The decade of the 1950s brought about perhaps the greatest, most rapid evolution of automobile design, and American manufacturers were leading the pack by a country mile. Soon, Detroits flamboyant offerings to the gods of chrome would rule the nation's new Interstate highways. Five decades later, the iconic fin-mobiles of the Fabulous Fifties are highly sought-after collectors' items.
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1955 was a great year for Cadillac. With stylemaster Harley Earl firmly in charge, the division managed to build some of the cleanest, most well-balanced luxury automobiles ever to come out of Detroit. Among aficionados, the '53 to '55s are thought to be the quintessential Cadillacs, not the garish '59s. Featuring strong design cues like gullwing front bumpers topped by huge, fully chromed Dagmar bullets, Earl's harmonically proportioned original tailfins -- somewhat reminiscent of the P-51 Mustang fighter plane -- and egg crate grilles, '55 Caddys were voluptuous, indeed. Today, these almost-20ft-long, 4,500lbs dinosaurs attract people like honey attracts Winnie the Pooh. Literally!
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Prices for these cherished Cadillacs have risen steadily over the years, making them a good choice for folks who enjoy a great slice of Americana and like a nice return on their investment.
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Among the few surviving examples of the 33,300 Coupe De Villes built for the model year, the automobile presented for auction here, VIN *5562107558* is very special, as it must be one of the best-preserved Fifty-fives in existence. A Southwestern resident since day one, it lived a pampered life, never being exposed to inclement weather, always staying out of harm's way. In addition to the standard hydraulic window lifts and power steering, it is equipped with the finest options a wealthy customer could specify on the order sheet, fifty-seven years ago. Among them are:
- Chrome spoke wheels
- Wide white wall tires
- Power brakes
- Autronic Eye automatic headlight dimmer
- Four-way adjustable power seat
- Electric vertical seat lift
- E-Z-Eye tinted safety glass
- Wonderbar radio and power antenna
- Heating and ventilation system
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Matching its impressive stature, the Cad is powered by its factory original, 331 cubic inch Kettering OHV Vee Eight producing no less than 250 horses. The folks at Rolls Royce would only whisper such a number, but being Americans, we proudly advertise it! What whispers is the engine; it purrs like a deliriously happy kitten, simultaneously convincing neophyte drivers with gobs of torque from idle to redline. They say there is no substitute for cubic inches. Right they are!
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This power plant certainly does not act like it's fifty-seven years old; no exhaust smoke or untoward noises spoil the great first impression. We just had the carburetor rebuilt and replaced the flexible fuel lines. A new battery (yes, it's a 12-Volt system) was recently installed, too. Engine bay appears clean, dry, and all original; it has never been restored. By the looks of things, the 59,121 miles indicated on the car's odometer might very well be the car's actual mileage!
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You'll hardly ever encounter more beautifully preserved, all original coachwork. Certainly not on a car that's more than half a Century old! The body appears free of filler ("bondo"), arrow straight, with perfectly aligned doors and hoods. There is no corrosion to be found, either. Paint is very glossy. Sometime during its long life, the car acquired a dark blue roof, a nice contrast to its Sky Blue body. Sure, there are a few signs of age, such as a few small dings and carefully touched-up chips, but this Cadillac bears the mute, ineffable dignity of a truly original treasure.
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The expensive, sparkling, chrome-plated Kelsey-Hayes spoke wheels with attractive Cadillac crests are near new, and so are the WWW radial tires of the dimension 235/75-15. Caddy features lavish amounts of chrome, and all its brightwork is in very good to excellent condition, with no pitting to note anywhere.
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Photos above, from left to right:
- "Like new" chrome spoke wheels
- Coupe de Ville gold script
- Hidden fuel filler door
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Huge doors open wide for easy entry, revealing a most sumptuous interior.
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Elaborate door panel, perfect original headliner with chrome bows and dual dome lights. Everything was bigger and better, back in the Fifties!
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Inviting cockpit with a front bench that easily seats three adults.
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Instrument cluster, steering wheel, and dash pad are in pristine condition throughout.
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Photos above, from left to right:
- Autronic eye
- Cadillac "globe" emblem
- Vanity light and stock radio
- Dome light
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Upholstery fabric looks original and 100% correct, yet was replaced many years ago.
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Rear seat with folding center arm rest. A full 6-seater coupe? Only in America . . .
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Ready to cruise?
So are we, but before we leave, let's take a good look at trunk and undercarriage.
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Cadillac's cavernous trunk is certified to hold thirty-two golf bags, according to Bob Hope. It features all original materials and finishes. There's no rust.
Shop and parts manuals accompany the car.
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Spare tire label on inside of trunk lid. Factory spare with matching tire. Factory tire changing tools.
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Undercarriage presents itself 100% original, untouched, and unrestored. We resisted the urge to wire-brush the thin layer of surface rust that has adhered to the unpainted metal and paint everything black, as most sellers undoubtedly would have done. Instead, we are showing just how perfectly free of any corrosion, scale or rust holes the car really is. Please, enlarge these pictures and study this amazing undercarriage -- 57 years have not been able to weaken it. If you live in a dry climate, it's going to look like this for another 100 years; if you plan to drive the car during severe weather, a thin coat of protective paint would be all that's needed. No metal replacement was ever required, the car has never seen a torch, and nobody ever utilized undercoating or spray paint to mask anything. Zero corrosion worries: that's what acquiring a dry, Southwestern car is all about! Click on the image to the left for an XXL-sized view |
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Above: detail photos of the undercarriage. Make sure you expand them to XXL size!
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Friday, August 2, turned out to be a fabulous summer day here in our old mission town San Buenaventura. Swarms of tourists populating the beach made heading for the hills the logical choice, and this heavy metal Cadillac didn't mind the climbing at all.
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Starting at the first turn of the key, we put he shifter into the "Drive" position and off we go. Since these photos were taken, we installed a new shift knob and right rear reflector lens, by the way. Except for the radio, which turns on but delivers just static, all lights and power gadgets work flawlessly. (We've not tested the Autronic Eye, though.) Driving in true Hardtop style, with the side windows lowered during the colder months or at night, the factory heater with its strong blower create a cozy atmosphere.
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Feeling like the captain of a big cruise ship, the driver enjoys a commanding view of the highway. Caddy runs with the quiet, burbling sound of a vintage Riva mahogany pleasure boat. In 1955, the Cadillac Division could already count on 15 years of experience with automatic transmissions, and the 4-speed Hydramatic proves the point with smooth, almost imperceptible gear shifts. It may be over half a Century old, but the big Cadillac is able to cruise along effortlessly at today's freeway speeds. Power steering and brakes make it easy to handle, help tremendously when parallel parking in tight spots.
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Returning home, we're in love with the big Cadillac. It still possesses a sexy aura of power, wealth, and beauty, easily qualifying as a bona fide "keeper," yet, we can't keep 'em all. But be assured, this Cadillac is special and the hordes of people who stop in their tracks to admire the car whereever it is parked confirm this.
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In closing, we hope you enjoyed this journey back to the Fifties. Our two-tone blue '55 is a proud survivor of that long-gone era, when a Cadillac truly embodied the "Standard of the World" in fine motoring.
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It's a very satisfying feeling to have a big Cadillac in your garage, park it proudly in your circular driveway a la Elvis, take it for a Sunday drive, or display it at a car show.
Here's a great opportunity to acquire a true '50s icon!
Addendum:
We sold this 1955 Cadillac in August of 2012 to a connosseur in Austria.
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