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1956
1957
1958
1959
1956 CADILLAC
SERIES 62
The 1956 year saw introduction of Cadillac's first four-door
hardtop Sedan de Ville, which immediately scored almost as many sales as the Coupe de Ville
and standard 62 hardtop combined.
Despite an all-new '56 Lincoln and revitalized '57 Imperial, Cadillac remained America's
luxury sales leader by far. Combined Lincoln/Imperial volume never exceeded 40,000 cars a
year in this era; at Cadillac, that was a good quarterly output.
For 1956, the milestone V-8 was stroked to an even 4 inches to deliver 285
bhp standard and 305 for Eldorado.
SERIES 62
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. The annual "beauty treatment" consisted of a new grille with finer textured insert and the repositioning of the 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 lefthand side. 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 front fenders, while the more standard cars
had only the crest. An Eldorado script appeared, with a fender crest, on the luxury
convertible, which also featured a twin-fin hood ornament. Other extras on this
car—now known as the Biarritz—were a ribbed chrome saddle moldling extending
from the windshield to the rear window pillar along the beltline and flat, pointed rear
fender fins. Totally new models included a pillarless four-door called the Sedan DeVille
and an Eldorado Coupe Seville. The latter represented an especially luxurious hardtop
coupe, which was built to Eldorado standards and similarly priced. As usual, the standard
four-door 62 sedan was seven inches shorter than the other cars in the same series. Both
cars in the Eldorado sub-series were slightly longer this year.
I. D. NUMBERS
| Serial numbers and engine numbers were the same again and were found in the same locations. |  |
| The first two symbols were "56" to designate 1956 model production. | |
The next two symbols indicated the series as follows:
| |
| The remaining digits represented the consecutive unit number and began at 00000 for each series. | |
| All series had the same ending number, which would be misinterpreted if listed. |
STYLE
| Model Number | Body Style | Doors | Model | Seating | Factory Price | Shipping Weight | Production Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55-62 | 6219(X) | 4-door | Sedan | 6 | 4241 | 4430 | 26,222 |
| 55-62 | 6219(X) | - | Export Sedan | 6 | 4241 | 4430 | 444 |
| 55-62 | 6239DX | - | Sedan DeVille | 6 | 4698 | 4550 | 41,732 |
| 55-62 | 6237(X) | 2-door | Hardtop Coupe | 6 | 4146 | 4420 | 26,649 |
| 55-62 | 6237DX | - | Coupe DeVille | 6 | 4569 | 4445 | 25,086 |
| 55-62 | 6267X | - | Convertible Coupe | 6 | 4711 | 4645 | 8300 |
| 55-62 | 62 | - | Chassis only | - | - | - | 19 |
| ELDORADO (SUB SERIES) | |||||||
| 55-62 | 6237DX | - | Coupe Seville | 6 | 6501 | 4665 | 3900 |
| 55-62 | 6267SX | - | Convertible Biarritz | 6 | 6501 | 4880 | 2150 |
NOTE: The symbol X in brackets after Body Style Number indicates hydraulic window lifts optional; without
brackets indicates this feature standard.
SERIES 62 ENGINE
| Feature | Standard Engine | Optional Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Type | V-8: Overhead valves | |
| Block | Cast iron block | |
| Displacement | 365 cubic inches | |
| Bore and stroke | 4.00 x 3.63 inches | |
| Compression ratio | 9.75:1 | |
| Horsepower rating | 285 @ 4600 rpm | 305 @ 4700 rpm |
| Main bearings | Five | |
| Valve lifters | Hydraulic | |
| Carburetor | Carter WCFB four-barrel, Model 2370S | Two (2) Carter WCFB four-barrel, Model 2371S |
CHASSIS
| Feature | Series 62 Sedan | Other Series 62 |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 129" | 129" |
| Overall Length | 214.9" | 221.9 |
| Front Tread | 60" | 60" |
| Rear Tread | 63.1" | 63.1" |
| Tires | 8.00 x 15 | 8.00 x 15 |
| Exhaust | Dual exhaust | |
CONVENIENCE OPTIONS
| Air conditioning. |
| White sidewall tires. |
| E-Z-Eye safety glass. |
| Autronic eye automatic headlamp dimmer. |
| Signal-seeking radio with preselector and antenna. |
| Heating and ventilation system. |
| Power window lifts (specific models). |
| Gold finish grille. |
| Two-way posture power seat ($81). |
| Six-way power seat ($97). |
| Other standard GM accessories available. |
| (Note: Posture power adjustable seat on convertible, DeVilles and Series 60S only. Six-way seat on 62 Coupe and sedan and standard for Eldorado). |
HISTORICAL NOTES
- 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 the following month on November 18.
- 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.
- The 1956 line set records in sales and production moving Cadillac from 10th to 9th position in the American sales race.
- On Aug. 5, 1956 the division announced the purchase of the former Hudson Motor Car plant on Detroit's east end.