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 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:
  • "62" = Series 62
  • "60" = Fleetwood Sixty
  • "75" = Fleetwood 75
• 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.

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

• 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.

PREVIOUS: History of the 1955 Cadillac NEXT: History of the 1956 Cadillac Eldorado NEXT: History of the 1956 Cadillac Fleetwood NEXT: History of the 1957 Cadillac

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