Vehicle exhibits

At first glance, this elegant 1950 Cadillac Series 60 Special looks like the pinnacle of post-war American luxury. Beneath its sleek black bodywork, however, lies one of the most extraordinary custom-built armoured cars ever created.

Powered by Cadillac's smooth 5.4-litre overhead-valve V8, the car left General Motors' Detroit factory as one of America's finest luxury sedans. It was then delivered to the legendary Los Angeles coachbuilding firm Coachcraft Ltd., where master craftsman Rudy Stoessel transformed it into a vehicle designed to withstand the constant threat of armed attack.

Every modification was engineered with one purpose: survival.

The doors were packed with heavy armour plating, while additional steel protection was concealed behind the front and rear seats. The floor was reinforced to resist explosives, and the side windows were replaced with bullet-resistant glass measuring up to 40 mm thick. Even the windscreen was specially engineered with a hinged section that could be opened from inside, allowing occupants to return fire without leaving the safety of the vehicle.

The extensive armour added well over a tonne to the Cadillac's original weight, bringing it to an incredible 4.24 tonnes. To cope with the additional mass, the suspension and chassis were strengthened, while military-grade tyres allowed the car to continue moving even after sustaining damage.

Despite its fortress-like construction, luxury was never sacrificed. Coachcraft retained Cadillac's reputation for refinement, fitting an advanced air-conditioning system capable of keeping the cabin cool even in the intense Southern California heat. Contemporary reports claimed the system could chill the interior enough to frost the windows on days exceeding 110°F (43°C), providing both comfort and privacy for its occupants.

Unlike factory-built armoured limousines, every modification on this Cadillac was individually designed and hand-built. Coachcraft was renowned for producing bespoke vehicles for Hollywood celebrities, industrialists and wealthy clients, but few projects were as ambitious - or as secretive - as this one. The result was a unique blend of luxury coachbuilding, military-grade protection and innovative engineering.

Although built to survive gunfire, the Cadillac never lost its identity as a Cadillac. Its elegant styling concealed the remarkable amount of armour hidden beneath the bodywork, allowing it to blend into everyday traffic while providing an unprecedented level of protection.

Following Mickey Cohen's imprisonment for tax evasion in 1961, the Cadillac was seized by authorities before eventually passing through several owners. Today it resides at Southward Car Museum as one of the most remarkable surviving examples of bespoke American coachbuilding. More than seventy-five years after it was built, the "Gangster Special" remains a fascinating example of how engineering, craftsmanship and necessity combined to create one of the world's most famous armoured automobiles.