Dedicated to professional Cadillacs dating between 1950 and 1965; information and pictures of hearses, limousines, ambulances, and flower cars can be found here! Due to the large collection of pictures, this resources has been broken into three year groups.
1956
1956 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood
7523X 4-Door 8 Passenger Sedan w/o Partition
Weight: 5050 lbs.
Production Total: 1095......Price: $ 6558.00
7533X 4-Door Imperial 8 Passenger Sedan w/ Driver's Partition
Weight: 5130 lbs. (2326 KG)
Production Total: 955......Price: $ 6773.00
8680S Commercial Chassis
Production Total: 2025
ENGINE:
8-cylinder, cast iron block, V8, 4 x 3.63 Bore & Stroke, 365 cid (5.9 L), five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, 9.75:1 compression ratio, 4 barrel Carter Model#2371, Dual Exhaust System, Brake Horsepower (Net) 285 HP @ 4600 rpm.
Note that in 1956, the blocks were punched to 365 after having had a 331 cubic inch displacement from 1949-1955. This motor was utilitized in new Caddies through 1958.
BODY
149.75" (3.8 M) wheel base (v.s. 129-133" on other models and 158" on commercial chassis), 235.7" (5.98 M) over-all length (vs. 214.9-225.9"), 60-63.1" track front and rear, 8.20 x 15 tires, weight (see above)
OPTION LIST:
Air Conditioning
Autronic Eye automatic headlight dimmer
E-Z-Eye safety glass
Gold finish grille
Heating and Ventilation
Power brakes...$48
Power windows...$108
Signal-seeking radio w/ preselector and Antenna
Vertically adjustable power seat...$54
MARKETING INFO:
Purchase of the former Hudson Motor Car plant in Detroit was announced on August 5th of 1956. Please see my
1954 Hudson Jet History page for further history on Hudsons.
EASY ID for ALL '56 Cad models:
Grille has a "cleaner" "grate" look. Parking lights are still located under the headlights, but lower, becoming more a part of the bumper area than of the grille area.
The Meteor-Cadillac Ambulance at right was sold brand new to the Moffat County Memorial Hospital in Craig, Colorado. (The hospital had 28 bed at that time!) They also bought another new 1957 MM-Cadillac the following year and both were painted kind of a "Mary K" Pink with white tops. Rumor has it from a retired fireman in Craig, that they painted them pink so they could be seen better in the snow! Neither car ever had fender skirts, apparently because tire chains were used so much on them. A PCS member bought the car for $500 in 2001 from a farmer who had bought it at a Moffat County Surplus Vehicle Auction almost 25 years earlier for the same amount. According to the farmer, he had no need for the vehicle when he bought it, but thought with only 62,000 original miles it was well worth $500.00 and there were no other bidders. It sat under a large oak tree all that time at his ranch without being started or moved for over 25 years. Although it had two flat tires, we took a fresh battery and some gas for the carburetor and it started right up. It was put on a lowbed and hauled to California to be restored.
1957
1957 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood
7523X 4-Door 9 Passenger Sedan w/o Partition
Weight: 5340 lbs.
Production Total: 1010......Price: $ 7348.00
7533X 4-Door Imperial 9 Passenger Sedan w/ Driver's Partition
Weight: 5390 lbs. (2444 KG)
Production Total: 890......Price: $ 7586.00
8680S Commercial Chassis
Production Total: 2169
ENGINE:
8-cylinder, cast iron block, V8, 4 x 3.625 Bore & Stroke, 365 cid (5.9 L), five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, 10:1 compression ratio, 4 barrel Rochester Model#7015701, Dual Exhaust System, Brake Horsepower (Net) 325 HP @ 4800 rpm. Standard items include Hyra-Matic drive as well as power steering and power brakes.
