1942 Cadillac 60 Special
Cadillac’s 60 Special was always a more luxurious version of their standard four-door sedans, slotted between Cad’s cheapest series and the high-end Fleetwood. It really was a “special” model that started in 1938, designed by future GM Design head Bill Mitchell to resemble a convertible sedan. With the passenger compartment shifted forward on the chassis, the proportions helped to define what a contemporary car would become. Because the whole car was lower due to the new 127-inch wheelbase X-frame chassis the running boards were eliminated and the top had less crown for a leaner, more modern look. The styling was groundbreaking and would translate to other GM products over the next few years. Other hallmarks of the 60 Special was it usually rode on a longer chassis than other Cadillac models, with the exception of the limousines; and it was always a four-door sedan, except in the late-1950s when all Cadillac four-doors were hardtops. As the line progressed, it displayed unique trim to distinguish it on the outside from lesser Cad models, usually featuring a series of small chrome louvers or special lined stainless cladding in the rear quarters. It also featured a more luxurious interior and appointments, including a lighted tables for rear passengers in the 1950s.
1942 60 Special
The new 133-inch wheelbase 60 Special was the longest Cadillac available except for limousines, which would establish for years the feature distinguishing 60 Specials from other Cadillacs. Besides the longer wheelbases, 60 Specials also had wider C-pillars for a more formal look. The use of more trim on 60 Specials was another way Cadillac distinguished them from lesser models. Production was stopped in February to convert over to the war effort, so only 1,684 sedans and 190 Imperial sedans were produced.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
1942
- Body Style
- 60S-Series Special Sedan
- 60S-Series Special Imperial Sedan
1942 Cadillac VIN Decoder:
First-Third Characters: Series
Fourth-Eighth Characters: Production Number Sequence
- Special Sedan starting at 6380001/Up
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