Automotive styling was evolving as 1960 dawned. Many cars still featured fins as a defining feature, although these were shrinking as buyer tastes changed. This 1960 Cadillac Sedan DeVille reflects that approach. Its appearance is more restrained than its predecessor, and the bullet taillights that were so prominent in 1959 disappeared as the company integrated them into the trailing fin edges. This beauty is said to be a low-mile survivor, and my Barn Finds off-sider, Russell Glantz, demonstrated that he can spot a gem from a mile away. The seller listed the Caddy here on eBay in Anoka, Minnesota. Bidding sits below the reserve at $8,332 with time remaining for potential buyers to stake their claim.
The 1960 Cadillac was an evolution of the previous year’s offering, beginning a process that would see the radical fins of the late 1950s slowly disappear. The seller states that this Sedan DeVille is a survivor, and its condition seems to reflect their claimed odometer reading. The Olympic White paint reflects the surroundings extremely well, and any flaws are so minor that they don’t show in the supplied photos. I did spot minor swirling in a couple of locations that should disappear with the right type of polish. The panels are straight, with no evidence of repairs or rust. The underside shots reveal a dusting of dry surface corrosion, but nothing that looks like it is ready to turn nasty. The trim and tinted glass look exceptional, while the whitewalls add a fitting finishing touch.
The seller doesn’t mention verifying evidence for their claim that this Caddy has 47,800 genuine miles on the clock. There is nothing like holding a piece of paper to remove lingering doubts, but the condition of its Black and White interior makes it plausible. There is no evidence of wear or abuse, the dash looks excellent, and the wheel is in as-new condition. I can’t spot any aftermarket additions to an interior featuring air conditioning, power windows, a power front seat, an Autronic eye, an AM radio, and a power antenna. The seller indicates that there are functional issues with the power seat and that the wipers are inoperative. Otherwise, this interior appears to need nothing.
Any car weighing over 4,800 lbs needs something special under the hood, and Cadillac came to the party in 1960, equipping the Sedan DeVille with a 390ci producing 325hp. The rest of the drivetrain is standard fare for the period, including a four-speed automatic transmission and power assistance for the steering and brakes. Cruising at freeway speed should be pretty effortless, although with this Caddy gulping its fuel at around 10mpg, it wouldn’t make a great daily driver. However, for weekend road trips or cruising beachside boulevards, it would be the ideal choice. Potential buyers can consider this Sedan DeVille to be a turnkey proposition. The seller doesn’t mention any mechanical maladies or issues, meaning that motoring pleasure is only a twist of the key away.
This 1960 Cadillac Sedan DeVille isn’t perfect, but it appears that most of its shortcomings are minor functional issues. A competent person could potentially tinker in a home workshop, and the results might justify the effort. Otherwise, it is a solid survivor, and if the odometer reading can be confirmed, that adds to its appeal. If the frantic pace of life is beginning to wear thin, perhaps escaping behind the wheel of this gentle giant will offer a welcome reprieve. Does that idea tempt you? I will understand if it does.
It may be nice, but how strong is the demand? The dealer has listed it for auction several times, once receiving a high bid of $21,600, which did not meet reserve.
Steve R
I always wince when I see a car such as this being sold by dealer, because you know they are offering the car at a very high asking price. And they often know less about the car than they should, being only interested in moving it off the lot.
True Steve. The market for classic cars is beginning to flatten out for two reasons I can see. First, the coming recession is making even the most ardent motor head to rethink their priorities as job losses and business closings continue to mount.
And second, the younger generation
Today wouldn’t give two hoots in hell
over a fine car like this one. High tech
gadgets and jelly bean styling is what
the kids want today– and that’s because that’s the only thing out there. As for this car, checking the fusible links to see if there isn’t a blown fuse somewhere. For our younger BF friends out there, one fuse on a Cadillac controlled two or more devices inside the car. And this could be a real pain in the ass to diagnose properly. That’s what I think is going on here. Other than that, at
$8K, this car is a steal. Wouldn’t kick
it off my parking spot that’s for sure.
Neither the wipers nor the seat is on a fusible link. The wipers have a fuse(not a link) and the seat, is on a circuit breaker(self resetting).
My Grandfather always had Cadillacs and he had a ’59 in this same body style and color combination. I remember wishing he had waited a year and bought the much prettier ’60. I would love to have this car to transport my 4 year old grandson so that he could experience the sensation of riding in a truly magnificent automobile.