BODY
Tubular X-frame (no side rails), 149.75" (3.8 M) wheel base (v.s. 126-133" on other models and 156" on commercial chassis), 236.2" (5.99 M) over-all length (vs. 215.9-224.4"), 61" track front and rear, 8.20 x 15 six-ply blackwall tires, weight (see above)
OPTION LIST:
Air Conditioning
Heaters
Radios
EASY ID for ALL '57 Cad models:
Rubber bumper guard tips. Parking lights are in same location, but are round and are a set of two on each side.
This 1957 Superior brings irony to the phrase "Rest in peace," as it has been furbished with a bed for camping.
Note the camper style windows on the side of vehicle.
1958
1958 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood
7523X 4-Door 9 Passenger Sedan w/o Partition
Weight: 5360 lbs.
Production Total: 802......Price: $ 8460.00
4533X 4-Door Imperial 9 Passenger Sedan w/ Driver's Partition
Weight: 5475 lbs. (2483 KG)
Production Total: 730......Price: $ 8675.00
8680S Commercial Chassis
Production Total: 1915
ENGINE:
8-cylinder, cast iron block, V8, 4 x 3.625 Bore & Stroke, 365 cid (5.9 L), five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, 10.25:1 compression ratio, 4 barrel Carter Model#2862S, Dual Exhaust System, Brake Horsepower (Net) 310 HP @ 4800 rpm. Standard items include Hyra-Matic drive as well as power steering and power brakes.
BODY
Tubular X-frame (no side rails), 149.7" (3.8 M) wheel base (v.s. 126-133" on other models and 156" on commercial chassis), 237.1" (6.01 M) over-all length (vs. 215.9-224.4"), 81" track front and rear, 8.20 x 15 six-ply blackwall tires, weight (see above)
OPTION LIST:
Air Conditioning...$624
Air Suspension...$214
Automatic Headlight Beam Control...$48
Automatic Heating System...$179
E-Z-Eye Glass...$46
Fog lights...$41
Power Vent Regulators...$73
Power Window Regulators...$73
Radio with Rear Speakers...$165
Radio with Rear Speakers & Remote Control...$247
Remote Control Trunk Lock...$43
EASY ID for ALL '58 Cad models:
Grille is a wider insert and is also "bulleted", featuring small nobs at each intersection of the grill crossmembers. Rubber bumper guard tips closer to parking lights. Dual headlights are introduced this year.
1958 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine
This 1958 Cadillac Limo is a beauty, both inside and out! Check out the divider!
Below, is another one in black.
1959
1959 Cadillac Series 6700 Fleetwood 75
6723R 4-Door 9 Passenger Sedan w/o Partition
Weight: 5490 lbs.
Production Total: 710......Price: $ 9533.00
6733S 4-Door Imperial 9 Passenger Sedan w/ Driver's Partition
Weight: 5570 lbs. (2526 KG)
Production Total: 690......Price: $ 9748.00
6890 Commercial Chassis
Production Total: 2102
ENGINE:
8-cylinder, cast iron block, V8, 4 x 3.875 Bore & Stroke, 390 cid (6.3 L), five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, 10.5:1 compression ratio, 2 barrel triple Rochester Model#7015901, Dual Exhaust System, Brake Horsepower (Net) 310 HP @ 4800 rpm. Standard items include Hyra-Matic drive as well as power steering and power brakes.
Note that in 1959 the blocks were stroked and punched to 390 after having had a 365 from 1956-1958. This motor was utilitized in new Caddies through 1962.
BODY
Tubular X-frame (no side rails), 149.75" (3.8 M) wheel base (v.s. 130" on other models and 156" on commercial chassis), 244.8" (6.22 M) over-all length and 59" high (vs. 225"), 81" track front and rear, 8.20 x 15 tires, weight (see above)
OPTION LIST:
Air Conditioning...$625
Air Suspension...$214
Autronic Eye Automatic Headlight Beam Control...$55
Automatic Heater...$179
Cruise Control...$97
E-Z-Eye Glass...$52
Fog lights...$46
License Plate Frame...$48
Power Window Regulators...$108
Radio with Antenna and Rear Speakers...$164
Radio with Antenna, Rear Speakers, & Remote Control...$246
Remote Control Trunk Lock...$59
EASY ID for ALL '59 Cad models:
Need anything be said? Extraordinary fins and dual "bullet" brake light cones. Front end appearance overhauled. New roofline and roof pillar configuration.
