1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville Part 1
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- This is my 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville which I bought back in 2002 from a collector in Colleyville, TX. He did not have the car for sale, but had driven it to the Arlington Swap Meet as his transportation as he was looking for a convertible. I had just arrived at the swap meet and spotted this car on the outside perimeter and was instantly taken in by its beauty--'56s have always been my favorite of the '54-'56 generation. The feature that immediately stood out for me was its original all red leather interior. I knew this was not the standard interior for a '56 Coupe de Ville, but was in all likelihood an option. I since learned that this color, along with about seven other colors, could be ordered as an option on any body style of closed car. It is essentially the same interior as would be found as standard equipment in a convertible. The further appeal of the car was its high level of optional equipment, including sabre wheels and the two-four-barrel El Dorado engine as well as factory air-conditioning. It also has first-year availability remote trunk release.
I obtained a build sheet from the Cadillac Historical Service and learned that the car was built on January 13, 1956 and was sold about two weeks later through the P. P. Covert Cadillac dealership in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Beyond that, I don't have any of its history, but would like to have if anyone recognizes this car.
The one weak link was the transmission, which I knew before I bought it had a bad reverse cone. It was overhauled at a transmission shop in my hometown of Waco, TX in 2002 with 51,000 miles on it. It didn't shift quite right when cold right from the start, but would smooth out when warmed up. I didn't want the shop fooling with my car, so decided I could live with it. Six years and 6,000 miles later, in 2008, the transmission self-destructed inside. I took it to another shop, in business longer than the first one and when I got it back it shifted to perfection from the very first day I had it and has done so since then. The second shop showed me the parts from the original rebuild and also told me of several things they had done wrong. They even got the linkage in perfect alignment, something I had missed with the first overhaul.
The factory AC was not working when I looked at the car. I bought it on condition that the AC be working and when I picked the car up on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend 2002, the AC worked perfectly. It still works perfectly to this day with no addition of freon at all.
I've made one mechanical alteration to the car since I've owned it, but it's not visible. The standard axle ratio for '56 Cadillacs was 3.07 to 1, but 3.36 to 1 was standard with the two 4-barrel set-up with no option possible. I like a higher geared set-up and about a year after buying the car a NOS 3.07 gear set appeared on eBay. I got it for the amazing price of $129, had it sent to my mechanic who installed it and filled it with synthetic lubricant. It has never whined and the motor is noticably less busy at 60 MPH than with the 3.36 gear set.
what a beautiful machine. a piece of american history. thank you for sharing this with us.
You and I think alike! I love the 56 . so glad you haven't restored it. Survivor cars are the BEST. She's awesome.
Thanks! You're exactly right and so glad you appreciate it!
This is amazing ! This has to be the car that I saw while traveling to San Antonio going southbound on I-35. I told my wife that I have to turn around and take some pictures. It was May or June of 2009 and parked outside of an industrial shop. I was watching this video and thought "this sure looks like the one in Texas that I saw on vacation" and then noticed it has Texas plates on it. I went to get my pictures to compare and sure enough - same lic plates. Small world !! I love your car !!
@JOHNINCOLUMBUS Many people considered Olds the poor man's Cadillac--similar engines and identical transmissions. My father sold Olds/Cadillac from '47-'49, but changed to Buick in '49 'till his death in '58 at 59--I always preferred the Oldses. Yes, the current crop of GM cars is great, just hope they make a big comeback.
@NDrLoR Yeh, todays cars are just plastic made look good with electrics. But old cars like the coupe de ville were made beautiful, they didnt need anything but themselfs to be amazing.
@gusgus1219 I lived in Dallas 38 years before moving back to Waco 100 miles south in 2005--worked at Lone Star Gas Co. 30 years, lived in a condo between Lemmon/Inwood/Mockingbird from 1981-2005! I'm coming up there tonight to hear a friends fox trot orchestra play at Sons of Hermann Hall in Deep Ellum. If you ever have time, take a run down to Waco! I've also got a '53 Series 62 Coupe, same body as '50-'52. Where do you live in Dallas?
@NDrLoR - Probably because Oldsmobile was more affordable at the time. GM lost it's way big time, but now the new products look promising.
@JOHNINCOLUMBUS That's right, but for some reason Oldsmobile was generally seen as the brand that the great innovations were tried out on first. The most significant was the Hydra-Matic automatic transmission which debuted on Oldsmobile first in 1940, then was available in Cadillac in 1941. Such a shame a once dynamic brand was allowed to perish in such ignominy, but that's America today.
After '56, the first Cadillacs I really liked again were the '68s, with that beautiful, forward leaning grille and the 472--hard to believe the engines that would be coming from GM 13 years later!
