedans, like that offered here. Additionally, 1941 models proved the final rendition of Mitchell’s first-generation design, which was facelifted for the following model year.

This 1941 Cadillac Series 60 Special Fleetwood is an award-winning example clad in its factory-correct Gunmetal Gray Metallic over a tidy gray stripe cloth interior. Reportedly restored as needed through many years of enthusiast ownership, this 60 Special earned an AACA National First Prize in 1972. Though nearly a lifetime ago in regards to exhibition history, the car still presents well today, with many handsome finishes throughout. It presently indicates fewer than 73,000 actual miles at time of cataloguing.

The marque’s signature “Clear Vision” dashboard is wrapped in a stunning high-gloss burlwood veneer with chrome trim, a push-button radio, heater, and clock. The doors are similarly outfitted with presentable burlwood trim and chrome fittings. The rear bench is bisected by a drop-down armrest/divider, which does very little to challenge egress or ingress from the cabin. The exterior also benefits from the presence of red-accented chrome hubs wrapped in wide whitewall tires.

Power comes from a 346-cubic-inch L-head V-8 paired to Cadillac’s four-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission, which is operated via the steering column. Finely presented, this 60 Special Fleetwood Sedan with past show credentials would be ideal for tours or other long, casual drives. It is now accompanied by a set of manuals, a spare wheel, and lug wrench.