If there was ever a case of a car being way too cool for me, this is it. The seller of this gorgeous 1960 Cadillac Coupe DeVille says it was restored 20 years ago, but we don’t know if they did the work or owned the car at the time, or if it was a different owner, or really what the story is. They have it posted here on craigslist in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, and they’re asking $22,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Barney for the tip!
I know the ’59 Cadillac is the be-all-end-all Cadillac design for the majority of people, but I prefer the elegant, slightly understated 1960 design. The tailfins are less over-the-top, and for me, it’s not as gaudy and showy. It’s impossible not to be noticed in a first-generation DeVille (made for 1959 and 1960), especially a nice-looking Ebony and Olympic White 1960 Coupe DeVille, whether it has the higher taillights and double-bullet taillights of the 1959 models or not. The wheels sure look huge on this car; are these factory-sized tires (15″) and wheels? The wheels don’t look like anything available on a DeVille, but maybe an Eldorado Biarritz or Eldorado Seville?
Like a wild west gunfighter ready for action, those taillights and fins are cool, mean, and dangerous, and would probably be illegal today. And how about the front end and grille? The restoration costs on this car had to have been horrendous; the chrome bills alone would make me weep like a child. The seller is pretty short on photos, but they hit the highlights, including showing the engine, so that’s great. I never understand why, when you can load up a listing with photos for $0.00 extra money, why there aren’t the maximum number of photos. Who doesn’t want to see inside the trunk? Or the underside?
Or… a photo showing what I’m sure is a beautiful dash? There isn’t a photo showing any other interior bits than one showing the front seats and one showing the back seat. But, beautiful seats they are, so there’s that. Page 7 of this 1960 Cadillac brochure shows the gorgeous Coupe DeVille, or an artist’s rendering of one. The seat pattern and material look similar, so whoever did the restoration of this car 20 years ago must have gone overboard with quality details like that. It gives me a good feeling about the parts of the car that we don’t get to see. And what better car to drive to a friend’s house to check out his antique gun collection? (The two guys on page 7 of the brochure).
Nice, another clean area of this restored car. I like this car more and more. The engine should be Cadillac’s 390-cu.in. OHV V8, with around 325 gross horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. With only three standard features- power steering, power brakes, and a Hydra-Matic Drive automatic transmission- this car is almost loaded with options otherwise, such as power windows, cruise control, a power antenna, and air-conditioning. I’m sure this is a fun car to drive, and the only car that I’ve owned even remotely close to this quality and cache was my 1966 Lincoln Continental Coupe. I’d much rather have this Coupe DeVille; it isn’t even a contest. Have any of you owned a 1960 Cadillac DeVille?
It’s a bucket-list car for sure, Scotty. The Hag puts a #4 car at the same value as the asking price on this car. This car looks better than a #4 car, so this car could be a pretty good deal. Now Howard is gonna say I told ya so.
On a side note, can you ask Jesse is there is any merch? My BF T-shirts need updating if he’s still selling them.