SOLD on Jun 15, 2026

Elite Dealer

1961 Cadillac Fleetwood

Michigan

$19,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Cadillac

Model

Fleetwood

Year

1961

Mileage

94,000 miles

VIN

AMS43355

Body Type

Sedan

Transmission

Automatic

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Description

1961 Cadillac Fleetwood | Survivor Sedan | 94K Original Miles Looking for a driveable, well-maintained classic cruiser? This 1961 Cadillac Fleetwood is a solid, largely original survivor that’s ready to enjoy now, with extensive mechanical work already completed. Originally a long-term storage vehicle, it was revived in 2020 to be a dependable daily driver — and it’s been cared for accordingly. Mechanical Highlights: 94,000 original miles Rebuilt automatic transmission Brake system refreshed: new master cylinder & wheel cylinders New water pump Powermaster alternator upgrade Fuel system cleaned Rebuilt speedometer (Redline Gauges) Clock upgraded to quartz movement Features & Functionality: Factory cruise control (operational) Factory AM radio with working power antenna Power windows & other accessories functional Air conditioning system charged, but needs repair in control system Ownership & Documentation: Clean title in my name Receipts for all work performed since purchase This car was not built to flip — it was made reliable for regular driving with quality parts and work Please Note The Following **Vehicle Location is at our clients home and Not In Cadillac, Michigan. **We do have a showroom with about 25 cars that is by appointment only **Please Call First and talk to one of our reps at 231-468-2809 EXT 1 **

Cadillac Fleetwood Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Sarah Whitfield

Pre-War Classics

1955–1976

~4 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Cadillac Fleetwood is not merely a car — it is the summit of coachbuilt American luxury, the standard by which every full-size automobile of the postwar era was measured, and the vehicle that defined what the word "Cadillac" meant as an aspirational shorthand for the very finest.

This guide covers

✓ 9-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Fleetwood Buyer's Guide

Cadillac Fleetwood Market Overview

Based on 33 Cadillac Fleetwood listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$29,239

Avg. Asking Price

1937–1995

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Average Range

This car: $19,995

Low: $7,395 High: $89,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 85% ◄

Manual 9%

Condition Distribution

Good 6%

Fair 12%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 33 listings →

Cadillac Fleetwood Buyer's Guide

Sarah Whitfield here. The Fleetwood name carries history that most buyers don't fully appreciate. Fleetwood Metal Body Company of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania was one of America's premier coachbuilders — crafting custom bodies for chassis from Packard, Lincoln, and Cadillac — before General Motors acquired it in 1925. GM used the Fleetwood name to designate their finest, most carefully constructed bodies from that point forward. When you buy a Cadillac Fleetwood, you're buying the continuation of that coachbuilding heritage applied at industrial scale.

The postwar Fleetwood from 1955 through 1976 represents the apex of this tradition. The 1959 Fleetwood with its famously extreme tailfins is perhaps the most recognizable single American car of the century. The later Fleetwood Brougham is the executive transport standard. Both deserve serious collector attention.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Interior Specification — Compare interior materials and colors against the registry specification for the year — incorrect materials are a value deduction.

✓

Power Seat Operation — Test all seat positions and the reclining mechanism — seized motors or tracks indicate electrical neglect.

✓

Tailfin Rust (1959–1964) — Probe the tailfin bases and lower quarters on fin-era cars — trapped road spray creates rust in these locations.

✓

V8 Cooling System — Warm to operating temperature and monitor for overheating — 472/500ci engines are sensitive to coolant system neglect.

✓

Carburetor Function — Cold start and warm idle should be smooth — Rochester Quadrajet gums up when the car is stored.

✓

Air Conditioning — Note whether the AC has been converted from R-12 to R-134a — R-12 systems still operating are valuable on original cars.

✓

Electrical Ground Straps — Test all accessories — intermittent failures often trace to corroded ground straps rather than component failure.

✓

Vinyl Roof Condition — Check vinyl roof carefully at all seams — trapped moisture is the primary rust vector on formal-roof cars.

✓

Body Code Documentation — Verify the body tag and build sheet match the car's specification — especially important before paying documented-example premiums.

Common Issues

Power seat motor failures and seized seat tracks — nearly universal on high-mileage or long-stored examples. Interior vinyl and leather deterioration from age and UV exposure — sourcing original-specification replacement materials requires specialist vendors. 1959–1964 tailfin base rust where fins meet the lower body. Cooling system deterioration on high-displacement V8s — the 472 and 500ci are heat generators that punish neglected coolant and hoses. Rochester Quadrajet carburetor deterioration on stored cars. Air conditioning system R-12 freon requiring conversion to R-134a. Electrical system ground strap corrosion causing intermittent accessory failures.

What to Look For

Interior condition is paramount for Fleetwood valuation — the specific upholstery materials, piping details, and hardware on each year are documented in the marque registries, and incorrect replacement materials reduce value significantly. Verify the interior against the production specification for the year. Inspect the vinyl or leather carefully for tears and the correct color code. On 1959–1964 cars, inspect the tailfin structure for rust at the fin bases and the lower quarter panel — these areas trap road spray. On any Fleetwood, check the power seat track operation: the motors are rebuildable but seized tracks indicate overall electrical neglect. On the 500ci V8 (1970–1976), inspect for exhaust smoke and verify the carburetor function — a Rochester Quadrajet that has been sitting will need rebuilding. On the Fleetwood 75 limousines, inspect the rear jump seat mechanisms and the extended roof structure for any leaks or rust.

Price Guide

1955–1958 Fleetwood 60 Special (driver): $18,000–$35,000. 1959 Fleetwood 60 Special: $35,000–$80,000+ for quality examples. 1960–1964 Fleetwood: $18,000–$40,000. 1965–1970 Fleetwood Brougham: $14,000–$30,000. 1971–1976 Fleetwood Brougham: $12,000–$28,000. Fleetwood 75 Limousine (any era): $20,000–$55,000 depending on condition and documentation. Original-color, matching-numbers documented examples add 30–50% over comparable undocumented cars.

Did You Know?

The Fleetwood Metal Body Company, from which Cadillac's most prestigious cars took their name, was a small coachbuilder in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania that General Motors acquired in 1925 specifically for its exceptional craftsmanship. The 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood's tailfins at 42 inches tall remain the highest ever fitted to a production American automobile — a record that has stood for over 65 years. The 500ci V8 in the 1970–1976 Fleetwood displaced 8.2 liters, making it one of the largest passenger car production engines in American automotive history.

Elite Dealer

$19,995