@JohnMc52 Thanks! I know just what those '56 Lincolns look like--long as a football field and beautiful!
My aunt and uncle lived in the 4000 block of Inwood, right next to the Montessori school-- about two or three houses south of Mockingbird.They moved there in 1976. My uncle died about six years ago but my aunt still lives there.Sounds like you were neighbors!
Just gorgeous! I have a '56 Lincoln but I love the Cadillacs as well. Congratulations!
Enjoyed your presentation. I wish I had those options on mine. Like the saber wheels and dual carb. Check out my video of my 56.
Nice ride, what's the mpg on a car of this size and age?
@PoppyBird02 Thank you! My parents' best friends Ross and Olna Sams drove Cadillacs from 1946 until their demise in the late 80's in their 80's--their '56 pastoral blue Fleetwood was always my favorite. The '56s conveyed to me the ultimate in class and prestige of Cadillac--the later ones became more gaudy, but didn't have the quality of '56 and earlier. '56 was also the last year for the little fishtail tail light.
@59cadfins Thanks! Enjoyed your video, too! How beautiful your car is and the song is priceless!
Thanks, but it's not my house. It belonged to the daughter of my mother's best friend--she (the daughter) had passed away a month or so earlier at 80 and one of the family let me use it as a background. Her divorced son lives in it now
@gremanfries Thanks for your nice comment and I hope some day you will own one! Best of luck!
@gusgus1219 Exactly what I do! Drove it day before yesterday because the weather was so beautiful!
sweet! SO much leg room! I love these cars.
@77LincolnContinental Thanks! Not really, that's the original upholstery!
@TheHoldcar Thanks! Glad you liked it!
It's late, so I'll wait 'till Monday. Thanks!
@INSULTINGKLOWN Thanks! They did seem to get everything right in '56, then kind of lost it from there on out!
@rockabillyrebeljim Thanks! It's holding up better than I am!
Cadillac was the first with several innovations.
@willDANCEforPENNIES Thanks! You're right about that!
@gusgus1219 Thanks! Gosh no! I will have had it ten years this coming Memorial Day weekend and in fact am going to take it for a drive this afternoon since the weather is so nice! It has between 56-57K miles on it now.
Cool pretty good for an ole v8 ;)
What a wonderful Cadillac, I love 56 Coupe Dr Villes but this car is extra special. A car is only original once, keep it original!
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks! I owned it 17 years and sold it in September to a fellow in Dallas.
What a beautiful original Cadillac.
Thanks again! Yes, it certainly is, she got to enjoy it for the last few years of her life. (NDrLoR is my other channel and I often Reply while in this channel)
That is absolutely amazing! I live in Waco and about once a week when the weather is nice, I drive it down I-35 to the Moonlight Drive exit and back home, about a 21 mile round trip! You don't still have a couple of the pictures you could send me, do you? Thanks!
What a gorgeous car! This car really does have ALL the options! You are one lucky man!
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks, Phonejag! So glad you enjoyed the video!
@sherilyn1977 Thanks for your comment! Glad you enjoyed it!
Looks fantastic in front of your house ;)
so nice! thanks for sharing..
You're exactly right! I lived at 6463 Bordeaux, 75209, from 1981 to 2005! Thanks!
@stevejohn713 So sad for them!
So nice even the butterflies cant keep away from it haha
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks, Michael! Glad you enjoyed the video!
@misthebike Thanks and good luck! Oldmobiles are really my favorite cars, I've had several through the years but none right now. Many people call Oldsmobiles a rich man's Cadillac because they are identical mechanically in so many ways, especially in the 50's and 60's. I call Cadillacs a rich man's Oldsmobile! A '55 Coupe is a beautiful car and hope you can get it.
I'm weak for 56 Calillacs. I had a Fleetwood, many years ago. I'll have a 50s Caddy again sometime!
Nice car! Very impressive accessory list!
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks! I owned the car for 17 years and sold it to a fellow in Dallas last September. I don't know if he still has it, but you can call him if you're interested at 469-569-0827. His name is Peter Krell.
@@VictrolaJazz Thanks for the information.
I have to wait, have to get some more garage space arranged.
And it's probably expensive to buy from the US, for me. I live in Norway, and sometimes there are 50 Cadillacs for sale here and in Sweden. Much easier than having to buy unseen from the US.
But maybe the prices are so much cheaper in the US that it can pay off anyway? What can one find such cars in ok original condition, for in the US?
@@bildillamagasin On your last question, I really don't know. I also own a '53 Series 62 Coupe with 42K actual miles with every option, including factory AC, but crank windows. I've owned it for 30 years but don't want to sell it. Peter, who is a dealer, was very interested in it, but I told him no. You might be able to get some information from him.
