When assessing the relative merits of a classic they are considering parking in their garage, many enthusiasts place great emphasis on a known ownership history. Being able to trace a car’s story is often reassuring, making this 1956 Cadillac Eldorado worth more than a passing glance. It has been part of the same family since Day One, and although it isn’t perfect, it is a genuine survivor with 46,000 original miles on its odometer. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting a classic that is ready to start a new chapter in its life.
Cadillac offered its Second Generation Eldorado range from 1954 until 1956. Our feature car emerged during the final production year, presenting nicely as a tidy survivor. The Caddy has always been part of the same family, with its first custodian selecting an exterior paint combination of Alpine White with a Black vinyl top. The seller doesn’t mention restoration or repairs, which suggests the paint was applied at the factory. It wears a selection of minor chips and imperfections, but the warm shine means it is comfortably presentable in its current form. Undertaking a cosmetic refresh wouldn’t pose many challenges, but the only thing I would do if the Eldorado found its way into my garage would be to restore some of the exterior trim that exhibits deterioration. The glass looks exceptional for its age, and the narrow whitewalls perfectly suit this car’s character.
Interiors often paint a clear picture of the type of treatment an older unrestored classic has received. Abuse or neglect shows in worn and torn upholstery, broken trim, and missing components. There are no such issues with this Cadillac. As with the exterior, it isn’t perfect. However, the seatcovers are excellent, the remaining upholstered components are spotless, and there are no apparent dash issues. There is minor damage to the rear headliner on the driver’s side as this interior’s most significant imperfection. The carpet exhibits slight deterioration but hasn’t reached a point where replacement is justified. Luxury touches include air conditioning, power windows, a power front seat, a factory radio, and a clock.
It is disappointing that the seller supplies no engine photos because the V8s powering Cadillacs from this era were one of their highlights. This Eldorado tips the scales at 4,850 lbs, meaning it needs something special under the hood to provide acceptable performance. The company delivered with a 365ci powerhouse producing 305hp and 400 ft/lbs of torque. Shifting duties fall to a four-speed automatic transmission, with power-assisted steering and brakes as standard equipment. The seller claims that this Caddy has a genuine 46,000 miles on its odometer, and its ownership history means that verification should be possible. It recently received a power steering fluid flush and change, a new aluminum radiator, and a new exhaust that is stainless steel but mimics the original system. They say that the engine sounds great, the car runs and drives beautifully, and the transmission shifts smoothly. It appears this classic is ready for the new owner to add to that low odometer reading the moment they hand over the cash.
This 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Seville isn’t perfect, but I don’t view that as bad. It will probably command more respect as a genuine survivor than it would if restored to a pristine state. Every mark and imperfection forms part of its story, giving the car a type of quiet dignity. The seller has listed this Eldorado here on Craigslist in Littleton, Colorado. Their price of $35,500 seems realistic in the current market, although any car within this price range struggles to be considered affordable. However, I believe it will find a new home with an enthusiast who will write the next chapter in its story.
nize
And haven’t we seen this one before ?
nize looks like weekender
When a Cadillac was a CADILLAC! Standard of the WORLD. 🏆. Always sad to see a one family car (especially one like this) move on. Hopefully the new owner will carry on the loving care obviously lavishly given this Land YACHT! The price seems fair and should be substantial enough to keep it driving in style!
🎸 😎 🗣🎤 ” Cruising down the road in my new Cadillac, I got a fine fox in front, three more in the back..
They’re sporting short dresses, wearing spike heeled shoes 👠 smoking 🚬 Lucky Strikes, and wearing nylons too”… 🎶 🎵
Would LOVE to own this one, if I had the money, and ONLY IF it never has seen cigarette/cigar smoke! The FIRST thing I have ever inspected on any older survivor car, are its lighters and ash-trays. Since smoking was nearly universal in 1956, this would be my first concern. I vividly remember when you couldn’t ride in someone else’s car, couldn’t enter a public place, get on a bus, go to a grocery store, or even walk on a city sidewalk, without utterly choking on noxious cigarette-smoke — I always felt vertiably ASSAULTED by it. Of course, tobacco’s addicts held no malice — they had no idea of how their effluent was disturbing the non-smokers amongst them. Sadly, so many of them died premature and agonising deaths from it. Very sad. Sorry to be such a “downer” — I loved living in the 1940s and 1950s — but whenever my mind carries me back to that time, it also is the cigarette-smoke everywhere, that I so vividly remember.
Yes it’s a beautiful 56 Cadillac, but why on God’s green earth would the seller provide no engine bay pictures on a beauty like this? Especially, with this asking price. It says it has factory AC, but with no pics who knows what’s going on there. Novice car sellers.
@HC
If you look at the interior pics, you will see chromed controls under the center of the dash. Those controls are for the a/c. Pics of under the hood would not reveal factory a/c as the unit is in the trunk. Look at the picture of the rear of the car. See those two bump outs at the base of the rear window? Those are the air intakes for the a/c. The a/c outlets are probably on the rear package shelf. My ’56 Fleetwood with factory a/c had the vents over each door in the roof, but I did not see any clear tubes going from the package shelf to the roof on the Seville.
