1961 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

With its contemporary razor edge styling, the ’61 Cadillac represents the epitome of carefree sixties motoring.

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About This Cadillac Coupe de Ville

Our 1961 Cadillac Coupe de Ville was purchased from Peter Selge in Belair, SA in 1996 and was a good reliable, straight car. Many quality US imports came to South Australia in the 80s and 90s, as at the time, LHD registration was permitted in that state but not in others. Our 1961 Cadillac Coupe de Ville has never had a complete ‘body off chassis’ restoration but has had many areas restored to keep it in top shape.

The ‘61 Cadillac is powered by a 390ci V8 engine with a 4 speed Hydra-matic automatic transmission.

The Story

With its contemporary razor edge styling, the ’61 Cadillac represents the epitome of carefree sixties motoring. Tail fins were lower for 1961 and were complemented by ‘skegs’ - long pointed fins on the lower section of the rear side panels.

The windscreen had lost the panoramic wraparound 50’s look, but still featured a switchback design at the bottom of the front pillar, while the rear window was curved in a bubble type style.

Overall the ’61 Cadillac range looked lighter and felt more agile than their predecessors. The combination of smaller fins and sharp edge styling resulted in one of Cadillac’s most pleasing and appealing designs. Cadillac built 20,156 Coupe de Ville’s in 1961 out of a total production of 112,753.

Cadillac’s 1961 advertising says: “A new Cadillac car is one of the few material possessions for which there is no completely acceptable substitute”.

Through the sixties and seventies Cadillac progressed with many notable models but in particular the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado front wheel drive personal coupe was an outstanding highlight. The eighties ushered in global competition like never before and for a time Cadillac perhaps side stepped. With the new century, Cadillac returned to its roots and focussed on innovation and quality rather than volume.

As Cadillac faces the new age of clean and green, it has already begun and is poised to release an incredible range of high end electric cars starting with its new flagship…the Cadillac Lyriq.

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