1956 Cadillac 'Custom' 500ci 'Supercharged' Sedan (LHD)
Sold: $28,000
Specifications
| Engine | V8, 500-cid (see text) |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 3-speed automatic |
| Body Work | Hardtop Sedan |
| Colour | Silver |
| Interior | Black |
| Trim | Brocade/Vinyl |
| Wheels | Cast alloy |
| Brakes | Discs/Drums (see text) |
Description
Despite being challenged by new rivals Lincoln and Imperial, Cadillac remained America's leading maker of luxury cars throughout the 1950s and the confidence shown by the company - and the American auto industry as whole - is perfectly embodied by the longer, wider and lower 1954-1956 models. Built on a new 129-inch wheelbase frame, the new Cadillac boasted a wraparound windscreen, plenty of chrome embellishments and upswept tail fins. The regular Series 62 model was joined by the pillarless hardtop coupé badged the Coupe de Ville, a name first seen on a dream car built in 1949 and applied to all Cadillacs of this body style thereafter. For 1956 Cadillac added the Sedan de Ville, the luxury carmaker's first ever four-door hardtop production model and it proved a huge hit, with 41,732 sold that year. Based on the Series 62, the 1956 Cadillac de Ville featured revised grille treatment, with either a satin or gold finish, and new body moldings to distinguish it from lesser models. Under the bonnet, Cadillac's V8 grew in displacement to 365 cubic inches, with 285 hp thanks to a four-barrel carburettor and a revised Hydra-Matic transmission to give smoother shifts. The 1956 Cadillac Coupe and Sedan de Ville models continue to be popular with collectors and have proven popular as the basis of numerous customs over the years.