Angel, I can see that this Cadillac was a factory AC car, but why not take some engine bay pics so we can see all of the hardware and compressor? Just one good pic would do.
sweet ride. nothing like a big ol cado
Well… not all sellers are “enthusiasts” such as we; otherwise, this family would KEEP this car, one way or another. It was purchased, new, and they simply OWNED it and rarely drove it; hence its survival. But it lacks like appeal to their surviving generations, and since the enthusiasts in the family who revered and preserved it so well, likely are no longer with us; their off-spring have looked up its potential value, and simply listed it: our keen desire to see what’s “under the hood” probably did not occur to them, since they are not buyers and sellers in these cars. More knowledgeable seller are keenly aware of what to reveal and what to conceal, and you might get some unexpected bonuses with an “amateur” seller… or NOT. You also could reap some UNpleasant surprises. If I could afford to get involved here, I would go and LOOK AT the car, peer under the hood like looking at an older horse’s teeth for health-determination, then take it for a test-drive. If all seems Kosher, then I’d buy it and enjoy it. IF, on the other hand, there is a problem about which their listing never informed us, then I would determine the cost of correcting that difficulty, and negotiate for a price lowered by at least that amount.
Damn snap, I almost forgot to mention the great front, Dagmar styled bumpers on this 1956 Cadillac. Just a shame that basic engine bay photos were not included on this $35k car.
Yep, I can see the likeness.
i hate tobacco!
I can’t stand tobacco or anyone that uses it.
What does that have to do with the Cadillac?
I just stood up but that comment still went over my head. LOL
I can’t stand tobacco — I watched it kill my parents, and I could barely breathe at home as a child in the 1940s. But that said, I have nothing against people who use tobacco, because they suffer under a form of oppressive psychological enslavement: many smokers WISH they could quit, but cannot find any method which works for them . Your body adapts to what you put in it — then demands that you continue to do so. Caffeinated soft drinks are a prime example: you get stuck into the sensation of carbonated water, sugar, and the “zip” that caffeine gives: I can attest by personal experience that it is a very hard habit to break, because you have to battle with the craving, and sudden deprivation from caffeine causes severe headaches which can last nearly a month. So, I have to feel empathy for the addicted smoker, or the morbidly corpulent person on the border of diabetes who can’t stop chugging-down rich sweets. I simply move to avoid being near anyone with a lit cigarette — it’s an aversion I cultivate — but I can’t despise them for it. By the way, have you ever noticed how a FORMER smoker really HATES the smell of cigarettes, and often becomes an anti-smoking ZEALOT? — FUNNY, how that works. I urge younger people to quit, because I know what cigarette-death looks like, and how a dying smoker suffers and regrets. Nevertheless, a part of being young is that confident, “It won’t happen to me” lie that we tell ourselves. I remember marvelling at the physical struggles of the elderly, thinking that I wasn’t ever going to get like that. And now I’m even worse than many “very old” people I saw in my youth as examples of what would “never” happen to me. Getting out of bed in the morning is no longer an act I perform; it is instead a process and struggle against pain and stiffness. Still, I’m gratefult to be above the ground (so far) and not under six feet of it (as so many I’ve known now are). And I marvel at Dick Van Dyke, who is older than I but vastly more agile. And he’s having FUN: God bless him!
Harrison, how did we get on this anti smoking tobacco pulpit, while talking about classic cars. My family was in the tobacco business for years, and it put me thru college. And guess what, every time I drive my 65 Mercury, I light one up! To each their own but don’t be preaching. Most older car guys were smokers back in the day.
HC
I am assuming this is “Dads” Cadillac and he was probably around 25 or 30 when he purchased it new in 1956. Than was 68 years ago. Dad probably passed fairly recently in his 90s.
The “kids” have no love of classic cars or anything old. They have their own grown up lives and kids and grandkids. When they die their stuff will be junk to their kids.. Just take a few pics and get rid of the car. Or maybe they need to sell it to settle the estate. Who knows. They are novice, but I think it’s just that they don’t care.
Angel, sadly you’re probably right, the kids selling it are not that interested in this beauty, other than what they get for it. It’s a shame, but at least you can tell that grandpa loved and took care of it all those years.
When you see something like this for sale, it is more common than not that if there isn’t a sole heir (aka, sons and daughters), that everything will be sold and the proceeds split.
Not every family member gets along, so even if one of the heirs wanted to keep the car, the others may not allow it.
Adam I believe that “Barn Finds” had this car listed in the Spring.
It got forwarded around the local Cadillac Club members big time.
I have always loved the 56 Eldorado. When I was an 8 year old kid there was a 56 convertible in the town I grew up in. Such elegance and class!
1954, 1955, and 1956, Cadillacs, all, were of a kind. But I always liked the 1954 best: all class, no excess pizzazz. I like a luxury car with DIGNITY, such as the 1955 Packard 400 Patrician — can’t fault those “cathedral” tail-lamps. Both Cadillac and Packard had the elegance of a dual exhaust exiting through stylish ports in the rear bumper … guess they never thought about periodically needing to clean dark soot off the chrome!
HC, I certainly COULD get “preachy” on the subject of cigarettes, since I watched both of my parents and several friends die miserably from the habit. My point, with a classic car is, smoking in a car permeates the entire interior — and you can never totally get that noxious odour OUT! It’s like having a car that mice have nested in. When I buy a car, regardless how old, I want one that is smoke-free — so I always first look at lighters and ash-trays — and any sign of smoking or hint of tobacco-smoke odour is a deal-killer instantly. That goes for animal-“accidents”, spilled or rotting food — you name it! As for Tobacco providing a living: yes it does, and has, for many people. I am entirely libertarian on the subject — smoke if you want to — smoke if it pleases you — just please don’t do it anywhere near me.