1956 Cadillac Cars Described

1956 CADILLAC CARS DESCRIBED

1956 CADILLAC - GENERAL: Although a facelift was the major restyling news for 1956, there were still many changes in the Series 62 lineup and especially in the Eldorado sub-series. Totally new models included a pillarless four-door called the "Sedan DeVille" and the "Eldorado Coupe Seville". The latter represented an especially luxurious hardtop coupe, which was built to the same standards as the Eldorado convertible and similarly priced. The annual 'beauty treatment' consisted of a new grille with a finer textured insert and the repositioning of parking lights in the bumper, below the wing guards. Buyers were given a choice of a standard satin finish grille or optional gold finish, both selections decorated with Cadillac script on the left-hand side. Standard equipment on all Cadillacs was comparable to that included the previous year.

1956 SERIES 62 V-8: On the rear side fenders of Series 62 models a narrow chrome molding and nine vertical louvers were seen. The Coupe DeVille had a model nameplate and Cadillac crest on the sides of the front fenders, while the more standard cars had only the crest. As usual, the standard four-door 62 sedan was seven inches shorter than the other cars in the same series.

1956 SERIES 62 ELDORADO V-8: On the Eldorado coupe and convertible - the latter now known as the Biarritz, an "Eldorado" in script along with a Cadillac fender crest were found on the front fender, above and behind the wheel opening. All Eldorados featured a twin-fin hood ornament. Other extras on these specialty cars were a ribbed chrome saddle molding extending from the windshield to the rear window pillar along the beltline, a distinctive rear fender design with twin round taillights halfway up the fenders, and pointed tailfins similar to the '55 car. Both cars in the Eldorado sub-series were slightly longer than the '55 convertible.

1956 SERIES 60S FLEETWOOD V-8: Fleetwood V-8: Cadillac's non-limousine style Fleetwood model carried the "Sixty Special" designation in script below the Cadillac crest on the sides of the front fenders. "Fleetwood" also appeared on the rear face of the deck lid. Solid chrome exhaust extension trim moldings were set into the rear fenders.

1956 SERIES 75 FLEETWOOD V-8: Side trim on the long-wheelbase Fleetwood models was about the same as 1955, except for the addition of exhaust extension moldings on the rear fender. This trim ran along a tapering conical flare from above the wheel housing to the rear bumper. "Fleetwood" in script appeared on the deck lid, and limousine-like styling was still used. Changes in grilles and bumpers conformed to those used with other series. Both the regular Fleeetwood and Limousine models had auxiliary seats, and the Imperial sedan again featured a glass driver's partition.

INNOVATIONS: The 1956 Hydra-Matic transmission incorporated changes that increased its size and smoothed out shifting qualities. It was developed by GM at a cost of $35 million.

MODEL/ENGINE I.D. DATA: Serial numbers and engine numbers were one and the same. They appeared on the right-hand of the crankcase above the water pump and on the right frame side bar behind the engine support. The first two symbols were '55' to designate 1956 model production. The next two symbols indicated the series as follows: “62”, ‘60” or “75’. The remaining digits represented the consecutive unit number and began at 00000 for each series. All series had the same last (ending) number, which should not be misinterpreted if listed as part of the numbering sequence.

BODY PAINT CODE/COLORS:

 10 Black  12 Canyon Gray  14 Cascade Gray  16 Dawn Gray  18 Camelot Gray  20 Sonic Blue  24 Tahoe Blue  26 Cobalt Blue  30 Duchess Green  32 Princess Green  34 Persian Green  36 Arlington Green  40 Cape Ivory  42 Goddess Gold  44 Pecos Beige  46 Mountain Laurel  48 Taupe  50 Mandan Red  52 Chantilly  90 Alpine White  92 Starlight  94 Bahama Blue  96 Emerald Green

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CADILLAC ENGINES:

 Series 60-62-75 V-8. Overhead valves. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 365 CID. Bore and stroke: 4.00" x 3.625". Compression ratio: 9.75:1. Horsepower: 285 @ 4600 RPM. Torque: 400 @ 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter WCFB four-barrel, Model 2370S.  Eldorado V-8. Overhead valves. Overhead valves. Cast Iron Block. Displacement: 365 CID. Bore and stroke: 4.00" x 3.625". Compression ratio: 9.75:1. Horsepower: 305 @ 4700 RPM. Torque: 400 @ 2800 RPM. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: Carburetors: Two (2) Carter WCFB four-barrel, Model 2371S.

CHASSIS:

 Wheelbase: Series 62 129.0", Series 60S 133.0", Series 75 149.8". The commercial Series 75 chassis utilized a 158" wheelbase. This was provided for construction of funeral cars, ambulances, etc.  Overall length: Series Sedan 214.9", All other Series 62 221.9" Eldorado 222.2" Series 60S 225.9", Series 75 235.7"  Front tread: All - 60.0".  Rear tread: All - 63.1".  Standard tires: Series 75 8.20 x 15 black wall, Eldorado 8.20 x 15 whitewalls, All Others 8.00 x 15.  Optional tires: Series 60 and 62, except 6267S 8.20 x 15 whitewall.

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS:

 Hydra-Matic automatic transmission was standard except on Series 75.  The 305 horsepower Eldorado engine was available in other models at extra cost.  Dual exhaust system standard.  Rear axle ratios: Standard 3.36:1, Optional 3.07:1

SIGNIFICANT OPTIONS:

 Air conditioning.  Autronic eye automatic headlamp dimmer. E-Z-Eye safety glass.  Gold finish grille.  Heating and ventilation system.  Posture power adjustable seat on convertible, DeVilles and Series 60S only.  Power seat, six-way ($97). Standard for Eldorado.  Power seat, two-way posture ($81).  Power window lifts (specific models).  Signal-seeking radio with pre-selector and antenna.  White sidewall tires.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: The Cadillac Series 62 Sedan DeVille four-door hardtop and Eldorado SeVille two-door hardtop were introduced to the public almost a month earlier than other models - on October 24, 1955. The remaining cars in the line were introduced on November 18. On August 5, 1956, the division announced the purchase of the former Hudson Motor Car plant on Detroit's east end.

PRODUCTION:

Total 1956 model year output reached 155,577 up from 140,777 units the previous year and another new record high for Cadillac Division. The 1956 sales records moved Cadillac from 10th to 9th position in the American sales race.

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CAR IMAGES

New for 1956 was the Eldorado Coupe Seville. A companion to the Eldorado convertible, it had the same base price of $6,501. It still sold 3,900 units.

For 1956 the Eldorado convertible returned as the "Eldorado Biarritz," and 2,150 convertibles were sold - losing out to the new coupe.

The other new kid for 1956 was the Series 62 4-door hardtop called the "Sedan DeVille". It was an immediate hit with 41,732 sold!

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CAR IMAGES Continued

The 1956 Series 75 long wheelbase Fleetwood soldiered along selling 2,150 in both standard and limo guise.

The other Fleetwood, the Series 60, was an opulent, longer version of the Series 62 Sedan. In 1956 17,000 were sold.

The stalwart Series 62 convertible was a solid seller in 1956, with 8,300 moving down the line.

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CAR IMAGES Continued

The 1956 Series 62 coupe sold a tad short of the previous year at 26,649.

The 1956 Coupe DeVille also sold a tad under its 1955 numbers, but it was still strong at 25,086.

The 1956 Series 62 sedan lost sales to the new Sedan DeVille but still hit 26,222 in total deliveries.