So Steve R, I am the market for such a car. But only in my fantasies as I do not live in a money-is-no-object world. Even those more fortunate than I are seeing their financial resources dwindle dramatically in the current artificially created economic chaos. Add in the factor of a rapidly aging demographic for whom these cars hold any meaning and the demand, as Steve R says, is not there.
I will be going to the Mecum Indy Auction in a couple of weeks. I will probably drag along my 36 year old son and 39 year old son-in-law. I think they go along just to humor me and let me reminisce about all the wonderful vehicles on display. But they’re buying quads and 3D printers and Power Wheels and Legos, not vintage automobiles.
The people with money to indulge in this hobby will probably always have money and I do not begrudge them that. But those on the fringes will be watching their pennies far more carefully and less optimistically than before.
I agree 1,000% with both of your observations.
My father-in-law had two. One was a “parts car” that he never picked a part from. Both were complete and running.
The 1960 Caddy saw a styling change from the gauche missile launcher in 1959 to this automotive queen. And this has the “proper” roof too, because somehow the wrap-around “Vista” hardtop didn’t look right on neither the ’59 or ’60. It’s been years, but wasn’t a ’60 Caddy used in the movie “The Deer Hunter”?
Terry, was a 1959 White 2door hardtop that they kicked the bumper to open the trunk.
I believe the most prominent appearance a ’60 Cadillac sedan had on screen was in “American Graffiti” in the “shaving cream” scene. IMCDB: According to the DVD extras, this car was owned by someone who lent/leased it to the movie company without quite knowing what would happen to it. As Paul LeMat and Mackenzie Phillips run about it spraying shaving cream and running over the ends of it, the owner was reportedly freaking out and about to have a heart attack. The actors did wear soft soles out of respect!
The above commenter’s make some good points. The guys with money to burn aren’t really into the mid century stuff anymore. And the guys that are? We’re too worried about what this world will look like when we’re too feeble to make a difference. I’m so grateful I bought my old Mustang 35 years ago. If I was in the market for one now? I’d be sitting on the sidelines, too.
Cars with a strong following will always have an elevated value. Those that won’t will drop in value as they become irrelevant and will compete on price with all the other cars that don’t have a following.
Look to popular culture, for a preview of where the market is going. What you see relevant character drive or possess and cars close by in the direct line of sight in background shot are there for a reason. Cars like this are rarely seen as anything that way, they are either parked on a street or seen in “traffic”. That not what you see with muscle cars, sports cars and many vintage/classic trucks. Once that changes the market will eventually follow.
Steve R
If this was a 2 door the price would be twice as nice
I’m a big fan of these. This one looks like it could be a nice driver (after close personal inspection, of course). I almost pulled the trigger on a couple of these in the past, but I have never lived in a place where storage for something this size would be easy, so it might remain a pipe dream for me.
A friend has one of these (his is yellow) and he had to build a three-foot bump-out on his 1940s era garage to have enough room to park it inside. Even with that, it’s a tight fit that demands precision!
The 390 only suffered from fuel economy issues due the flat foot syndrome. When I blasted my coach across the high passes in Colorado at 70 and ran the Eastern plains at 110, it always delivered 12-14, never a complaint there. One has to pay for power, worth every penny!
Pops had a champagne pink flat top version. Four window it was called. This is a six window.
Hated that roofline and who ever thought of it and more importantly who ever approved it was an idiot in my opinion as it didn’t look good on any GM product of 1959 or 1960. Especially Cadillac.
With a big recession coming, I MIGHT be able to afford something now. Just need a place to put it. 🤔🙄
As a little boy in Buffalo, NY, my parents had a black 60 convertible with a red leather interior. I have lots of fond memories of that car and perk up whenever I see one, even a 4-door like this one. Alas, dad traded it in for a Corvair…
Dealership website has $30K for the asking price on this.
What a beautiful car!!! Take it from someone born in 1960 – it is in an incredible state of preservation and looks (and probably runs) a million times better than I do!!! I personally happen to like the “6-window” roofline on these De Villes much more so than the “flat-top” 4-window roofline. The only thing about the 1960 models I didn’t like was that Cadillac did away with the horn-ring on the steering wheel that year. I think the steering wheel in 1960 is about the same size (16.5 or 17 inches in diameter) as the 1959. Always loved the old horn-ring thing. Now all that is needed is a nice, long California 2-lane stretch of old US 66 (I don’t like the expression “route 66” – sounds foreign to me), with some Burma Shave signs along the highway every 40 miles or so!!!
@Steve
Its my opinion they got rid of the horn ring that was on the 1959 models because they kept bending and breaking. The coveted horn ring to replace restoring a ’59 is extremely expensive. 1960 there was no such problem