Cadillacs seem to look more elegant in white.
(I'm also NDrLoR) No arguments there! Thanks!
Simply stunning. I can see some Hollywood star driving this beauty to a movie premiere or to the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Thanks, Mike! So glad you enjoyed seeing it! I can too!
Thanks! Glad you liked it and I will!
@banjodad1 Thanks!
Hard to imagine-and sad- that the company that made this later gave us the humpback Sevilles, a gussied-up Cavalier, the V4/6/8 joke, the HT4100 boat anchor, and whatever that imported piece of junk they called Catera was. Now they seem to be mostly concerned with making glorified Suburbans, and sports cars than the cars that made them "The Standard Of The World" Really sad.
love the car, im 13 and it is my current dream car and will stay that way, ive wanted one since i was 9 and hate all these new modern cars and sport cars. once i can drive properly im going to get one, restore it, and treat it like a god :D
@yourallbrainwashed Thanks, all my friends want Ferraris, Lamborginis and stuff. I think its pointless to spend 300k plus on a modern sports car when you can get true beauty in an old car for around 30k - 50k in best condition.
What an amazing car! My wife and I are currently trying to sell our 1951 Oldsmobile so we can buy a 1955 Coupe DeVille. We already own a 1964 Coupe DeVille.
@1956aa1 i have always loved cars ever since i can remember! what are a few of your favorite cars?
do you like any rare cars, like ones people havent heard of ?
It's really a sad trajectory that GM took over the past 50 years. It's ironic that today they possess approximately the same percentage of the market that the struggling independents controlled in the mid-50's just before their demise. I know that in some celestial venue the former employees of Nash, Hudson, Packard, Studebaker, Kaiser are looking around at each, nodding and smiling in satisfaction. They just lost their way.
Love your 56 Coupe. It's in the ideal condition, looks fabulous and complete, but not too perfect so you would be afraid to drive it and enjoy it!
Well thanks! There may indeed be a video of making a cold start inside the '56 yet! People in Norway seem to have an affinity for big American cars as well as American jazz. Since it appears you like music as well, check out my other channel which is VictrolaJazz! One of my subscribers is a 15 year old from Norway, name of Paal.
I have a book on order from Amazon titled "Crash Course: The American Automobile Industry's Road from Glory to Disaster" by Paul Iggrasia. One chapter is titled "Crummy Cars and CAFE Society": we certainly know what decade that covers! You might want to order it too. Eddie
Very pretty, my nieighbors had a light green 55 coupe DeVille, looked very much like this one. This was during the earlier 60s I think they replaced it about 1966
(I'm also NDrLoR) Well they had a beautiful car and it is very similar to the '56, the last year of that generation. Many people like '55s better because they have completely smooth rear quarter panels all the way back.
@@VictrolaJazz yes, but Sammy Davis Jr, Lost his eye on that center in the steering wheel in a fender bender on route 66 outside of San Bernardino CA, the 56 has a safer steering wheel for shorter drivers
@@califdad4 I never heard that story! It's clear the designs before safety was taken into consideration must have resulted in many injuries. That hub does come to a distinct point through 1955. When Buicks got Dynaflow in 1948, the stylish gear shift lever tapered to a spear-like point that I'm sure caused many injuries. In 1953, it was changed to a blunt knob, more like the one on standard shift cars that I'm sure was safer.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
@1956aa1 Thanks! I know exactly how you feel about modern cars! They're perfect in every way just like a washing machine or toaster, but offer no emotional appeal, just as those appliances don't--totally utilitarian. Best of luck in finding your dream car!
And thanks again for your kind response. When the weather is nice, no extremes of heat or cold, I do get it out and drive it on a nice 20-25 mile circuit to keep it running good and it does get a few thumbs up! All the best to you as well!
I have promised my friend from whom I bought it in 2002 first right of refusal if I decide to sell it, then another friend is waiting in line--but I'm not ready yet. Thanks for your kind words--yes, I am proud of it and glad you enjoyed it!
@1956aa1 its really nice to see a youngster appreciate stylish old cars!
for some reason you just dont here kids say that any more?
Stunning. I love the originality. I'm restoring a 68 DeVille convertible which is a nice car. But the 56 was the peak of Cadillac styling in my opinion. The fins got big and crazy in later models. That is just a beauty!
TY Sir. Still a lovely home ;)
@rockabillyrebeljim Thanks! It's surprisingly good for a car this size because of the transmission--it could get 16 MPG on the highway, maybe 11 in town.
Eddie - it's just beautiful. Can't wait to get mine on the road. It's still a work in progress. E
Lovely car from a good year.
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks, Jan! I sold that car a week ago yesterday, but you're right on both counts!
