OK, let’s open this one up with the question that I usually ask at the conclusion, and that is, “What to do with it?” The “it” is a 19.5 foot, 5,200 lb. 1956 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five. Yes, it’s a dagmar equipped Whammer-jammer but it has its issues too, so let’s observe. This Cadillac limo is located in Newton, Iowa and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $1,025 with two bids tendered as of this writing. Thanks to Larry D for this find!
Cadillac had a typical Cadillac-style line-up for ’56, starting with big (Series Sixty) and then working its way up from there through the various versions of the Series Sixty-Two, some special sauce in the form of the Eldorado, and finally on up to the “Big-Mo”, series Seventy-Five limousine with body by Fleetwood. Cadillac came in ninth place in the 1956 total sales race with 154K vehicles finding homes estates but it was first in luxury. Lincoln mustered up 50K in sales while Imperial saw only 10K copies. Of course, Chrysler did move 128K non Imperials in 1956 so the straight-up Cadillac to Imperial comparison is probably not that accurate.
You always want to know the back story around a car like this. Who purchased it and why, where has it been all of these years, who rode in it, etc. None of that is disclosed but it has clearly had exposure to the elements. Besides the faded finish, there is a rust hue over the horizontal surfaces and there is rot-through in the doors, quarters, and rear bumper. And the seller mentions that the frame has gotten in on the disappearing act too. But, there is no evidence of body panel damage, and the Fleetwood extensive trim is still attached – there’s just a whole lot of real estate here that needs attention.
Speaking of attention, the interior got my attention on account of its deplorable condition and collapsed floors. And this is one of those instances where the back seat area is worse than the front and the entire interior presentation lags considerably that of the exterior. Something or someone has eviscerated the rear tan fabric-covered seat which is a mismatch to the leather front bench. Perhaps in a limousine, with a glass divider, it’s common for the chauffeur to be riding on upholstery surfaces different, or more durable, than that where the cosseted gentry reside. There are many, many images of the interior wreckage included so the seller is offering full disclosure.
Of note, this Caddy is factory air-conditioned, a still fairly new feature in ’56. Clearly, this unit hasn’t operated in many moons but the componentry looks to be all present.
Under the expansive hood resides a “stuck” 285 gross HP, 365 CI V8 engine coupled to a Hydramatic automatic transmission. It is a rather rusty-looking affair but it is complete with its distinctive dual inlet air cleaner assembly and ancient A/C compressor.
This beautiful beast of a mid-century luxury automobile is probably a goner. There is just so much that needs attention and one would have to have the devoted interest and knowledgeability necessary to take on something of this size – there’s just so much to it. What do you think, restorable or highly unlikely?
Restorable? Who knows?
Beautiful? you bet.
Had to be a beauty when it was new and had some fairly important passengers riding it it. Still has a great profile.
I don’t know why but limos usually had mismatched front and rear seats. Cloth in the rear and leather up front, and many times that front seat couldn’t be moved. As in one size fits nobody.
Limos(with divider)were outfitted that way. Who cares about the chauffeurs comfort, lol.
Without divider (9 passenger sedan) made a great car for a large family.
Only 5200 lbs? Average large SUV weighs that much now.
Thanks to rust, it probably weighs 4200 lbs. now. Rust isn’t always bad!
rust, ha, I prefer the term weight reduction. and the yanks are great at it.
Sellers always say “would make a great restoration project”. Let’s fix that with the truth:
“Would make an excellent money pit.”
“Would make a great divorce initiator.”
“Would make a great 3 ton garage paperweight.”
Or an RV? For the Adams family?
Sell it to gas monkey garage or road kill classics kindig would have fun with this as a low rider
I would hope that Jay Leno could afford this restoration. Then sell it to a classic rock band like Molly Hatchett or even Alice Cooper. Otherwise it’s “Welcome to someone else’s Nightmare”.
Roll down the windows, open the hood and trunk. Wala instant terrarium
Wala? No….
“Voila”
French for “there it is”
Sorry
Wala is American. That’s all
Oh, I always thought it was Viola! LOL
Need a big budget to fix that …Still nice
I imagine that to have been used in the funeral industry. But if money was no object it could be a party car again.
I could see someone like Counts Customs in Las Vegas getting hold of this and going nuts! Anyone is looking at some big money and ideas to do justice to this 56 Cadillac Limo. That AC compressor is indeed a dinosaur, even predating the A6.
When the carpeting becomes structural then you know there’s a problem. Having said that I’d still fix this. I love a good rusty challenge.
What would you use as a rotisserie? Probably a very large lathe with a 12 ft. swing and a 15 ft chuck
I’ve never had one, just ramps, a jack and jack stands!
Interior looks good but outside will need a bit of elbow grease! LOL Go ask daddy for a wee bit of change! Nice work project for someone with lots of $ !
Jim
I had this exact car in 1968, it had a burned valve. My ex-wife sold it to an old couple in southern Iowa, near Newton, who collected old Cads. She used the money to come over to the War with me. I bought it from a guy in Parkersburg Iowa, who used it for hunting trips up north. The couple also had a 57 Fleetwood 75 that had been a governors car. It had an electric operated piece of glass that came up behind the front seat. This is the exact car, if it is it, I have a pretty complete history of the car. It is even located near where we sold it. If the buyer is interested my e-mail is theranch2000@cs.com.
Cool. My first reaction when seeing this car: oh. 1) Oh, what an awesome car were it restored. 2) Oh, the man-hours and unobtanium needed. 3) Oh, back in the day, so far back even I can’t relate.
