Ten of the most beautiful classic and vintage cars you can book for a wedding, from a 1937 Cadillac Fleetwood to a 1976 Eldorado convertible: two Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds, a postwar Jaguar and Bentley, a ’57 Bel Air and three convertibles made for the getaway. Here’s what makes each one special, how they compare and how to pick yours.
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A classic car does something no modern car can: it puts your wedding in a story. Chrome that glows at golden hour, whitewall tires, a grille that has been turning heads for seventy years. It’s in the photos you’ll frame, and it’s the car your guests talk about on the way home. We picked ten of the most beautiful classic and vintage wedding cars you can book on RentX, from a 1937 Cadillac to a 1976 Eldorado convertible. Here’s what makes each one special, how they compare, and how to choose the right one for your day.
The ten at a glance
Oldest first. Seats are the passengers each car carries, with the chauffeur up front.
| Car | Seats | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 Cadillac Fleetwood | 4 | Gatsby glamour, running-board photos |
| 1946 Jaguar Mark IV | 3 | Garden and country weddings |
| 1952 Bentley Mark VI | 4 | Black-tie and hotel weddings |
| 1954 Packard Caribbean | 3 | A top-down 1950s getaway |
| 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air | 3 | Retro and rockabilly weddings |
| 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I | 2 | The timeless church arrival |
| 1961 Buick Invicta convertible | 3 | A city getaway after dark |
| 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III | 2 | Elegant arrivals and portraits |
| 1966 Lincoln Continental convertible | 3 | Mid-century style, coach-door photos |
| 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible | 3 | A big, bright 1970s exit |
1. 1937 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 70
Why it’s beautiful: this is the Art Deco era on wheels. Freestanding chrome headlamps sit on long, flowing fenders, the tall grille shines like a jukebox, and the fenders sweep down into running boards above wide whitewall tires. Fleetwood was Cadillac’s own coachbuilder, and its bodies were the finest the company made.
Why it works for a wedding: it seats up to four, so the bride can arrive with a parent or her maid of honor. The running board makes a perfect perch for a portrait, gown spread across it. If your wedding has a 1920s or 1930s theme, nothing fits better.
2. 1946 Jaguar Mark IV
Why it’s beautiful: big chrome headlamps, an upright grille, sweeping front wings and wire wheels: it’s pure 1940s British elegance. The company was called SS Cars until 1945, so postwar cars like this one were the first to wear the Jaguar name on its own. The “Mark IV” name came later, once the Mark V arrived.
Why it works for a wedding: it’s graceful rather than flashy, which suits a garden, vineyard or country wedding perfectly. With room for three passengers, it’s a lovely way to bring the bride and a parent to the ceremony.
3. 1952 Bentley Mark VI
Why it’s beautiful: a long hood, the famous upright Bentley grille and front fenders that flow back into the doors. The Mark VI was Bentley’s first postwar car, and the first it offered with a factory-built steel body, made at Crewe, instead of only coachbuilt ones. It has the quiet confidence of a car that never needs to raise its voice.
Why it works for a wedding: it looks right at a grand hotel, a ballroom or a black-tie evening, and it seats four. Bentley belonged to Rolls-Royce by then, so it’s the same engineering under a different grille: perfect if you want something a little less expected than the Spirit of Ecstasy.
4. 1954 Packard Caribbean
Why it’s beautiful: for decades Packard was America’s great luxury name, sold with the line “Ask the man who owns one.” The Caribbean was its showpiece convertible, built in small numbers each year, with a hood scoop, chrome wire wheels and round, open wheel arches that make it look like it’s moving even when it’s parked.
Why it works for a wedding: it’s a top-down getaway car with real rarity. Seating three, it’s ideal for the two of you to wave from on the way out of the reception.
5. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
Why it’s beautiful: the ’57 Bel Air is one of the most recognizable American cars ever built. It was the last of the “Tri-Five” Chevrolets of 1955 to 1957, and the year of the sharpest tail fins, with twin chrome “rockets” on the hood and a wide chrome grille. In black, the chrome looks even brighter.
Why it works for a wedding: it’s the car for a retro, rockabilly or 1950s-themed day, and it photographs brilliantly at a diner, a drive-in or a barn. It carries three passengers.
6. 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I
Why it’s beautiful: if you picture a classic wedding Rolls-Royce, you’re picturing a Silver Cloud. Built from 1955 to 1966, it has the long hood, the temple-like grille, the gently curved fenders and the Spirit of Ecstasy leading the way. The first Silver Clouds ran a smooth straight-six, and this one adds something rare: a Webasto sunroof, seldom seen on these cars.
Why it works for a wedding: it’s the timeless arrival at a church or a historic venue, carrying the two of you in a back seat made for a wedding dress. Prefer white? The 1960 Silver Cloud II in white is the V8 version of the same shape.
7. 1961 Buick Invicta convertible
Why it’s beautiful: Invicta is Latin for “unconquered,” and Buick gave the name to its performance-minded full-size car of the early 1960s. It’s long, low and wide, with a chrome grille that runs the full width of the car, and in pale blue it looks like the early ’60s in a single color.
