Best old Cadillac you have ever owned?

[Bill Young]

I would have to say for all around reliability fit and finish and the most accurate gas gauge of any car I have ever seen as well as 19 around town and 21 on the road the 2 , 1990 Brougham 5.7 liters the first I drove to 180,000 and the second to over 200,000. With regard to favorite that I regret selling my 1968 DeVille Convertible in code 30 Silverpine Green and code 388 Sandalwood interior with code 6 Sandalwood top. I have had 30 Old Cadillac's in my life but now I am 63 and poor so I must keep the 1972 I have had for 4 years as if I loose this one I am done.

[nysdarkblue]

Hi, I mentioned that I would love to own a 56 Fleetwood someday, but it seems my next Caddy will be a 96 Fleetwood Brougham. From what a have read, a lot of guys like the early 60'S. but to me the 93 to 96 have the most class!

[INTMD8]

Well I've only owned 2 Cadillacs.  One is my current 59 Convertible and the other was a 57 Brougham I got halfway finished and had to sell.

I suppose for me the 59 is the best since it actually runs and I will never sell it. 

Even though it is beat up and weathered I absolutely love it. Such a great car.

[76eldo]

Looks pretty good in this photo.

Brian

[Jay Friedman]

I like my ' 49, the only Cadillac I've ever owned.  IMHO it is relatively simple and easy to work on as it has few of the bells and whistles of later years, yet at the same time it has the relatively modern 331 OHV motor.  It's also fun to drive as it steers easily (without power steering), handles nicely and the engine has plenty of power.  In the years I've owned it it's been mostly reliable.  Also, '49 was a good-looking year for styling. 

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Well I've only owned 2 Cadillacs.  One is my current 59 Convertible and the other was a 57 Brougham I got halfway finished and had to sell.

I suppose for me the 59 is the best since it actually runs and I will never sell it. 

Even though it is beat up and weathered I absolutely love it. Such a great car.

Too bad you had to sell the '57 ELB. The S62 has come a long way since you first got it.

Any luck finding the side trim?

[cadillacmike68]

I would have to say for all around reliability fit and finish and the most accurate gas gauge of any car I have ever seen as well as 19 around town and 21 on the road the 2 , 1990 Brougham 5.7 liters the first I drove to 180,000 and the second to over 200,000. With regard to favorite that I regret selling my 1968 DeVille Convertible in code 30 Silverpine Green and code 388 Sandalwood interior with code 6 Sandalwood top. I have had 30 Old Cadillac's in my life but now I am 63 and poor so I must keep the 1972 I have had for 4 years as if I loose this one I am done.

Hi Bill, I also think that some of the best cars Cadillac ever made were the 1968-70 models. But now these cars are 50 years old and unless one has a fortune to keep them fully maintained, they just aren't as nice drivers as the early 90s Broughams or the 1993-96 Fleetwoods are. My two 90s Fleetwoods have over 300,000 combined and I'm still running the 1996. Of course none of the newer ones are convertibles though and that's what makes these 68-70 (and 71-74 ElDorado Convertibles) so much fun.

[INTMD8]

Thanks Brian, it looks better in photos than in person.

Eric, I never bought side trim but I have seen it available from time to time. The problem is the car is so banged up I think I would ruin the trim by installing it (sides are not straight).  So I have left it as-is.

[76eldo]

Looks fine without the trim.

I have a white 60 convertible.  I had a new top put on it and went with white because that's what was on there.  Body trim plate calls for black.  I saw a white 60 convert at the GN in DC and it had a black top.  I think I like that look better.  If and when I need a new top I am going to go with a black one.

Brian

[64\/54Cadillacking]

Hi Bill, I also think that some of the best cars Cadillac ever made were the 1968-70 models. But now these cars are 50 years old and unless one has a fortune to keep them fully maintained, they just aren't as nice drivers as the early 90s Broughams or the 1993-96 Fleetwoods are. My two 90s Fleetwoods have over 300,000 combined and I'm still running the 1996. Of course none of the newer ones are convertibles though and that's what makes these 68-70 (and 71-74 ElDorado Convertibles) so much fun.

I will say that my 94 Fleetwood is a great daily driver, and is the most reliable car I've ever owned by far. It really reminds me of driving a 70's Cadillac but in the modern day. They were built strong, and are heavy cars for being a 90's Cad when everything back then was lighter in weight and not as durable compared to the 70's on down Cadillac's. The 68 Cad I owned was a very good runner and was extremely nice, but yes, compared to the 93-96 Fleetwoods, they are cumbersome and are too big sometimes to drive in the city, as they can be hard to manage and maneuver.

Styling is subjective, but I've never been fascinated or wowed by the 94's styling. It has a more streamlined, generic approach vs the classy 92 on down Broughams. It's quality still isn't that good as far as the interior and exterior trim and body panels go, compared to the older Cadillac Broughams of the 80's.

Is it a real Cadillac? Not sure because GM really went on a cost-cutting bing starting in 93. The body isn't traditional, and there's isn't much about the last Fleetwoods that are truly exclusive, everything is shared with the Impala and Roadmaster besides its body.

Ironically Cadillac is doing the exact same thing today with the XTS, but in this case, the Impala doesn't have a horribly cheap interior and ugly styling like it did with the 93-96 model years.

But hands down, the 93-96 Fleetwoods are the most reliable, most powerful at the time, full-size Cadillac you could buy today as a daily driver that will give you true full-size Cadillac comfort, and still feel and look good driving it.

Actually, these cars ride similar to our big old Cadillac's from the 50's-70's, but without all the floatiness.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Looks fine without the trim.   Brian 

My old '60 CDV looked very nice without the trim.

Bruce.

[robailey]

My favorite Cadillac would have to be my 1975 Coupe DeVille. My parents bought it new when I was 20 and I loved it and still do.