I recently saw a restored one. It was stunning. For $200,000+ someone could make this one stunning too. So wish I could afford to have it done.
Someone will have it restored, as it should be. As far as rust, I lived just south of Boston, and a good friend’s mother was still driving her ’56 Caddy, in 1968. No rust, and it was always garaged, which may have helped.
I would like to buy the air cleaner…
So many mechanics on this site, you would think someone here could get it running, and even do some body/interior work. Keep the outter restorible people to a minimum and it shouldn’t be astronomical to restore.
I had a 1956 Fleetwood when I was 13, a school friend father gave it to me. Never could figure out what was wrong with it.
My father, in his infinite wisdom junked it.
It had the trunk a/c, with clear tubes coming up from the package shelf to outlets above all four doors. Auxiliary lights in with the parking lights and of course, that huge steering wheel. Why were steering wheels so big back then?
My first access to a ’56 Cadillac, any Cadillac, was my aunt and uncles who lived next door. Baby blue with white top, Coupe de Ville. Then, at 13 I get a ’56 Fleetwood. Think maybe the universe is trying to tell me something?
Hell I’m not married, let’s have at it! Do you like Lloyds? I have 5 of them, they can go in the Caddy’s trunk!
Well you are definitely safe while driving one of these. I bet that the metal is thick enough to hammer out dents from the back side and smooth it out with body files. No bondo necessary. Or lead, if you are old school.
This thing weighs more than my 48 Packard.
This is the third 55-56 Limo I’ve seem for sale in the last few months, all too far gone to restore. Would like to see someone make a double decker bus or another version of the Gigahorse from Mad Max out of a couple LOL.
If you get it cheap enough, mount the body on something like a crew cab pick up chassis, throw together an interior, and make a fun driver / friend hauler. It’s sad that it got to this condition, and I generally don’t like rat rods, but for this one, I’m afraid it’s either that or junk.
I just noticed the left rear bumper is rested clear through. Yikes. That doesn’t bode well for the chassis.
That would keep me out of bars and dark alleys for a few years… I would keep the outside as stock as possible, Do a LS swap and modern interior if I had the money and time (which I dont, as my wife tells me often)
Rob, Mike, and the rest of you……
Ya’ll shoulda married someone like me. Ya’ll complain that your wives won’t let you get another project or that another project would initiate a divorce. I would encourage you to get another project. Have several projects going at once.
Ya’ll married the wrong women. JMO
You know, I also have an awesome wife like you. Whenever I need a computer upgrade or tractor attachment or major tools, my Darlin always concurs.
I’d love to see what Danny Koker ad Count’s Kustoms could do with this.
I grew up 25 miles South of Newton Iowa. This car was sitting beside a building on along the main drag in Newton on flat tires when I was 5 years old over 32 years ago. I can see why it’s soft all over.
Mom’s family were original pioneers: Stingers in Mount Vernon. So this is a junker that sat forever outside the barn, now the grandkids wanna try to sell it.
after looking at the rear seat, I’ve got to say it:
“Who let the dogs IN?”
Having owned several ’55 & ’56 Cadillacs, and worked on many more, this is worth putting the effort into, and with factory A/C it’s quite rare.
I think “Barnfinds” has potential as a dating site !?
I bet he doesn’t change his oil or fluids often enough. Geesh.
Dave,
About 30 years ago I had a call from a local man in Silver Spring, Maryland, who owned a 1935 Rolls-Royce limousine with a body by the respected coachbuilder James Young.
He saw my ad in the yellow pages under antique cars. He said he was moving that day, however the movers refused to load the car into the moving van, and he had to sell it NOW! So I drove over to take a look.
He had bought it in London back in the mid 1960s because it was cheap, and he shipped it back to the USA. He intended to build a garage for the limo, but got busy and never built the garage, nor did he ever touch the car again.
When I saw the car is was in a sorry shape. The back 2 doors had fallen off the car, and the front doors would have done so if they could have been opened. The entire roof had caved in years ago. Fortunately it was 100% complete, even the Flying Lady mascot came with the car, but it was inside the house.
It was a Saturday afternoon, and the car had to be off of the property that day. I took my ’69 Ford Rollback truck, stopped to get some money, but the most I could get out of the ATM that day was $500, so I mentioned that amount, intending to send more after the weekend, and he immediately said “That’s fine”, took the $500 and handed me the signed title. I think had I offered $100 he would have been ok. He needed the car off the property right then and there, and I winched it up on the truck, throwing various doors, parts, etc. onto the truck bed before leaving.
The house was a very large McMansion in an expensive suburb of Washington, DC. This guy worked in the financial business, and I believe the car meant nothing to him. He was happy to see it leave, as was his neighbor who had come over to watch it leave.
So Dave, some people simply don’t care, to them, an old car is simply another toy to be mistreated and then thrown away. The Rolls-Royce is simply an extreme case I use as an example. I’ve bought many vintage cars destined to be parted out because the owner didn’t care about the car.
The Rolls-Royce was carefully stripped apart in my shop, and we saved everything that was salvageable, even the Whitworth nuts & bolts. The complete engine went to the upper midwest to replace the Chevy 6 in another mid-1930s Rolls-Royce. The gearbox went to Germany. Even the bare chassis with the title, went to a guy in Baltimore who wanted to build a rat rod on it.
The wise and patient investor, calm in all his ways.
Does this car have a glass partition? The 1956 Cadillac limousine is ALWAYS worth restoring!
Price?