On the interior, the rear passenger area was upholstered in hardy broadcloth in either gray or taupe. The chauffeur's compartment was upholstered in black or gray leather.
The picture above shows a 1959 Cadillac Hearse parked next to a 1963 Cadillac Hearse.
Below, is a custom grill. Yes, it works and is used. I spotted this in Naches, washington.
1959 is undoubtedly the most desirable year for Cadillacs. The movie Ghostbusters "drove" desire further by creating interest in an additional community of collectors. In my opinion, Ghostbusters certainly tops the list of unique movie cars. I appreciate ingenuity and creativity and where imagination can take an object.
There is much debate in the collector car community on whether or not a scarce vehicle should be resurrected from a junk yard and restored to its original grandeur or rehabilitated into "yet another copy cat." There were actually two cars built for Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, the Ecto-1 and Ecto-1a, both constructed from 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor Combination End Loaders. I wouldn't mind owning a Ghostbuster Ecto-1 reproduced in a manner correct to every detail. Several reproductions are out there today. There's a nice ECTO-1 replica placed in the car stars musem located in Gattlinburg, Tennessee. However, I know there are some sad versions out there that just don't cut it. What exactly is all that paraphernalia crowning the car? I just might go into detail on that one of these days.
In my onset of researching the Ghostbuster car, I was under the impression that someone at Sony had built the Ectomobiles. Then I believed that these were actually the creative genius of George Barris. Now I understand that although Sony does own them, they were built by someone named Steve Dane. I don't know the affiliation between Sony and Dane.
Barris clams he built the cars (and some replicas to), however the replicas built were the wrong coach styles. One being a Eureka and the other a Superior. I must go off topic now and divulge in some of the work Barris did do, as it is so awe inspiring!
His works of Action and Adventure TV Shows and Movies include Batman, The Car, Dick Tracy, Fireball 500, Hardcastle and McCormick, Jurassic Park, "Kitt" of Knight Rider, Mannix,and The Silencers. comedy on TV and in the movies include The Beverly Hillbillies, The Flintstones, The Good Guys, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Munsers, My Mother the Car, and The Van. Specialty Vehicles include The Beach Boys' Mini Surfer, Elvis Presley's Limo, Paul Revere and the Raider's Coach, and the Voxmobile. A Nancy Sinatra movie, "For Those Who Think Young," featured the "Villa Riviera." Driven by actor James Darren in the movie, it's a '63 Buick Riviera restyled with a European flair by George Barris. Another car is the "Millenium 2000", which started with a 1951 Studebaker, used a Malibu frame, and had a supercharged Chevy engine added. The engine sports 2, 4-barrel carburetors with a Paxton Supercharger.
The list goes on!!! Visit his site, barris.com.
1959 is undoubtedly the most desirable year for Cadillacs. The movie Ghostbusters "drove" desire further by creating interest in an additional community of collectors. In my opinion, Ghostbusters certainly tops the list of unique movie cars. I appreciate ingenuity and creativity and where imagination can take an object.
There is much debate in the collector car community on whether or not a scarce vehicle should be resurrected from a junk yard and restored to its original grandeur or rehabilitated into "yet another copy cat." There were actually two cars built for Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, the Ecto-1 and Ecto-1a, both constructed from 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor Combination End Loaders. I wouldn't mind owning a Ghostbuster Ecto-1 reproduced in a manner correct to every detail. Several reproductions are out there today. There's a nice ECTO-1 replica placed in the car stars musem located in Gattlinburg, Tennessee. However, I know there are some sad versions out there that just don't cut it. What exactly is all that paraphernalia crowning the car? I just might go into detail on that one of these days.