@luisaviation I wish I could've, but I didn't have any provision for placing the camera to catch it!
@RockandRollFriday Thanks! You couldn't have chosen two nicer ones to represent that era!
A red interior is absolutely the most desirable in any car, bar none!
SHE'S GORGEOUS!
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
@1956aa1 You're right--we've lost a lot in the past 55 years!
Thanks! I've also subscribed to your great site!
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
@thebarak Thanks! You've got it spot-on right!
@wrkout You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
i love your car!! i wish i had one
Cool car. I like it.
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks! I know, both Olds and Cadillac used very similar padded dashes '54-'56 and they were of tremendous quality, you never saw them falling apart a few years later like you did some of the others that had foam under them.
Thanks for the comment!
5 stars!!!!!!!
950 cach.
Thanks, Evan! So good to hear from you--I still want to see your car up close and personal. I need to come down there some time when you're going to be at the lake!
That was what really sold me on it to begin with--I recognized it as a very rare (I've never seen one since) special order item.
Thanks again!
i have a 1956 coupe deville with 49000 miles!gonna fix it up one day.thanks for your video.
Thanks!
Very nice exemple.
How many were sold with optional all leather interior ?
Love it.
I have a 1958.
+ManuCarsGallery (I'm also NDrLoR) I don't know if those numbers are broken out anywhere--I've only seen one other, another Coupe de Ville on eBay with all green leather, but I'm sure they're very scarce. Thanks! '58s are lovely, too!
Love the accent! "Imports are...bad...uuumkay?"
(I'm also NDrLoR) Accent?
Did it come with power windows and power seats?...plus what were the other options please, besides the automatic light dimmer and the red leather...gorgeous caddy....
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks! Yes, power windows and seats had been available on GM cars since right after World War II, but they were hydraulically operated from a main pump to a cylinder for each window, using brake fluid, through 1953 and tended to be troublesome and messy as the cylinders would leak--especially bad for cars that lasted into antique status as they required frequent and expensive rebuilds. In 1954 they became electrically operated and are virtually trouble free as those in my car still work perfectly. Chysler first had power windows in 1951, but theirs were always electric. My car has every option available, including first year for remote trunk release.
Gorgeous car
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks! Sold it in September, 2019.
Beautiful car, pure luxury from a wonderful era.
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks on both counts! Glad you enjoyed it!
All leather is a very rare option ... nice car.
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks! Yes, it's a special order all red interior, available on any '56 model.
Beautiful Caddy! Lucky to sill own one (or more?).
Thanks!
I'd love to find one in my area but Canada and salt rots them out badly. Should have got one when the $$ was better. They easily go over 100 mph
Should-coulda-woulda! Yes, with their 3.07 axle ratio over 100 would be easily attainable.
actually I recall burying the needle and the speedometer went to 120.
It is iconic beauty.
(I'm also NDrLoR) Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! It is indeed iconic, the last year for the little fishtail tail lights that forever became associated with Cadillacs in the 40's and 50's!
My mother had one when I was 6, in 1969. It was covered in the bubble plastic slip covers. It may have been a four door, I can’t remember. I do remember sitting on the center arm rest. It’s an odd thing the memory of this car should not be sweet, it took me away from my father. I write and decided my protagonist needed to take this car cross country. I was doing research on gas milage when I came across your video. Needless to say she (your caddie) is the one. The car in the story's name is Delilah. I don’t know what happened to my mother’s or if it was even hers or just a borrowed car. Her brother owned a caddie dealership in Ohio and after we moved there, I don’t remember ever riding in that car. It was buttercream yellow. Next time you take her out for a drive, drive one mile for me.
bohemianimages I'm so happy that my car provided inspiration for you, but sorry yours brings back sad memories. Oh that buttercream yellow was gorgeous! The colors that used to be available on cars were unlimited in those optimistic years, so different from the black/white/silver/gray/graphite of today's cars! I was 12 then and they were everywhere, always wanted one. Thanks so much for your comments and good luck!
from the ads I’ve seen, the colors were amazing. As far as memories go, the Caddie is a very bittersweet one. How is the gas mileage on today’s fuel? Would it be feasible to drive coast to coast?
bohemianimages There was virtually no end to the beautiful colors available through the 50's and even into the 60's, and the interiors were just as nice. I know some people drive their cars extensively, but I don't. I don't want to subject it to the rigors of a long trip at 58 years old and possibly damage through another idiot's bad driving. I also don't drive mine in extremes of temperature, either hot or cold, it neither does it nor me any good. I take it on a 15-20 mile circuit about every week to keep its vitals well functioning, but otherwise it can consider itself retired. Thanks! Oh, the gas mileage in these cars is surprisingly good for their size, probably 17-18 on the highway.