1972 Cadillac Fleetwood Series

The Fleetwood was the essence of Cadillac luxury and elegance

For the 1972 Model year the Fleetwood Series Sixty-Special Brougham and the Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five nine-passenger sedan and limousine augmented Cadillac’s model hierarchy as the Flagship sedans. Formidable Cadillac Fleetwood luxury was embodied as the Eldorado, Series Sixty-Special, and Series Seventy-Five. 

1972 Fleetwood Series Sixty-Special Brougham

Fleetwood was Cadillac in the grandest manner. The Fleetwood Sixty-Special Brougham was the epitome of Cadillac elegance. The Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five nine-passenger sedan and formal limousine were the most aristocratic of automobiles. The Fleetwood series was unsurpassed in eloquence, comfort, and distinction.

For the 1972 model year, Cadillac and the “Standard of the World” legacy were celebrating 70 years building automobiles of exemplary fit & finish with lasting quality. It was a legend of automotive superiority in all facets. Cadillac built the finest luxury cars in the world. The eminent Fleetwood series had that poised dignity that was the hallmark of every Cadillac.

1972 Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five

A Cadillac Fleetwood was a very special luxury sedan. Fleetwood fashioned all Cadillac interiors, with the Series Sixty Special and Series seventy-Five…. Fleetwood handcrafted the entire vehicle. The formidable Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five limousine was the only limousine built in America specially designed and built as a limousine and not a “double-cut.” The Fleetwood Series Sixty-Special Brougham was the most luxuriously appointed owner-driven Cadillac sedan.

Cadillac Fleetwoods had unique dimensions larger than the DeVille and Calais series. The Sixty-Special Brougham was 79.8” wide, rode on a 133” wheelbase and had the luxury length of 230.4”. The Series Seventy-Five sedan and limousine were 79.8” wide, rode on commanding 151.5” wheelbases and had the extremely luxurious length of 248.9”. The Series Seventy-Five sedans used large rear Hy-bridge doors that opened into the roof to enhance entry and exiting. The opulent Fleetwood Series cossets its passengers in the lap of luxury. The Fleetwood series was the “Standard of the World” in grace and dignity.

Special even in the special world of Cadillac was the 1972 Fleetwood Sixty-Special Brougham sedan. Style code #681/B B69 Fleetwood Brougham was base priced at $7,637 (no not a typo). 20,750 units were built for the 1972 model year. Its remarkably smooth ride was due in no small part to its individually longer wheelbase.

It was one of the most regal sedans with signature standard features such as a Dual Comfort front seat, carpeted rear seat footrests and adjustable reading lights, a fully padded vinyl roof, and Automatic Level Control to name a few. Its sheer spaciousness and total commitment to elegance and comfort made the 1972 Fleetwood Sixty-Special Brougham your personal limousine.

However, if one required a genuine limo, the Series Seventy-Five nine-passenger sedan and formal limousine with electric glass divider were the obvious choices. Style code #697/F F33-S Seventy-Five limousine was base priced at $12,080 and 960 were built for the 1972 model year. 697/F F23-R Seventy-Five nine-passenger sedan was base priced at $11,948 and 995 were built. These sedans were the ultimate in prestige. No other formal automobile was more luxuriously appointed; none were more respected at social occasions than the distinguished Series Seventy-Five.

Its ride was genuinely Cadillac-smooth; Automatic Level Control was standard as well as two separate Automatic Climate Control air conditioning systems; one for the drive and one for the passengers. The Seventy-Fives had full-width folding seats for three additional passengers, some referred to these as “jump seats.” From the passenger control panel in the rear compartment windows could be operated, doors locked, Climate Control activated, radio operated, and glass partition raised and lowered.

Both Fleetwood Series Sixty-Special and Series Seventy-Five were powered by the Cadillac 7.7 litre 472 CID 16-valve OHV V8. The engine was equipped with a Rochester 4MV 4-bbl down-draft Quadrajet carburetor with equalized manifold, mechanical fuel pump, dry-type air filter, and improved automatic choke. It produced 220 hp @ 3,800 rpm with 495 Nm of peak torque @ 2,400, the Sixty-Special had a top speed of 118 mph and the Seventy-Fives had top speeds of 114 mph. The sixty-Special had a performance rating of 0-60 mph in 10.7 seconds, 0-100 mph in 33.7 seconds.

