1957 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 60 Pillarless Sedan

This 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 60 is fitted with a 365 cu in (6.0-litre) V8 and automatic gearbox and benefits from power-everything including steering, brakes, seat, windows, and aerial.

The seller has owned it since 2017 when he imported it from the salt-free climes of Florida. He tells us that “thousands of pounds have been spent getting this car to the standard that you see now, and the chassis, floors, and bodywork are all solid with no rot.” It even took Best in Show in Devon in 2018 “although it’s much better now, of course!”

Some enthusiasts dream of owning a James Bond car, while the rest of us yearn for something a bit more rock ‘n’ roll. Elvis Presley owned a 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Series a bit like this, saying of it: “Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine. Ain’t nowhere else in the world where you can go from driving a truck to a Cadillac overnight.”

Quite.

Much of the exterior brightwork has been re-chromed by S&T Electro-Plate of Bristol, with replacement hood badges being sourced from the ‘States at a four-figure cost. Even things like the rubber seals around the door handles are in a fine condition. Small stuff, for sure, but it’s the small stuff that often says the most.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Because the big stuff, like the panels, are just as good. The metalwork is straight and true and free of ripples, dents, and dinks. They fit well, and there are plenty of signs that’s it’s been assembled and painted with more than the usual skill and attention to detail.

The turquoise colour looks fantastic against the white roof and extensive chrome; bright and cheery and very of-the-period and yet a million miles away from gaudy. (Elvis, we’re looking at you here with your ‘Elvis Rose’ pink Cadillacs…)

And, while running a six-litre V8 is never going to be an exercise in parsimony, the fact you have to lift a rear light cluster out of the way to access the filler cap surely means that every single visit to the gas station would be a joy.

As for flaws, we can’t see anything here that would bother us.

The interior has been professionally re-trimmed with original material from SMS in USA - the only firm in the world to carry to correct cloth - and the trunk has been trimmed with carpet with a ‘tool box’ made to match. The steering wheel has been refurbished too, and the original radio still works.

That this work has been so meticulously carried out demonstrates the seller’s fastidious nature and his determination to bring his beloved Cadillac to the best condition possible.

And he has done a fine job, hasn’t he? American cars of this period are generally wonderfully OTT compared to the poverty fare we were building over at the time and yet, even by their trans-Atlantic standards, this one looks utterly sensational.

The two-tone seats are, of course, in a fantastic condition with their somewhat subdued colour scheme forming a satisfying background for the ornate chrome controls and instruments.

As for details, take a look at the switches for the electrically adjustable front seats, for example, or the rakish angle the spare wheel sits at in the trunk. The door shuts too, with their cleanliness and attention to detail. Even the brake pedal rubber, with its ‘POWER BRAKE” logo brings a touch of joy to what is usually a strictly utilitarian fixture.

Despite the odd area of pitting (e.g. #165), we can’t see a thing we’d change but why not use the ‘Contact Seller’ button to make an appointment to see it in Weston-Super-Mare and judge for yourself?

The mechanical work is just as impressive. We’re told it has had new brake wheel cylinders and flexible hoses fitted, with the master cylinder and servo having been overhauled.

Other chassis and transmission work includes a new steering idler arm, ‘D’ bushes, link rods, rear spring bushes, rear dampers, transmission and axle oil seals.

The ignition benefits from new sparkplugs and plug leads, plus a rotor arm and a distributor cap. A new fuel filter and sender unit have also been installed.

Two complete stainless-steel exhaust systems and a new battery complete the mechanical work.

As you can see from the attached invoices, spares are readily available both domestically and from the USA. They also show there is no shortage of folk capable of repairing it here, either – and that they are also both meticulous and highly skilled in both fault-finding and repair; if your local main dealer’s tendency is to swap parts until a problem is fixed, running a car like this means entrusting skilled engineers to repair threads, hone cylinders, and re-jet carburettors.

It bursts into life with alacrity, settling into a steady tickover. It revs nicely, and if the hum inside the cabin is suitably muted, the exhaust note is anything but – and have you ever seen more glorious exhaust tailpipes?

The engine bay is very nicely finished being detailed but not overly so. It strikes a good balance between fastidious and obsessive and we can’t see many people finding anything to fault under there.

The underside is equally impressive, with the sort of industrial strength engineering that would have Brunel querying whether it was over-specified.

The exhaust system is a visual and auditory delight and there is evidence of plenty of money being spent on the hidden stuff.

That said, the seller admits there are still faults to cure but there are only two and he has solutions for both: the vacuum wipers are not working and neither is the clock, however he has an electric wiper conversion and a spare clock for the new owner to install.

We also note the rear Cushion-Aire tyres have seen better days, with the nearside being bald on the inside edge and the offside one being close.

These are the crossply tyres it arrived here wearing, and they were fitted on the front, hence the wear pattern. Swapped to the rear axle and with the tracking adjusted, the seller left the tyres in place because he was torn between fitting a new set of crossply tyres (“original specification but they do tend to wander and follow imperfections in the road”) or modernising it a little with a set of radials (“much nicer to drive but not original…”).

In the end he trod the middle course and left it for the new owner to decide which path to follow. Over to you then.

The Cadillac comes with some invoices for parts purchased here in the United Kingdom plus a workshop manual, its US Certificate of Title, and three sets of keys.

The Cadillac doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, showing only its status as an imported vehicle.

The days when you could walk into a showroom and buy a car like this new are long gone and will never return – and not just because of the thumping great six-litre V8 engine or the 2.2-tonne kerbweight: chromed controls and ornate instruments have been replaced by touchscreens, and chromed brass fittings are now lightweight plastic with a thin veneer of silver paint.

It’s all a bit depressing.

Unless, of course, you have something like this in your garage. Something to cheer you up whenever you remember how much your hybrid runabout is depreciating by every month.

Because, at a time when a new Ford Focus mild hybrid in a decent colour will set you back £30,000, this could be yours for a similar amount.

And, while we think it might even go as high as £35,000, we’re willing to bet the modern car’s depreciation means the ‘economical’ choice ends up costing you far more overall.

Besides, no-one ever sat in the back seat of their hybrid in the garage listening to rock ‘n’ roll songs playing softly on the FM radio, did they?

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Weston-super-Mare, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.