I make it a point to check the Cohort daily after (if) I finish everything else for the next day. And in today’s batch of new photos is this terrific shot of a ’64 Fleetwood Sixty Special, by C. Hannaher, and visible over the middle divider only because of its infirmity.
All I can add to this is to say that as a highly impressionable ten year old when this was new, seeing a Sixty Special in Iowa was a big deal. Its distinctive roof and lack of chrome on its flanks made it instantly recognizable at great distance, and made sure it was not confused with the lesser Cadillacs. This was as good as it got in 1964.
The early ’60’s Cadillacs were among the best, and if I ever owned an old car, one of these would be on my list. Simple elegance, class, and good taste. It’s likely being transported for someone and its owner doesn’t trust anyone else to drive it. I honestly don’t blame them.
As a kid, I was excited when the 61 Cadillac and 61 Lincoln Continental were introduced, both very different and each very elegant. A couple of years ago I caught this Coupe de Ville cruising through downtown Santa Monica, looking as fresh today as it did over 50 years ago.
These cars really do have a strong presence. Some lessor Caddies had lost a little of their stateliness during the jukebox period, but this was largely corrected by 64. What great choices there were in 64. A 600 Mercedes with all it’s advanced tech. The full frame Rolls Royce Phantoms with their old world elegance and craftsmanship, not to mention loudly ticking clocks. The Lincoln with it’s great style. The Cadillac, with it’s room, quiet and creature comforts as had never been before seen. 1964 must have been a great time to be wealthy, with a few more years till the barbarians arrived at the gate in 68
Lets face it John, there is never a bad time to be rich! Keeping the measuring parameters to autodome, lets look at some sample decades. How about the 30’s? From big Mercs to Caddy V-16’s to Bugattis and Duesenbergs and Lincolns, Bentleys and of course Rolls! All big, imposing, ultra luxurious and powerful! How about even a decade like the 70’s. Now for the average guy the 70’s were pretty dismal, at least past ’73. But, for the rich guy…. How about the Lomborgini Countach? Or perhaps cars like; The Masserati Quatroporte, Mercedes 6.9, Porsche turbo, Jaguar XJ12, BMW’s turbine like 6 cylinder 6 Series, and so many more! My point is, there is no time in all of history, that it is not a good time for a rich guy [or gal]!
Steve, if a rich person wanted to drive, or be driven, in the stately manner of 1964 what could he or she do. In 1964 he had different choices from different countries with which to express his individuality. From 50 years on this Cadillac and the Mercedes 600 may look similar and perform the same function, but had very different personalities and strengths. Today what choice is there, Cadillac and Lincoln have downmarketed themselves out of the game. Todays Rolls and the Mercedes have been reaimed to modern day Al Capones. That leaves the Toyota Century, and those don’t leave Japan. What does that leave? I know, buy a big SUV, but hey aren’t the rich supposed to be different from the rest of us.
It appears you caught that good shot in motion (Mr. Hannaher). I’ll bet the owner finds it so lovely he doesn’t want to drive it for transport.
And that would be very, very sad. Mass-produced vehicles such as this one should be responsibly driven, and enjoyed.
This is the inner loop of the Beltway, so we were both in motion.
NOW I REMEMBER where I have seen that front end. On old hearses! Old Caddie hearses. So- this means every time I see ANY older Cadillac, there’s a subconscious association with death. I wonder if GM thought of this before they started making Caddie hearses (or allowing them do be made?)
So many different cars are converted to hearses. An unlikely conversion that I’m now seeing quite regularly in the UK is the Jaguar XJ hearse. Grace, space and final resting place.
I wonder why they raised the roofline so high. In case the dearly departed has to get up out of the casket?
I not sure why they do it, either. But, if you look at European hearses, they all seem to have this feature.
My guess is it could be done to make it easier to make a decent looking roofline.
the high roofline allows for larger windows and a better, brighter presentation of the casket. the very existence of side windows instead of a solid wall and landau bar is very different than north America.
Couple of thoughts on that one. The coffin is visible, and is often accompanied with floral tributes alongside and on top of the casket. The coffin is carried high in the back of the hearse, to ease lifting it from and on to the shoulders of the pall-bearers. And undertakers often wear top hats, which they keep on when inside the hearse. I attended a funeral just a few days ago (it was an E-Class Merc, in case you’re wondering, same sort of bodywork), so I’m basing this guesswork on some real-life observations.
