1959 & 1960 Cadillac Resources & Articles

1960 Cadillac

Important 1959 & 1960 Cadillac resources to enhance your ownership experience.

We strongly recommend membership in the Cadillac & LaSalle Club. The benefits make this a bargain at only a $25 annual membership free. With a membership you can attend the biggest Cadillac & LaSalle event of the year, their Grand National Meet. You’ll also receive monthly, The Self-Starter magazine, which is full of great Cadillac stories, technical tips, and other great resources. In addition, you’ll have access to a local regional chapter allowing you to interact and socialize with fantastic like-minded Cadillac people.

The 1959 & 1960 Cadillac Authenticity Manual is available from the Cadillac & LaSalle Club.

Subscribe to our not-spammy e-newsletter (Members Only). Just shoot us a message with your Name, CLC Member#, Address, Phone# and a list of some/all the 1959 & 1960 Cadillacs you own and we’ll add you to the list. 1959/1960 Cadillac ownership not necessary to join.

View the 1959 & 1960 Cadillac Serviceman issues for valuable technical information about your car as originally presented to Cadillac dealer service departments.

Cadillac Dealer Used Car Reconditioning Manual published in 1960, this manual was issued to Cadillac dealers to help them prepare used Cadillacs for sale. A rare and interesting piece of literature.

The CLC’s Raritan River Region’s 1949-1970 Cadillac Color Upholstery & Accessory Database. Organized by CLC & Region member Ralph Messina with the contributions of many knowledgeable members, a lot of work went into this valuable data collection.

1959 & 1960 Cadillac Production Numbers, by model.

Wiring Diagrams – coming soon.

Service Manual Scans – coming soon.

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Cadillac Parts & Restoration is the official sponsor of the 1959 & 1960 Cadillac Chapter. Since 1984, your trusted source for NOS, repro, rebuilt, restored, and good OEM classic 1940s-1970s Cadillac Parts.

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1959 & 1960 Cadillac Articles of Interest

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

Smithsonian Magazine, March 1985

The Great American Junkyard: going from wrecks to riches. By James R. Chiles

“Millions died in America last year, mostly in calamities: collisions, dives over cliffs, fires, floods. People drove them to it. Others were attacked on the streets to be attacked by urban gangs.

“Shed no tears: these are automobiles on their way to the salvage yards. Further, with the parts they contribute, wrecked cars breathe new life into tens of millions of other cars, particularly the older models. Americans are crazy about old cars – fins, bulges, portholes and all.” (see more)

1959 Cadillac salvage yard

Hemmings, September 2018

Rising to No. 1 on the charts, with 74 bullets.
By David LaChance

“For General Motors’ flagship division, 1960 stands as the year that taste and sophistication made a comeback, evicting the ostentation and overstatement that had taken over as the 1950s drew to a close. The elements that made the 1959 Cadillac such a kitsch icon–the towering fins, the twin bullet taillamps, the broad swaths of chrome–were toned down or eliminated on the 1960 edition.” (read the article on Hemmings)

1960 Cadillac Hemmings article

Hagerty, January 2023

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham: One of 99
By Thomas Klockau

“Yes, this is a 1959 Cadillac.
No, it is not a 1960 Cadillac. No, it is not a 1961 Cadillac. Or a ’62! Just thought I’d get that out of the way. You see, today’s subject is a lightning rod for social media/internet know-it-alls.” (Read more on Hagerty)

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham

Motor Trend, May 2020

In Photos: What If the Cadillac Escalade Was Designed in 1959? By Alexander Stoklosa & Abimelec Arellano

“Like ships passing in the night, Cadillac’s two most iconic nameplates barely shared dealership floor space. The two-door Eldorado—that symbol of mid-century American automotive glamour and luxury—was being put to rest just as a new E-named vehicle, the Escalade, was arriving to restore Cadillac to the forefront of automotive vogue.” (see more on M/T)

1959 Cadillac Escalade

Cadillac, the American Standard
by Thomas E. Bonsall

The Tail Fin Era

“So, shortly after the New York Auto Show in December, 1956, the corporate decision was made that all General Motors brands should have essentially new cars for 1959. At first, largely at the behest of strong-willed design chief Harley Earl, a crash effort was mandated to restyle the 1957-58 bodies. Earl, who loved the bulky, chrome-laden barges that had become the signature of the corporation’s design efforts in the 1950s, was due to retire at the end of 1958 after three decades in charge, but he still called the shots. He insisted that the current bodies could be worked-up to do just fine, then left for Europe.
(view the book except)

1959 1960 Cadillac design history

Montecristo Magazine

Elvis Presley’s 1960 Gold Cadillac by Sara Harowitz

“Elvis Presley was known for loving the finer things—a tour of his Graceland estate in Memphis is the biggest proof—and his cars were no exception. Known to be one of his favourites was a Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood limousine, which, thanks to 24-karat gold plate highlights and trim, many people referred to as Presley’s “Solid Gold” car. Customized by North Hollywood’s Baris Kustom City for a reported $65,000, the car is covered in 40 coats of paint, called “diamond dust pearl,…” Read More (link)


Car & Driver, March 2017

The 1959 Cadillac Broadmoor Skyview Laughs at Your Three-Row Crossover by Davey G. Johnson

“Starting in 1937, The Broadmoor commissioned fleets of Cadillacs to ferry its guests to and fro, specifying retractable roofs so passengers might better enjoy the sheer vertical grandeur of their surroundings.”
Read the article on Car and Driver