Restoration Ready! 1960 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
The DeVille nameplate enjoyed an eight-generation run from 1959 through 2005, being Cadillac’s biggest all-time seller. The ‘59s were (IMO) the most over-the-top in terms of Detroit styling, so the ‘60s were toned down a bit, yet still had tailfins that were the envy of the industry. This Coupe DeVille is said to be a running automobile with rare front and rear factory air conditioning, but it’s about due for a restoration. Located in Sarasota, Florida, this bigger-than-life car is available here on craigslist for $12,800 (that’s $2.50 per pound!). Thanks for the Caddy tip, Patrick S!
Cadillac was once again the sales leader in the luxury car segment in 1960 with more than 142,000 automobiles. DeVille production represented more than one-third of that total, with the Coupe DeVille, like the seller’s car, coming in at 21,600 units. Like other GM counterparts of that era, the ’60 2-door hardtop coupe had a “bubbletop”-like roof with thin C-pillars and lots of glass. I’ve always wondered if the passengers in the back seat of those cars got a sunburn on their necks during the summer.
We’re told that this ’60 Caddy runs well and the transmission shifts fine, yet from the photos it looks like an auto that hasn’t moved in some time. If it runs, why not move it back a few feet to take some pictures of the front end of the car, which we don’t get to see? Surely the 390 cubic inch V8 rated at 325 hp could manage to move out into the parking lot. A Carter 2-barrel carburetor was standard (using Premium gasoline), but you could get a 6-Pack set up that added 20 extra horses.
The paint on this Caddy looks to be Fawn Metallic, not the purple described by the seller. The paint looks fair and the body okay, but the passenger side door and rocker panel have had some repair work done given the grey primer present now. But we don’t know if there are issues elsewhere to be concerned about.
The odometer reading is 84,000 miles, so hopefully, there’s lots of life left in the matching numbers drivetrain. The interior needs some work, especially the upholstery and door panels, and the Cadillac was treated to A/C front and rear, but we don’t know if it works. I would want to inspect the car in person before committing to buying it. Since it’s in Florida, maybe some “snowbirds” brought it south with them back in the day.
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Comments
Russ is right; this one would definitely need an in-person inspection. Too many unanswered questions. Great color, though.
These are all either 4bbls or the optional 3×2; no 2bbl 390s.
Cadillacs never had 2barrel Carburetors
Yes they did, but not in 1960. 1949, 1950, and 1951 are all two-barrels.
Awesome car. Color looks like faded Siena Rose Metallic. More pink than purple, but definitely not Fawn (which is tan/beige metallic)
It’s Persian Sand. Siena Rose is a Firemist color from Eldos, which WAS optional on others, but not often seen. It’s also a deeper rose color w/less ‘pink’ than Persian Sand.
Wait til you see restoration costs for new chrome.
Hagerty puts a #4 car (fair/driver) at $22,700, with #1 at $75,100.
So $12K is certainly a bargain even if one were to just make it mechanically sound with minimal restoration and hit the cruise nights.
Same color as my father’s ’60 Cadillac. His was that ugly flat roof 4 window 4 door. Hate that roofline.
Where the bleep are the power window switches? How do you put the windows down….. and up?
Yes, they used that roof on the hardtops for 1959 and 60 across the GM line. It had that slight overhang in back.
My Mother had a 1960 Cadillac convertible. The power window buttons are located under the dog leg of the chrome A pillar at the end of the dash board. The crank in the picture is for the vent window.
I’m with you. I never liked that roof style either. Just the six window roof line.
Joel, you know, I feel so stupid, especially for a Cadillac Diva! I didn’t remember that the power window switches were not on the door but where you said they are. That hole in the driver’s door must be for the power seat controls. No?
The Flat Top roof line is one of the best looking and best protected rear passengers from the sun.
As for the power window switches, the front ones are located at the bottom of the windshield pillars, the rear ones are in the armrests.
Window switches are on the dash’s ‘dog-leg’ where they were on 59/60 C bodies + B body Buicks.
“The DeVille nameplate enjoyed an eight-generation run from 1959 through 2005, being Cadillac’s biggest all-time seller.”
DeVille became a series name in 1959 but the name itself goes back to 1949, when it meant pillarless hardtop. Coupe DeVille, Sedan DeVille, for example.
Always liked the ’60 more than the ’59, which just seemed overdone.
Never have the hired help take pictures of your classic car you’re ttying to sell.
Rear AC on a two door hardtop? Is that really a thing…. If so I never heard of or saw it. However I am not a GM expert for sure.
Only Mopars and FW 75s had rear AC as an option.
You are correct and only mopar wagons only 57 and later. The FW 75 and the factory limos could be optioned with both a/c systems
Jeff, I agree with you. I’ve never heard of front and rear a/c on a Coupe de Ville.
Maybe a Fleetwood or a Seventy Five limo but not a coupe.
Drive in theaters heated these cars serial killers loved them because 4-5 people could fit in the trunk
Not enough quality or quantity of pictures to make a long-distance purchase decision. Another lazy seller…
This looks really solid and the interior isnt that bad for a 62 year old car – of course a lot more pictures would be a big help, but in the condition it SEEMS to be in, and if it runs, moves and stops this could be a good deal
Every effort was spared with those pictures. Craigslist is like a bad photo contest.
“Rear AC” was just vents back there. Not a separate unit.