It’s a cultural thing. In Europe, the tradition was to have the casket be wheeled through town to the cemetery on a very tall cart, with flowers around it, so everyone could see it from the sidewalk. So European hearses do that still today.
In Asia, hearses are very different again. Not everyone does things the way Americans do. 🙂
Yeah- a hearse like that in America would seem obtuse or macabre’ or even obscene. HERE COMES YOUR DEAD GUY, everyone look!
Now THAT should be the Popemobile!
I found the attached motor cycle funeral hearse in the UK. Still has the large windows!!
http://www.motorcyclefunerals.com
What a coincidence! All of small talk about the hearse…
I saw one last Sunday in Berlin. This Mercedes-Benz W114/W115 had been used as a hearse before it was repurposed as a delivery van later in its life.
If you think about it, it always WAS a delivery van. Only the product being delivered changed. 😉
Really an impressive car .
I’ve owned ’64 & ’65 Lincolns and have driven these Caddies , the Caddy is the better car by far .
-Nate
Elevating the caddy has allowed for a really clean horizon reflection along its flank. Great shot.
I had an aunt who had one of these when I was young. I felt like a little Rockefeller every time I rode in it. (We had a Chevy Biscayne.)
What a gorgeous car, especially in that color.
Had I had a fatter checkbook as a college kid in 1979, my 63 Sixty Special would have gotten this kind of ride numerous times. 🙂
Even being a well-worn 16 year old car, my black one still had a real presence about it. I hated to sell it but it was at that place (which we all know) where it needed more money put into it than I could give it. Fortuitously, I sold in the spring of 1979, about 4 months before fuel prices went through the roof. At 7.5 mpg on premium, I never would have unloaded it had I not sold it when I did.
But even after a moderately traumatic experience, I still love these.
Few people have drivers anymore, but if I ever did, on the occasions when I would be driven, I would find and maintain a genuine Fleetwood 75 for the task.
I would like to think she is being towed for a minor mechanical issue, rather then being a trailer queen. Really does improve the look of the tow truck, though.
Since it is a tow truck I think it must have broken down. If it were being shipped I think a different transport would be used. Tow trucks are expensive.
Perhaps it was just bought and was being towed home because it does not have tags on it yet? I had my 1995 Deville towed home because it was a Sunday when i bought the car and the tag and title place was closed(I don’t do the MVA anymore and a few dollars more to the tag and title guys to do the leg work is money well spent) It was easier to get it towed to my home then it was to try to get a ride to go back for it.
Of course since the seller of the car was the owner of a tow company I got it towed to my house free.
Looks remarkably good for a 52 year old car. The last Caddy you looked at before buying a limousine.
Looks far better than my latest project!
As I posted yesterday, this was the grandest “owner driven” model available. You are not going to look silly or out of place driving around by yourself in this baby! All you late model Lincoln Town Car owners know what I’m talking about. I had a pretty clean white over gold ’64 series 62 convertible as my second car back in 1974. Sold my ’66 Mustang with no regrets. The car was fast, an easy handler and still a head turner. This is one that I do miss. I did love me my Cadillacs. My advice is; buy your Lincoln Mark, El Dorado, Fleetwood Broughham or Town Car, now, while they are still cheap and available.
Around 1960 my favorite uncle bought a used powder blue ’58 Sixty Special with every option, including A/C. Was the most amazing car this then 9 year old ever experienced. Never knew why he bought it, as it was totally out of character for him. In any event, he traded it in for a new 6 cyl. 1962 Chevy Biscayne wagon, it’s only option being an AM radio.
Beautiful car, beautiful color. These 60 Specials really expect to be painted dark colors with monochromatic tops, for that driveable limousine look. And back in the day, more of these actually were driven by chauffeurs than you might think.
These ’61-’64s are the postwar pinnacle of the Sixty Special, IMHO. Thanks to the formal roof, they had a real visual separation from the lesser lines, and fit and finish was still first-rate. I give props to the ’66 and ’67 for using the Olds 98 LS’s fold down tables. but it was a holding action against a less distinctive car overall.
Which raises the question, was 1964 the summit of the postwar American luxury car? You had the stretched Continental, this beauty, and the Engelized Imperial LeBaron – all with real wood trim and great details all around.
I think you’re right about 1964 being the best year. All three luxury lines had great-looking cars other years, as well, but I think ’64 is the high-water mark for all three together.
A curious sighting in the streets of Munich: a 1971-1972 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 for the well-heeded proletariats…
I think a 1972.
Nice shot, nice car!