Rarefied Air: 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Seville
At one time in America, if you could afford a Cadillac, you were considered wealthy and had definitely “arrived” here in Status Symbol Land. In 1960, Cadillac was the King of Luxury hands down and nobody disputed its claim as “The Standard of the World.” And, if you wanted to take your Cadillac status to even airier heights, you splurged and ordered yourself an Eldorado, the top-of-the-line’s “Top-Of-The-Line.” And what an exclusive club it was. Only a mere 2,400 Eldorado’s were built for the 1960 model year in the forms of a Biarritz Convertible, a 4-door, 6-window Brougham, and a 2-door hardtop Seville like we have featured here. Of the 1,075 Seville’s produced that year, this one still has its original interior, vinyl top, air suspension system, and has won several awards to boot (1st Place Senior by A.A.C.A., and Cadillac Club 1st Place Senior). Enjoying the warm climate of Ocala, Florida, this beautiful black 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Seville is for sale here on Ebay. Bidding is at $60,100 as I’m writing this, but the seller’s reserve hasn’t been met and there’s a Buy It Now price listed at $88,000. Another shout out to T.J. for sending this cool Caddy our way.
I wish I could tell you the the history and story behind this elegant Eldorado, but the the seller, who identifies himself as a collector, is very scant with descriptions and details. It’s drop-dead gorgeous though, with one repaint to its original Ebony black paint and all of the chrome, trim, glass, and everything gleaming, and the seller states that the black vinyl top is original. The rear end styling of the ’60 Cadillac, with its 9′ long quarter panels and “subdued” fins from the previous model year, is one of my favorites. What a statement! The seller says “This car rides on original airbags with original air pump and original air tank. Control system for airbag system is newer, not original.” To me, the Caddy’s stance is a bit high in the photos and you’ll also notice the Eldorado’s special deep-fluted wheel covers have been replaced with Kelsey Hayes Wire Wheels.
The original black-on-black interior is original and very well preserved. The black leather seats aren’t showing noticeable wear or damage and I’m not seeing any issues with the dash, door panels, or steering wheel. The black carpet looks a little faded which is understandable and you’ll also see aftermarket gauges under the dash, a tissue dispenser, and dual spotlights. The Eldorado represented Cadillac’s finest in comfort and convenience so it came loaded with practically everything, even power window vents. I’m assuming they’re all in working order.
The engine bay is also very clean and tidy and houses the standard Eldorado power plant for 1960: a 390-cubic inch V8 with three 2-barrel carburetors. It’s paired with a silky smooth Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and the odometer is listed at 47,059 miles, which could be original but it’s not stated. The seller says the car “starts, runs, and drives as original” and says it’s an investment grade collector car that, not surprisingly, has always been kept in a climate-controlled garage. What a stunning piece of rolling, finned ebony sculpture. When Cadillac was King!
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Comments
Quite a car. The under dash gauges and switches are for the air bag suspension system. I’d guess not many in that condition running around these days.
I once had a 1960 Series 62 sedan, the base model, it didn’t even have electric windows. It was a far cry from this beautiful car. Like Ron said, this car would have told people that you have “arrived,” my Caddy told people that I wasn’t there yet.
Bid question Todd did you ever arrive?
We’re told the styling of the ‘50’s through early ‘60’s was inspired by the jet age.
Looking at the beauty from the back and seeing those V’ed ailerons, it appears we’ve gone full circle in that these look to have given Lockheed Martin and Grumman their recent design inspirations!
A stunning car with an eye-watering price tag. Still, I’m sure the seller will get his price. I bought a ’60 Cadillac for $400 in the late ’70s once and took it on a road trip to Northern Maine. I went on a beer run with about 8 guys and gals, so we were pretty well loaded in more ways than one. On the way back from Presque Isle I was moving pretty good down a steep hill and at the base of the hill the car bottomed out and both of the fender skirts flew off into the woods. We found them after a good bit, and everyone had a good laugh about it. I beat the heck out of that car, so it didn’t last me long. When the trans quite I junked it.
When we were about 16-17ish, a pal had one and he did several blocks long Neutral Drops… i.e. floored it in Neutral and shoved it into low. Massive hilarious burnouts until his gearbox landed on the street. That same guy had a ’57 Olds with the J2 package (tri-power) that died so he was gonna wreck it. I pulled the intake off a still hot motor and moved it around fro 25 years. Couldnt give it away so it went in the lugger when I moved; wayyyyy before the internet. ;-((
I like the 60 over the 59, and this one is gorgeous! There’s an equally beautiful original 59 in the ACAA Car/Bus Museum in Hershey PA, also in black. May it be forever preserved and enjoyed for what it is.
