The Cadillac Series 36-60 was Cadillac's entry-level product in the luxury vehicle market when it appeared in 1936, competing with the entry-level Packard Six. Each model year added the year prefix to the series (37-60 and 38-60) in the number hierarchy used at the time. It was replaced by the Series 39-61 in 1939, but a model that was derived from it, the Sixty Special or 60S, continued off and on through 1993.
The Series 60 was the brainchild of new Cadillac manager, Nicholas Dreystadt. Debuting in 1936, it filled a gaping price gap between the updated appearance of the successful LaSalles of which the Series 60 was the upgraded version with the "Cadillac" name, and the Series 36-70 Cadillac models. Initially it rode on a wheelbase and shared the B body with cars from LaSalle, Buick, and Oldsmobile. This went up to in 1937–1938.
Under the hood was the new (less expensive) Monobloc V8. This engine produced 125 hp (93 kW), just 10 less than that in the larger Cadillacs. The Series 60 immediately became the company's best-selling model, making up half of all Cadillacs sold the first year.