Description
Purchased new by a Dr George Hannah in June 1965 this car was cherished from day one. Stored each and every night in his indoor garage Dr Hannah used the car sparingly and cared for its every need. On his passing in the mid 1980’s his wife couldn’t bear to part with his car and so the car sat for 20 years in the garage until Mrs Hannah passed in the early 2000’s.
Her family decided to sell the house and Dr Hannah’s beloved Caddy.
Having covered approximately 45, 000 miles at this time, the car was sold to a dealer who sold it to a UK collector shortly thereafter.
I am the 3rd UK owner, the car now has 50, 000 miles on the clock and having looked at the service history I believe this to be genuine.
The car is not without faults, it has had some paint work in the past ( most of the paint is original) and there are some signs of surface rust in the engine bay and a few very small holes on the trunk seal lip due to the rubber seal perishing over the years as can be seen in the photos but make no mistake this is a very solid car commensurate with a car that has been dry stored its whole life and 50, 000 miles.
There is some wear in the interior commensurate with a car of this age and a few marks on the carpet but the carpet is not worn again backing up the low mileage.
The last owner had a gearbox rebuild and it now changes gears very smoothly. The engine starts first turn of the key and she runs very well. I bought the car from a classic car dear in the south west of England and was so confident in it I drove the car all the way back to Yorkshire a journey taking over 5 hours. She didn’t miss a beat!
Those of you who know these cars will know they were very ahead of their time. The car rides the road extremely well, you feel like you are floating along. The power steering is exceptionally light yet responsive with no play on the steering wheel.
Dr Hannah opted for the optional Cadillac climate control system again very ahead of its time. There is a sensor in the dashboard. The colour coded plastic cover has perished over the years as they all have but I have a new 3D printed cover colour coded exactly like the original which will be included in the sale along with a set of boot, bonnet and door seals.
I have done very little to the car in my 2 years of ownership apart from changing the oil, plugs and filters and replacing the top wishbone bushes.
I’m only selling the car now because I have my eye on another American classic.
Here is a description of the original model.
The 1965 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special, a full-size luxury car, featured a new perimeter frame for increased interior room and a distinctive body style with dual vertical headlamps, and was advertised as being "by Fleetwood".
Here's a more detailed description:
Key Features:
Body Style: Four-door hardtop sedan.
Frame: A new perimeter frame replaced the old X-braced frame, enhancing structural integrity and interior space.
Engine: A 429 CID (7. 0-liter) OHV V8 engine producing 340 horsepower.
Transmission: Smooth-shifting 400 Turbo Hydramatic transmission.
Fleetwood Branding: The Fleetwood name, originally from a prestigious coachbuilding company, was used to identify the Cadillac models with Fleetwood-designed bodies.
Interior: Deep-cushioned, contoured seating, spacious front and rear compartments, and reduced floor tunnel for improved ease of entry and exit.
Seating: All 1965 Cadillacs featured chair height, deep-cushioned, contoured seating.
Luxury Features: Power windows, power seats, and power door locks were standard on all Fleetwood models, except the Seventy-Five.
Styling: The 1965 Cadillacs featured all-new styling with dual vertical headlamps, which were very much in vogue.
Production: 18, 100 Sixty Special models were built in 1965.
Seventy-Five: The Fleetwood Seventy-Five was the most expensive Cadillac of 1965, available as a sedan or limousine.
Eldorado: The Eldorado was also a Fleetwood subseries in 1965, and was the last year for the rear-drive Eldorado.
Brougham: The Fleetwood Brougham was a grand and imposing car with a long body, stately front end, and graceful lines.
