1961 Cadillac Fleetwood 'Pillarless' Sedan (RHD)

The Fleetwood was Cadillac's most luxurious offering in the 1960s, with an extraordinary array of convenience options and mod cons - many of which have only recently found their way into bread and butter cars. Power seats, electric windows, central locking and air conditioning were just some of the options that set Cadillac apart from the lesser American offerings. The 1961 range was on a slightly shorter 129.5-inch wheelbase while the styling was more angular and less flamboyant, in line with the growing trend towards less flashy looks. On the Sixty Special Fleetwood, the Hardtop Sedan (the only body style catalogued) had a squared-off, cantilevered roofline that accentuated the sleek, horizontal lines and a nice touch were the six chevron motifs at the rearward tip of the side panels. Cadillac dropped the troublesome air suspension system, replacing it with rubberised front and rear coil springs and a new power steering pump allowed for a smaller steering wheel. The 390-cid V8 introduced in 1959 was carried over, with 10.5:1 compression ratio and 325 horsepower on tap to haul the not inconsiderable weight of the Cadillac around. In total some 15,500 Fleetwood Hardtop Sedans were produced in 1961, each at a cost of $6,233 and very few of these exclusive cars have ever made it to Australia.