KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 is the longest ever produced by Cadillac at 252.2 inches, setting a production car record.
- This model was equipped with a 7.7-liter or 8.2-liter V8 engine, with massive torque and around 200 horsepower.
- While the car may now be valued at around $10,000 to $11,000, maintenance and running costs are high due to poor fuel consumption.
There are more than a few ways to measure a luxury car and determine which one is the “largest ever made.” For example, the latest generation of Cadillac Escalade is the heaviest, and most likely the tallest too, boasting acres of cargo room and overall square-footage. However, we’re zeroing in on the longest model ever produced by Cadillac, which produces a clear winner. This particular luxury car hails from the mid 1970s, and not only is it the largest Cadillac ever, but also the longest production car ever.
In order to establish the largest ever Cadillac produced, HotCars has sourced data from Cadillac, Zero-to-Sixty Times, and Hagerty.
YouTuber Dylan McCool gets permission to revive the NASCAR legend’s 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood limo, a car that used to belong to a funeral home.
The Fleetwood Series 75 Is The Largest Ever Cadillac
1974 to 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 Dimensions
| Overall length | 252.2 Inches |
| Width (without mirrors) | 79.8 Inches |
| Height | 57.7 Inches |
| Shoulder room (front/back) | 62.1/64 Inches |
| Ground clearance | 6.6 Inches |
| Curb weight | 5,500 to 6,100 Pounds |
To clarify, our research for the largest ever Cadillac looks only into production models. There are plenty of Cadillac-based creations out there, some of them not even street-legal, that are considerably larger than the mid-70s Series 75. That includes stretch limousines, campers, and even The American Dream, a 100-foot Cadillac that’s really more of an art piece than it is a legitimate road vehicle. We’re not talking about one-offs like that double-Cadillac “Gigahorse” from Fury Road, we’re simply focusing on Cadillacs in their factory form.
Doing so leads directly to the Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75, produced from 1971 to 1976. The 70 Series is a long-serving model of Cadillac, and in 1971, the car received a redesign, stretching the Fleetwood models to 247.3 inches, and expanding the interior shoulder room to 64 inches at the widest, the record for interior width at that time. For 1974, the bumpers got an upgrade, stretching the overall length to 252.2 inches, setting a production car record that still hasn’t been beaten to this day. The car was available in limo or sedan style.
There has been no shortage of huge V8 engines over the years, but which lump takes the crown with the largest displacement ever?
The World’s Biggest Cadillac Is Powered By A 500ci V8
1971 to 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 Engine Specs
| Engine | 7.7-Liter 472cid OHV V8 | 8.2-Liter 500cid OHV V8 |
| Horsepower | 205 Horsepower | 190 Horsepower |
| Torque | 365 lb-ft | 360 lb-ft |
| 0-60 | 12.7 Seconds | 13.1 Seconds |
| Top Speed | 120 mph | 120 mph |
| Fuel Economy (combined) | 10.8 mpg | 9 mpg |
From 1971 to 1976, the Fleetwood 75 was offered with one of two engines: A 472 cubic inch 7.7-liter OHV V8, or a 500 cubic inch 8.2-liter OHV V8 – the latter being the largest ever production V8. Despite the impressive and somewhat excessive capacities, neither of the engines boasted particularly sporting credentials, as they were barely able to muster up to 200 horsepower. Torque was plentiful though, with around 360 lb-ft on offer from each, which no doubt drivers were thankful for when trying to lug in excess of 6,000 lbs around.
Here’s What The World’s Largest Cadillac Costs Today
Pricing Details
| Model | Hagerty ‘Good Condition’ Valuation |
| 1972 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 472cid Sedan | $11,400 |
| 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 500cid Sedan | $10,600 |
When the 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 first hit the market, the 252.2-inch limo model was listed at a starting MSRP of $12,008. Taking inflation into account, the car is now worth about 13% of what it was the day it first went on sale. The current valuation, which fluctuates around $10,000 to $11,000 as provided by Hagerty, also sees it rank among the coolest classic Cadillacs to be found for under $15,000. While the purchase price is low, maintenance and running costs are likely higher than other used luxury options, thanks mainly to terrible fuel consumption – expect no more than 10 mpg on average.
Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Luxury Features
- Reading lamps
- Graphite-treated rear brake linings
- Medici crushed velour fabric
- Magnan Knit AM/FM stereo
- Dual climate control
For the money, this mid-’70s Cadillac comes as standard with a plethora of luxurious extras, such as reading lamps, dual climate control, and a choice of colored velour fabrics inside. The Series 75 was one of the first to feature “Twilight Sentinel,” one of the earlier automatic headlight systems, which used a solar panel in the dashboard to determine whether the lights were needed.
These full-size SUVs are impossible to miss on the road due to their enormous proportions.
These Modern Cadillacs Boast Huge Dimensions
Undoubtedly, the gargantuan Cadillac Escalade deserves a mention when discussing the largest ever production Cadillacs. The luxurious CT6, as launched in 2020, also boasts impressive dimensions, and stands as Cadillac’s longest luxury sedan effort of the 21st century.
The Largest Cadillac SUV Ever Made: 2024 Cadillac Escalade-V ESV
The biggest Cadillac SUV in production, the V-Series Escalade, was launched for the 2022 model year at a suggested MSRP of $149,990. The Escalade-V is available at 211.9 inches, or it can be found in a 227-inch ESV body. This brings it up to just a couple feet shy of the 75’s record-breaking 252.2-inch length.
With an ESV body type, the Escalade stands at 76.4 inches tall by 81.1 inches across, and it’s powered by a 682-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8, allowing it to hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds, which is impressive for any car, but especially an oversized luxury SUV.
The Largest Cadillac Sedan of the 21st Century: 2020 Cadillac CT6
The closest thing Cadillac has produced to a classic land yacht in the 21st Century has to be the 2020 Cadillac CT6. The 2020 edition was the final model year after a single generation (launching in 2016), as the car didn’t sell that well, and the facility where it was built has since been retooled for EVs. A second generation model was launched in 2023, but is currently only for sale in China.
The first-gen CT6 measures 205.8 inches in length by 74 inches across, and they stand 58 inches tall. The 2020 CT6 is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 in the base model, or a 4.2-liter twin turbo V8 in the CT6-V, delivering 335 or 550 horsepower, respectively. This was paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission, and the fastest model could hit 60 miles per hour in just 4.1 seconds.