This caddy would look absolutely gorgeous in a white pearl /white diamond paint job, however it is probably worth more in it’s original triple black.
Still cheaper than a new Cadillac Escalade which can top out at 180k!!. I would buy it, drive it and enjoy burning all that glorious dino juice it would drink.
Out of my reach, but definitely Better and much less than a CADILLACKING Escalade! My love affair with Cadillac began seeing a 58 Sixty Special and ended with owning a 93 Brougham which had MANY issues. Sad to see what now wears the Cadillac name 😕 😞
I painted a 59 black Eldorado with lacquer base/clear. I had to wet sand each coat of base and clear before continuing on to the next. And buff it out afterwards. It ended up being a 30 day job but it turned out every bit as nice as this one. Absolutely beautiful and if I had the money for a car like this one even though some wouldn’t like me for it I would drive it every dry day there was. Unfortunately this is probably the only time we’ll see it. At least we got to.
Well what can I say. I could beat myself upside the head but it wouldn’t change a thing. I bought one of these from the original owner in the 80s. Mine is black over white and it is a mess. I drove this car every chance I could, I was king of the world. I drove for 12 years and replaced one set of brakes and two water pumps. The ultimate in cool is the cruise control, which the one here doesn’t have. A big chrome knob with the words, ” pull to cruise”. The entire attitude of these cars are incredible. Mine cars demise was it blew a front air bag which was nowhere to be found years back. The leather is dry in mine and the original paint is shot and there is some floor and rocker rust, but drop a battery in it and he will fire right up. The 3x2s still work as they should the original air ride functions fine but I have the left front plugged and a wood block simular to what was placed in the cars when they were shipped from Detroit. These cars also featured the automatic trunk pull down and a wealth of others options. Except for bucket seats the gentleman who bought my unit checked every other box. I feel sad looking at this one and then my car. My unit may never be this nice but it will be great to drive as the front original bags are now available. My car had not the best chrome but years back while out in the southwest I bought it a beautiful set of bumpers for a whopping 25.00 a piece. What a time and what a car. You look at this gorgeous thing and think back to when these were not super cheap but were not even as much as a very nice 70 Chevelle. My car sleeps in its garage waiting for its turn. I have one and a half ahead of it. I like the black interior better than the white in mine. I don’t like all that business under the dash. The original air ride is a small chrome handle to the left of the steering column that simply says air lift. Pulling it out raises the car and in lowers it, depending on you ride wants. Amazing cars.
What can you say? Obviously a lot!
Yeah, I guess you’re correct, who cares. Most only look at the money and will never drive one or care. As in my will, the urn is to be placed one the front seat and the car is to be shredded. Maybe I can talk about it on the otherside. Sorry to have jawed.
Per my instructions, my cremains will be driven to my grave in my Town Car. Don’t want to be caught DEAD in what is now an ugly glorified truck! Understand once a man was actually buried sitting in his Cadillac! He must have had a big plot!
$88k to look and feel like a million bucks? A relative bargain.
I’ve followed these cars for years. Given the model, it’s condition, and accrued awards, the seller’s BIN is quite reasonable. The car is just stunning.
There can’t be many 1960 Cadillacs left, and fewer Eldorados, especially as well preserved as this one. If I had the wherewithal, I’d be proud to own it. May the new owner give it the care that it deserves.
Agreed, the price seems right for an award-winning and documented car that’s well-presented. And black gives it a stately, more important look. If this were a ’59, the seller might be asking six figures.
I just bought a 61 , it’s been sitting for 11 years , going to try firing up today!
The ’61’s are more unique, with their rear fenders. I saw an Eldorado convertible at a small Florida car show a few yrs. ago. It was immaculate, and in a light green with green leather. I believe a light tan top. The car was spectacular and I have a couple of pics of it somewhere. I had a white ’61 4 dr. Ht. with blk & white interior. With all windows down it was very open & airy.
I found a 62 deville that sat forever…it took me 2 years to find a gas tank which OGIP now has in stock, it even has the hardware and gasket for the sending unit…i think it was $245…just thought i would share with you, our 61 and 62’s parts are sometimes made from a special metal called Unobtainium…lol.
What a fantastic automobile! This is absolute proof that today’s Cadillac has lost their way. Just look at their bland products and trucks too! What a travesty.
See my post. CADILLACKING! The Standard of the WORLD has lost its panache and now wallows in mediocrity. But PRICES are astronomical.
Yes. Look at what GM has done to them. No one wants to go there now. Is this after John left the company and started his ill-fated own?