Why it works for a wedding: it’s made for the getaway. With the top down, the two of you can sit up on the back seat and wave your way out, exactly like the couple above. It carries three passengers.
8. 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III
Why it’s beautiful: the last of the Silver Clouds, and to many eyes the most elegant. The Silver Cloud III brought paired headlamps set into the front fenders and a slightly lower grille, a small change that makes the whole car look sleeker. Under the hood is the V8 the Silver Cloud gained in 1959.
Why it works for a wedding: it’s classic without being old-fashioned, so it sits as well at a modern venue as at a cathedral. In two-tone gray it suits silver and gray wedding colors beautifully.
9. 1966 Lincoln Continental convertible
Why it’s beautiful: clean slab sides, crisp chrome edges and a long, low profile: the ’60s Continental is mid-century design at its best. It’s also one of the very few four-door convertibles ever built, and its rear doors are hinged at the back, so both doors open from the middle like a pair of coach doors. Goldie is an all-original car with a 340-horsepower V8 and, unusually for a classic, air-conditioning.
Why it works for a wedding: those coach doors frame the two of you perfectly as you step out, and the air-conditioning makes it a genuinely comfortable choice for a summer wedding. It carries three passengers.
10. 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible
Why it’s beautiful: it’s enormous, unapologetic and glamorous. Cadillac sold the 1976 Eldorado as the last American convertible, and for a few years it was: no American carmaker built another until the 1980s. It has a 500-cubic-inch V8, front-wheel drive and an interior that seems to go on forever.
Why it works for a wedding: it’s the most fun exit on this list. The top goes down, the back seat is wide enough for a full gown, and in white it practically glows in the sparkler line. It seats three.
More classics worth a look
- 1957 Ford Thunderbird. A pink two-seater that steals every photo. Seating is tight, so check how the two of you will ride.
- 1965 Ford Mustang GT convertible. The first-generation Mustang in white, with air-conditioning.
- 1983 Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible. A hand-built Rolls-Royce with the roof down, in British Racing Green.
- 1957 Bentley S1. The Bentley twin of the Silver Cloud, with a rounded Bentley grille.
- 1939 Packard. Prewar Packard elegance, with room for four.
Browse every classic and vintage car and every Rolls-Royce on RentX.
How to choose your classic wedding car
- Match the decade to the day. A 1930s Cadillac for a Gatsby or Art Deco wedding, a Silver Cloud for a church or cathedral, a ’57 Bel Air for a retro party, a ’60s or ’70s convertible for a garden or beach celebration.
- Arrival or getaway? A closed car protects hair and veil on the way to the ceremony. A convertible is made for the getaway, when a little wind is part of the fun. Many couples book one of each; our getaway car guide explains how the two jobs differ.
- Count the seats. Classic cars carry two to four passengers, and the chauffeur needs a seat too. Bridesmaids and family will need a second car.
- Ask about air-conditioning. Most cars built before the 1960s have none. After a summer reception, a car with A/C, like the Lincoln, makes a real difference.
- Keep the route short and slow. Classic cars are happiest on short drives and local roads. Plan the route, avoid long highway runs, and allow extra time.
- Coordinate the colors. White and ivory suit almost any wedding. Silver and gray work with cool palettes, black with formal ones, and a gold or pink car makes a statement.
Photo ideas with a classic car
- The running board. On the 1937 Cadillac, the bride sits on the running board with the gown spread out.
- The doorway frame. The Lincoln’s coach doors, opened together, frame the two of you stepping out.
- The mascot close-up. The Spirit of Ecstasy in the foreground, the two of you soft in the background.
- Sitting up in a convertible. Both of you on the back seat, top down, waving to your guests.
- Golden hour. Chrome and paint look their best in the hour before sunset, so plan a few minutes for car photos then.
Questions people ask
What’s the difference between a classic and a vintage car?
Collectors are strict about it: in Britain, “vintage” traditionally means a car built between 1919 and 1930. In everyday use, and at weddings, the words overlap. “Vintage” usually means prewar and early postwar cars, and “classic” the 1950s to the 1970s. Every car on this list is at least fifty years old.
Are classic cars reliable enough for a wedding?
A well-kept classic is cared for like a member of the family and prepared for days like yours. Still, it’s an old car, so keep the route short, leave time to spare and avoid long highway runs.
Do classic cars have air-conditioning?
Most older classics don’t. If you’re marrying in summer, look for one that does, like the 1966 Lincoln Continental or the 1965 Mustang GT, or keep the drives short.
Can a classic car be our getaway car?
Absolutely, and a convertible makes the best exit of all. Read our guide to wedding getaway cars for how to plan the send-off.
Can we decorate a classic car?
Usually with ribbon and flowers, but always ask first. Tape and stickers can mark old paint, and some owners prefer the car to speak for itself.
How far ahead should we book a classic wedding car?
As soon as you have your date and venue. Each of these cars is one of a kind, and peak-season Saturdays go first.