The Seventy-Fives were rated as 0-60 mph in 11.6 seconds and 0-100 mph in 38.1 seconds. The Sixty-Special did the ¼ mile @ 80 mph in 17.8 seconds. The Seventy-Fives were rated @ 76 mph in 18.4 seconds. The engine was mated to GM’s Turbo Hydra-Matic THM 400 3-speed automatic transmission.

The Fleetwood Sixty-Special and Series Seventy-Fives were built as body on frame construction handcrafted by Fleetwood. They rode on full perimeter frames with boxed side rails and new front members for increased energy absorption. Automatic Level Control was standard and important for vehicles of this stature to maintain poise for changing loads and driving conditions.

The system used special shocks at the rear combined with helical coil springs with the traditional Cadillac four-link drive. Large rubber bushings improved ride quality. The front suspension used the traditional Cadillac upper and lower control arms, with integral steering knuckle, independent helical springs, and rubber mounted strut rods with rubber bushings to absorb impact and isolate road noise. 

Cadillac hydraulic power brakes with self adjusting feature was standard. A dual hydraulic master cylinder provided independent operation of front and rear brakes. The system used a large two-piston power brake booster, larger front wheel brake cylinders, and composite finned rear drums and front discs. Variable Ratio Power steering was also standard for the Fleetwood Series Sixty-Special and Fixed Ratio Power steering was standard for the Series seventy-Fives.

The 1972 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty-Special offered a very special ambience for a very special car. Sierra grain leather upholstery was available in four colors, or a combination of Matador cloth with leather. Minuet cloth was a new fabric and available in three colors. The new Medici Beige crushed velour was offered for the first time.

Power Dual Comfort front seats, carpeted rear seat foot rests, rear seat reading lamps, front and rear fold down center armrests, power windows, and a host of other comfort and convenience features that were complimentary as standard. Cadillac offered a vast array of luxury features and accessories to individualize the Fleetwood Sixty-Special Brougham to one’s motoring pleasure.

The 1972 Cadillac Fleetwood series Seventy-Fives were motorcars of unsurpassed splendor and dignity, comfort, and distinction. Minuet cloth was available in two colors, and Matador cloth with leather in two colors, both were opulently understated fabrics. FYI: There was a time when Cadillac engineers would give a potential fabric for the interior the “Mink Coat Test” where a model would simply sit onto the seat as though she were riding, then turn to slide off the seat as though she were exiting the vehicle….if there was the slightest molestation to the coat the fabric was rejected. The formal limousine had a power glass partition. The chauffeur’s compartment was upholstered in black leather. Carpeted rear compartment foot rests and three passenger folding seats were standard for both nine-passenger sedan and limousine.

The Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five nine-passenger sedan and limousine came standard with many comfort and convenience features. There were many ways this highly bespoke automobile could be personalized to suit its owner. It could be equipped as a rolling boardroom or a paradise of entertainment, or the serene “Standard of the World” creation that it was built to be.

The Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five nine-passenger sedan and formal limousine were the executive-style luxury. When it came to interior size and comfort, spaciousness and privacy, the formidable Series Seventy-Fives were the refined Flagships of the Cadillac line. Their imposing stature was immediately identified in any gathering of fine automobiles. The only way to travel was Cadillac style……

And lest we forget, the most luxurious owner-driven Cadillac sedan, the absolute epitome of luxury and elegance…the Fleetwood Series Sixty-Special Brougham. It was like driving your very own personal limousine. This supreme achievement in motoring made an impression wherever it was driven. Its comfort and convenience was on the grand Cadillac scale in the grand Cadillac manner. There was no other luxury automobile quite like the Fleetwood Brougham and sadly, there will never ever be another…..The illustrious Fleetwood series was the standing ovation for the “Standard of the World.”

The Fleetwood series were true Cadillac Flagships…..

The Fleetwood series was the standing ovation for the formidable “Standard of the World”