1956

Facts: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 3.81 x 3.63" b&s, 331 ci, overhead valves,

push rod actuated, 8.25:1 compression ratio, Carter two-stage

four-barrel carburetor (or Rochester 4 bbl on Eldorado), 230 BHP @ 4400

rpm, Hydra-Matic transmission, 3.07:1 rear axle ratio or 3.36:1 ("75" =

3.36:1), live rear axle suspension, semi-elliptic springs and tube shock

absorbers, independent coil-spring front suspension with tube shock

absorbers ("75" = ladder type frame), 122" wheel base chassis ("62" =

129", "60S" = 133", "75" = 149.8"), 216.4" over-all length for sedans,

others 223.4" ("60S" - 227.4", "75" = 237.3-244.5"), 60" front track,

63" rear track ("75" = 62.5-63" front and rear), 8.20x15 tires, weight:

4370-4625 lbs ("Eldorado" = 4665-4880 lbs, "60S" = 4500-4610 lbs, "75" =

5055-5436 lbs), 0-80 mph in 24 seconds. ("Eldorado" = 22 seconds., "75"

= 0-60 in 15-18 seconds.), 115 mph top speed ("75" = 110-115 mph", 14

mpg @ 70 mph ("Eldorado" = 12 mpg, "75" = 10-16 mpg). V8 Series "62",

"60-S" and "75"; Introduction of Eldorado Seville HT; power up to 285HP

[305HP on Eldorado], 9.75-1 compression ratio, new Hydra-Matic

transmission, new power brake system standard on all models;

Options/accessories: Air-conditioner, heating system, new

electrically-operated antenna, new signal-seeking pre-selector radio,

Autronic-Eye, spotlights, new fog lamps, license-plate frames, "E-Z-Eye"

tinted glass, "sabre-spoke" wheels, new, electric operated 6-way power

seat, new, remote-control trunk lid lock, rear compartment radio

control, radio foot control switch, "cushion toppers", rubber mats,

windshield washer solvent, body finish, fabric cleaner, "Kar-Kleen",

Blue Coral; compound, chrome cleaner, chrome protector, cooling system

inhibitor, whitewall tires, whitewall tire cleaner, "Dor-Guards", seat

belts. New pillarless HT, the Sedan de Ville, 10 models in 3 series,

12th in U.S. car sales ranking; article MK, 8/87, pp.3-11, 1956 ad, and

others (HW collection) {***}; specifications: 101.6x92.07 b&s, 5.98

liters displacement , 76 liter fuel tank, tires 8.20x15, 4-ply (except

"75" series 6-ply); over-all length "62" sedan 5.46m, Coupe de Ville,

Sedan de Ville, "62" convertible + Eldorados. 5.64m, "60-S" 5.74m, "75"

sedan and Limousine 5.99m; width (all) 2.03m; wheel base (all except

"60-S" and "75") 3.28m, "60-S" 3.38m, "75" 3.80m; story of the '56

Cadillac in MI 5/56, pp.94-97+.

Easy ID: Unique, deep-dish wheel covers with embossed "spokes" for 1956;

new front ensemble and gull-wing front bumper with smooth, shell-tip

protrusions like 1955 but featuring central bar across fine-mesh

egg-crate grille; "Cadillac" in gold script diagonally across LH side of

grille; rectangular parking lights set below gull-wing bumper portion,

below headlights. "Nineteen Fifty-Six" in script on RH side of

instrument panel.

(body styles): Presidential parade car, CLCA 1981, p.12-13; "62"

convertible, NIT 12, p.5, pp.26-31 [French pop group]; H&E Station

wagon, SIA 92, pp.40-43; also "Classic American" magazine, said to have

belonged to 50's movie star Debbie Reynolds, has "sabre" wheels {*** -

but have photocopy}, [info from JMR, Aug. '93]; article on Coupe de

Ville, CC&CC 6/1989, {***}; also CA 8/86, p.6; "62" coupe, V8M/5,

pp.18-21; Eldorado Biarritz 2-door convertible (C&D card set); story of

surviving Series 62 coupe in France, V8, #5, pp.18-21.;

Models:

Series "62" [129" wheel base]

6219 6-passenger sedan ( 26222)

id. CKD ( 444)

6237 Coupe ( 26649)

6237DX 6-passenger Coupe de Ville ( 24086)

6237SDX Eldorado Seville ( 3900)

6269DX 6-pass. Sedan De Ville ( 41732)

6267X Convertible coupe ( 8300)

6267SX Eldorado Biarritz Convertible. ( 2150)

62 chassis ( 19)1

Series "60-S" Fleetwood [133" wheel base, 3m38]

5-pass. Fleetwood Sedan ( 17000)

Series "75" Fleetwood [149¾" wheel base]

sedan ( 1095)

imperial ( 955)

8680S 158" wheel base commercial chassis ( 2025)

1956 model total (154577)

Trivia: In 1956 a movie was made called "The Solid Gold Cadillac",

starring Paul Douglas and Judy Holliday; it featured a gold-colored

Eldorado Biarritz.

____________________

1 Possibly used for the Motorama models (i.e. the "Celebrity" -

prototype Eldorado Seville coupe - and the "Westchester") and/or the

Hess & Eisenhardt custom station wagon models built this year (not the

Broadmoor "Skyview" limousines - these were built on the "75" chassis)