Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptional and great
daily driving and virtually all original and rust free example of
this 1949 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special in beautiful original
'Corinth Blue' color paint with a 'Gray Shadow Broadcloth'
interior, Hydra-electric front seat, power windows, rocker panel
molding, rear fender skirts, directional signals, dual downdraft
carburetor with automatic choke and it's original AM radio and
331/160HP V8 engine! Recently purchased from long-time storage and
obviously always garaged with a reportedly rebuilt engine and
transmission and new paint and interior prior to being stored in
1993. The floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas
are completely original, solid and rust-free and the car has no
signs of any accidents - obviously an always primarily cherished
'Garage Queen'. Please note that the car's original 'Corinth Blue'
color repaint does have imperfections in the form of some peeling
and paint chips etc and there are some small door dings in the body
(see photos below) The original 'Gray Shadow Broadcloth' interior
has been nicely reupholstered and has a matching headliner.The 331
V8 engine runs well and this particular car drives absolutely
magnificently - must be driven to be believed - does not miss a
beat and purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow - a
truly remarkable daily driver considering it's age! The
transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the car is an
absolute pleasure to drive! As previously stated, the car's engine
and transmission have been reportedly overhauled prior to long term
storage and only recently the car had a full service and tune up
with a new battery and complete new brakes. The '48 Cadillac's had
new postwar styling with the first tailfins. Tailfins were inspired
by the vertical stabilizers of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter
plane and at first were just small bumps on the rear fenders but
they would grow to the legendary great heights of the late 50's
Cadillac's symbolizing this era of classic American cars. Fins not
only became a long standing Cadillac hallmark but were copied world
wide. In 1949 Cadillac's were powered by a new overhead valve V8
that would influence American engine design for the next 30 years.
The overhead valve engine allowed higher compression ratios in
order to take advantage of the new high octane fuels developed
after the second world war. The first year of the pioneering 331
cid overhead valve V8 put out 160HP whilst the 346 cid L-Head
flathead engine it had replaced put out 10 fewer HP and was 200lbs
heavier. This new V8 made the Cadillac one of the fastest car's in
America in it's day. These were solid and very well built cars with
all the luxuries one would expect for it's day and are one of the
great postwar American designs and a high demand collectible widely
recognized for their excellence.This is a rare opportunity to own a
great daily driving example of a very original 1949 Cadillac
Fleetwood Sixty Special in great driving and looking condition and
a great candidate to restore for the Cadillac enthusiast!