Look at the intersection of the windshield and the upper forward window trim. AMAZING design element. Over the top in manneristic design. Just amazing!
Beautiful Cadillac! I can see the big black air hose used to cool the generator which mine had. I took my drivers test (the same day I turned 16) in 1975 in my grandfathers pink 1960 Sedan De Ville. The State trooper was not sure about the color but I told him my Grandmother insisted on the same color with all his Cadillacs. I easily passed. He did not know I was driving that Caddy since I was 12 nor did he know I bought my 1965 Caddy when I was 15. And yes, the refinements on the 60 were far nicer than the 59.
And, it’s half the price of a new Escalade V.
And at least twice the value! Escalade is completely CADILLACKING.
Now at $65,300 with 32 bids and still not at or past reserve, this is clearly a “nose in the air” car for anyone lucky enough to drive and own it. It screams “you don’t pull me over while I’m driving it.”
My 1992 Fleetwood is the very last of the decent full sized Caddys. The dude who used to own it drove from Maine to Key West for 3 months every year celebrating his birthday. Before he passed.
I had 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance! 🏆 Next 93 Brougham was a first step in the decline of TRADITIONAL Cadillac elegance and excellence. Now for me all are simply CADILLACKING. 😢 😭
Are you a parrot?
A Parrot ly !
Just a stunning 60 Cadillac. I had forgotten that they had the airbag suspension back in the early 60s. Learn something new again everyday. I’m guessing you could modernize it with newer air bags if older system failed. My eyes are watering too, with this BIN price, but if you can afford it, she’s worth every dollar.
A.A.A.C. award winning jewel. 60 had a nice change, fin wise, from 59. The lines, color, glass tint all come together to present a work of automotive art that will hold it’s value for a long time to come. Worth every penny, and than some.
Gorgeous and extremely rare. I’m not sure what has been done to update original air suspension but it certainly should not be sitting so high. I own a 60 Eldorado Brougham on its original air ride. When I raise it up to this level, it gives a really rigid and bouncy “too much air in the system” ride. The opulent look of this amazing car is much more evident if it is sitting at proper ride height.
I don’t remember if older, early to mid 60s Lincolns had similar bag suspension systems like this 1960 Seville. I know later models did. Chryslers and Imperials in early 60s went with the Tortion bar suspension.
Lincoln tried the balloon suspension option in ’58 and ’59. They realized they caused problems with that setup and went to leaf springs in ’60, sticking with that setup thru ’69. Naturally, there was no balloon option available for Lincolns during that decade.
The Imperials actually adopted the torsion-front/leaf-rear suspension setup in ’57 and stuck with it until that division’s demise in ’75.
Well, the Eldorado Brougham was actually Caddy’s top-of-the-line in that year, despite only 99 sold (and the ignominious transition to automotive Valhalla after that year). It looked nothing like the clap-door beasts of ’57/8, but it was still the most exclusive model, not sharing any parts with other models. I know there are supporters for balloon suspensions who take offense to any criticism, but I’m one of those old-fashioned types who prefer proper springs. Balloons have always only been novelties, never replacing springs because of the trade-off involved. Now, that said, an operational one is a bonus.
Of Caddy’s befinned years, I have to say that 1960 is my favorite if I had to pick a favorite. It looks like a nice refinement of the ’59 model, which I consider a bit gawdy even for my tastes. I wish the seller luck in getting the $88g’s he’s holding out for; maybe he can if the bids already passed the $60g threshold, especially if the car is in fact 100% operational.
This is such a beautiful car like a piece of rolling artwork, I always liked the 60 over the 59 but would take either. The prices of these eldorado’s and even lesser models will keep ownership just a dream.
Definitely one of my”If I won the lottery” cars. Absolutely dripping with class. You definitely had made it in 1960 driving this to the country club.
Oh this brings back memories. When I was a child, my parents owned a 60 black convertible with a red leather interior. I rode in the back, top down, sans seatbelts, not to mention a child seat of any sort. Parked on an incline at a dairy store, my mom told me, “don’t touch the shifter.” She quickly ran inside to buy milk. What did I do? I pulled the shifter down and the big caddy rolled toward a busy street. My mom ran, with sprinter speed, to stop the car just in time. My dad traded that beautiful car for a Corvair in the late 60s. This has long been one of my favorite classics. If only I could get one for a Corvair!
I know that later Lincolns in the 70s and 80s had an air bag and pump type suspension, I guess earlier 1960s it was just too far ahead for them at the time. But Caddilac seems to have started them in early to mid 60s. Of course Chrysler was using tortion bar air ride systems at the time.
Not quite a barn find