About an hour west of Toledo, Ohio, resides one classy and stately Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine. It’s available here on craigslist and the asking price is $2,900. That seems like a lot of car for the money!
If you’re looking for one, old limousines are easy enough to find. But this one looks like a great value as well as an interesting car. Most of the limousines seen on the road today were made from Cadillacs or Lincolns that left the factory as normal cars, and then transported to a coachbuilder, who basically cuts the cars in half, adds length to the frame, body, may upgrade the suspension, and adds new interior from the driver’s seat back. Nothing wrong with that, except this one is better. It appears to be a factory-built limo, and as such, did not start out life as a regular sedan.
The seller tells us GM manufactured just 980 of these, and that 480 of them were trimmed with blue interior like this one. The brocade cloth on the seats is a textured pattern, and it dates the car very well to the era in which it was made.
This model is equipped with seats that fold into the front seat backs, and these are called “jump seats”. The seat closest to us is folded in this photo.
With both seats in the folded position, they serve as footrests for the rear seat passengers in this cavernous interior space.
The seller tells us this car was funeral home-owned, which might suggest more regular maintenance than a privately-owned car that didn’t get used much. The miles are 108,000 and the car is said to run and drive very well. The engine is the 429 V8, and the transmission is a three speed automatic.
General Motors made very fine cars back in the day, and this is one of them. The MSRP on this car was $10,312. A fully loaded ’66 Impala cost about one third that amount.
Like any self-respecting Fleetwood, this one has some good options. Tilt and telescope steering column, automatic load-leveling chassis, dual climate control, and power options as well. Power windows, seats, steering, brakes and God knows what all else. Being a mid-60s vintage limousine, it probably has around 47 different cigarette lighters and ashtrays in various locations throughout the vastness of the interior region. Although some of these options will need repair, likely due to dis-use. The seller says the body has rust, but the floors are solid.
The seller says it needs a total restoration, but is all there, and runs and drives now. But if I had space for it, I wouldn’t be in much of a hurry to start a restoration. Just because it’s a limousine doesn’t mean it can’t have patina. Gotcha! I’m sure right away I would reverse the ill-advised decision to install steer horns on the hood, and get the holes patched and filled, buy some narrow whitewall tires, and start attending to the electrical needs. But this is crazy talk. I can’t afford (or need) a limousine! If I could though, I’d take a good look at this one. The 1966 model year is the favorite of many who appreciate these huge, slab-sided Cadillacs. What do you think of this fabulous, factory built limousine? What can it do for you?
Nice price!
Back in 1977 I tried to buy a 1962 caddy lemo.
High school said no on the two parking space thing
“47 different cigarette lighters and ashtrays” Love that. Damn near true, too!
Appears to be a funeral home limo, used for pallbearers. Rode in one similar when I was in my teens
Urban tank, 6 mpg but totally kewl. Love those jump seats. It needs a turret with twin .50 s on top
When I read “Seems like a lot of car for the money” I was skeptical. After reading and looking at the pictures I must agree. This would make a fine entry to just about any collection, also the unfortunate horns must be gone. lol
So true, that’s alot of pounds per dollar. Only white 2 door convertibles should have horns up front. RIP Sorrell Booke.
I like it and wish I didn’t have so many projects,I was fortunate to repaint a simillar ’66 factory limo, black over blue. It had the divider window and a vinyl top, I was supprised that J.C. W. sold a replacment top. That was a long job! The owner let me use it to take the family to grandma’s funeral. Got lots of looks since it was 30 years old and looked like new.
Just want to mention that it is not a limousine, it is a 7-passsenger sedan. Limousines have a glass divider window between the front and rear. Cadillac made both versions.
Right, it is not a limousine…People often make this mistake.
Please try to describe accurately the cars that you feature. For example, you describe this as a limousine,,,,It is not. This car is the 7-passenger sedan. The Limousine had the divider window and chauffeur’s compartment in black leather. Please let’s try to be accurate.