[Fleetwood70]

When I bought my 1970 Fleetwood 60-special, the seller said it is a very rare Cadillac because it doesn't have a paint code, that some rich man bought it from manufacturer with only primer and painted it himself. Is this some BS or what? Are there any advantages/disadvantages of having a car without a stamped paint code? Or are they all went without paint codes that year?

Here's how it looks. Still in original(first) paint.

 

[jayoldschool]

Post up the complete trim tag info. Lots of them weren't filled in very well back in the day, though. The only way you would really know is if you had the window sticker. I would say BS, though. Paint is corrosion protection, and I doubt GM would let one out without paint.

 

[Fleetwood70]

He told me that GM didn't sell cars without paint, but he somehow managed to buy it.
Attaching photo of tag I found under the hood. All windows are clear, no stickers.

 

[cadillac kevin]

if the car really came with no paint, there should be no paint on the inside of the doors, behind the dash, under the floor carpeting, above the headliner or pretty much anywhere else its impossible to get paint without having the car torn down.
also, didnt the internal build sheet end up under the back seat or carpet in the back of the car as it went down the line?

 

[Fleetwood70]

if the car really came with no paint, there should be no paint on the inside of the doors, behind the dash, under the floor carpeting, above the headliner or pretty much anywhere else its impossible to get paint without having the car torn down.
also, didnt the internal build sheet end up under the back seat or carpet in the back of the car as it went down the line?

Seems to be painted everywhere where it is visible including the trunk pan, except there's no paint above the headliner, but haven't looked under the carpet, behind the dash and door panels yet.

 

[CADforce69]

This 69 SDV seems to be same color than yours:


image upload

 

[Fleetwood70]

Not at all, that one looks black, or very dark green, mine is just green.
Those previous pics were taken during the rain, here's a pic of it dry.

 

[cadillac_al]

I don't know what to think of the paint code mystery. There was a major auto strike in 1970 and there were fewer cars produced that year. Maybe when everybody went on strike some details were left unfinished. I always figured any 1970 GM car semi rare due to low production and a 60 Special should be even more rare.

 

[Cadillacboy]

I have not heard of anything like that but whatever it is you have a gorgeous ride
:highfive:

 

[turbojimmy]

When I bought my 1970 Fleetwood 60-special, the seller said it is a very rare Cadillac because it doesn't have a paint code, that some rich man bought it from manufacturer with only primer and painted it himself. Is this some BS or what? Are there any advantages/disadvantages of having a car without a stamped paint code? Or are they all went without paint codes that year?

I guess anything is possible, but I would check under the door sills, carpets, etc. (as was suggested) to see if there really was paint on the car when it was new.

What's most interesting is that your paint code isn't missing, it's actually "- -" (two dashes). So rather than put a paint code, they put two dashes there which implies it was intentional.

 

[Bro-Ham]

Scroll down this page and you can see the 1970 Cadillac colors.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forum...icial-cadillac-color-names-paint-codes-4.html

I love the Sixty Special models from 69 and 70 - nice car you have!

 

[Powar]

I'll agree with the others in saying that it sounds like the previous owner fed you a line of BS, but I wouldn't sweat it. What a nice looking car!

 

[turbojimmy]

I stumbled on this page that listed available options for the 1970 Fleetwood:

http://100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1970/cad70f.htm

There is an option to request special paint. I bet that's when the paint code gets eliminated. I take it to mean not that the owner painted it, but that a non-standard paint option was requested.

 

[Fleetwood70]

There was a major auto strike in 1970 and there were fewer cars produced that year. Maybe when everybody went on strike some details were left unfinished. I always figured any 1970 GM car semi rare due to low production and a 60 Special should be even more rare.

I read that in 1970 Cadillac production hit record sales. 238,745 total, only 1,738 Sixty-Specials, wonder how many of them are still on the road.

 

[77CDV]

The dashes on your data plate indicate that the car was ordered with a non-standard color, which was optional back in the day. Say you liked the 1970 Fleetwood Sixty Special, but none of the 21 standard Cadillac colors offered that year tickled your fancy. But, you were a big fan of the yellow on your 1956 Packard. You could order your new Cadillac to be painted at the factory in that 1956 Packard color. Didn't like the interior options available? No problem. Cadillac would upholster your new car in whatever fabric you chose. Sure, it would cost you, but when you were dropping $7200 before options on a car (in 1970!), a few hundred bucks extra wasn't a big deal.

So yes, your car is rare, as there probably wasn't another exactly like it ever made. You should order a copy of the build sheet from GM historical to see just what special color the car was ordered in.

 

[brougham]

Being a 60 Special makes it rare but in reality it wouldn't be worth much more then any other Cadillac of the same year. Until you get into cars that are really collectible there isn't too much of a price difference between different models.

Probably no paint code was just the way they did it or it was custom colour like mentioned. IF GM sold cars like that it was probably just to coachbuilders.

 

[greencadillacmatt]

The dashes on your data plate indicate that the car was ordered with a non-standard color, which was optional back in the day. Say you liked the 1970 Fleetwood Sixty Special, but none of the 21 standard Cadillac colors offered that year tickled your fancy. But, you were a big fan of the yellow on your 1956 Packard. You could order your new Cadillac to be painted at the factory in that 1956 Packard color. Didn't like the interior options available? No problem. Cadillac would upholster your new car in whatever fabric you chose. Sure, it would cost you, but when you were dropping $7200 before options on a car (in 1970!), a few hundred bucks extra wasn't a big deal.

So yes, your car is rare, as there probably wasn't another exactly like it ever made. You should order a copy of the build sheet from GM historical to see just what special color the car was ordered in.

^I actually read an article in the local paper not too long ago about people being able to do that back then. The car in question was a '76 Eldorado Convt., and the guy ran a plumbing company with all of his trucks painted MOPAR Plum Crazy Purple. He ordered his Cadillac in that color with that special paint option. They didn't want to do it, but when he threatened to take his money elsewhere, they caved and sprayed it. It was found in a barn a few years ago and restored. Looked great in that color with a white top. A really One-of-One car!

 

[cosmo]

Not sure about the above, inasmuch as painting in non-GM colours.

But...

Cadillac's order guide does definitely state that you could order your car painted in a previous year's colour, going back three years. This was for commercial owners to be able to match their fleets.

I'd bet on that, esp. as it's a Fleetwood. Could have been a funeral limo previously.

Cosmo

 

[77CDV]

^I actually read an article in the local paper not too long ago about people being able to do that back then. The car in question was a '76 Eldorado Convt., and the guy ran a plumbing company with all of his trucks painted MOPAR Plum Crazy Purple. He ordered his Cadillac in that color with that special paint option. They didn't want to do it, but when he threatened to take his money elsewhere, they caved and sprayed it. It was found in a barn a few years ago and restored. Looked great in that color with a white top. A really One-of-One car!

I saw that car at the 2008 CLC GN in NJ. It was a wild color for that car, but oddly, it worked.

Not sure about the above, inasmuch as painting in non-GM colours.

But...

Cadillac's order guide does definitely state that you could order your car painted in a previous year's colour, going back three years. This was for commercial owners to be able to match their fleets.

I'd bet on that, esp. as it's a Fleetwood. Could have been a funeral limo previously.

Cosmo

Since it was ordered with dual comfort front seats (optional on the Sixty Special), I doubt it was a livery car. They would have stuck with the standard bench front seat. My money's still on a private party purchase for personal use.

 

[cadillacmike68]

You're lucky, 1970 build sheets are available, but 1968 s are not!! lost in a facility move of all things.....