Cadillac History 1955

Cadillac Models & History 1955

Whileno major appearance changes were seen on Cadillacs this year, a number of refinements were apparent.

• The grille was redesigned with wider spaces between the blades
• the parking lamps were repositioned directly below the headlights.
• On the sides of the body the rub-rail moldings formed a right angle with the vertical trim on the rear doors or fenders of Series 62 and 60S models.
• This accentuated a character line in the sheetmetal.
• The Florentine curve rear window treatment was adopted for sedans.
• Three chrome moldings bordered the rear license plate on either side and deck lid decorations consisted of a V-shaped ornament and a Cadillac crest
• The Coupe DeVille had a golden script nameplate at the upper body belt just forward of the rear window pillar.
• The Eldorado sport convertible featured extras such as
  • wide chrome body belt moldings
  • a distinctive rear fender design with twin round taillights halfway up the fenders and flatter, pointed tailfins.
• Tubeless tires were a new feature throughout the line.

Cadillac horsepower seemed to climb right along with sales. For 1955 it reached 250 standard via higher compression (9.0:1) and improved manifolding; Eldorado now boasted 270 bhp courtesy of dual four-barrel carburetors, optional for other models.

I. D. NUMBERS

• Serial numbers and engine numbers were the same again
• They were found in the same locations as previous year.
• The first two symbols were “55” to designate 1955 model production.
• The next two symbols indicated the series as follows:
  • “62” = Series 62 and Eldorado
  • “60” = Series Special Fleetwood
  • “75” = Series 75 Fleetwood
• 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.

STYLE

Model No.	Body Style	Door	Model	Seat	Price	Weight	Production Total
55-62	6219(X	4	Sedan	6	$3977	1989 kg	44,904
55-62	6219(X	4	Export sedan	6	$3977	1989 kg	396
55-62	6237(X	2	Hardtop Coupe	6	$3882	1984 kg	27,879
55-62	6237DX	2	Coupe DeVille	6	$4305	2013 kg	33,300
55-62	6267X	2	Convertible Coupe	6	$4448	2105 kg	8,150
55-62	62		Chassis only				7

NOTES:

• The export sedan was shipped in CKD form to foreign countries.
• The symbol X in brackets after Body Style Number indicates hydraulic window lifts optional;
• without brackets indicates this feature standard.

ENGINE

CHASSIS

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS

The 270 horsepower Eldorado engine was available as an optional “Power Package” in other models for $161 extra.

CONVENIENCE OPTIONS

HISTORICAL NOTES

• Motor Trend magazine reported fuel consumption figures of 18.2 L/100km (stop-and-go) for a Series 62 sedan with the standard 250 horsepower V-8.
• Total 1955 output for all models reached 140,777 units, a new record high for Cadillac Division.
• Don E. Ahrens was general manager
• Charles F. Arnold was chief engineer
• Edward Glowacke was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
• James M. Roche was general sales manager
• Cadillac production figures

Series 6281,336 (increased 23,312) Sedan de Ville0 Coupe de Ville33,300 (increased 16,130) Eldorado3,950 (increased 1,800) Series 6018,300 (increased 2,100) Series 753,891 (increased 756)

1955 Automotive Notes

• Production reached almost 8 million cars and 1¼ million trucks
• Harlow H. Curtice was president of GM
• Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was chairman of the board at GM
• First McDonald’s Drive In opens
• 70% of cars have automatic; nearly 80% have V8
• Air conditioning installed in 184,000 cars, an increase from 57,000 in 1954
• Chrysler products feature the “Forward Look” styling
• Chrysler products use three-color motif
• Cadillac Eldorado engine delivers 270 hp
• Chevrolet offers its first V-8 since 1917
• Corvette offers its V-8
• Chevrolet introduces the Nomad station wagon; Pontiac calls theirs Safari
• Imperial is a separate make, not a Chrysler sub-series
• Dodge appeals to women drivers with “La Femme” — a pink and white interior & exterior hardtop
• Ford introduces the Thunderbird as a “personal car” which vastly outsells the Corvette by 24 times
• Ford Crown Victoria features a “basket handle” roofline with an optional transparent half-roof
• Hudson is a warmed-over Nash with an optional Packard V-8
• Ramblers and Metropolitans wear both Nash and Hudson badges
• The last North American built Kaiser Manhattans and Willys sedans are built. The tooling for them is sent to South America
• Tubeless tires are standard on most American cars
• Michigan is first state to require those under 18 to pass a driver’s education course before obtaining a license
• Top American Automobile Corporations for 1955

1. General Motors3,721,527 (increased 1,391,292) 2. Ford1,808,187 (increased 345,947) 3. Chrysler1,262,085 (increased 462,679) 4. Others327,223 (increased 50,763)

• Top model year production for 1955

Chevrolet1,704,669 150125,446 210805,309 Bel Air773,240 Corvette674 Ford1,450,157 Mainline127,301 Customline470,992 Fairlane626,250 Station Wagon209,459 Thunderbird16,155 Buick737,035 Series 40 Special381,249 Series 50 Super132,463 Series 60 Century158,796 Series 70 Roadmaster64,527 Plymouth682,271 Plaza189,858 Savoy237,622 Belvedere254,791 Oldsmobile583,179 88222,361 Super 88242,192 Ninety-Eight118,626 Pontiac554,090 Chieftan (860)138,520 Chieftan (870)212,184 Star Chief203,104 Mercury329,808 Custom73,688 Monterey151,453 Montclair104,667 Dodge276,936 Coronet Six33,812 Coronet Eight77,160 Royal76,660 Custom Royal89,304 Chrysler152,777 Windsor Deluxe96,891 New Yorker Deluxe51,142 Town & Country3,019 3001,725 Cadillac140,777 Series 6281,336 Coupe deVille33,300 Eldorado3,950 Series 6018,300 Series 753,891 Studebaker116,333 Champion50,368 Commander58,792 President24,666 DeSoto114,765 Firedome77,760 Fireflite37,725 Nash96,156 Rambler56,000 Statesman14,300 Ambassador Six15,200 Ambassador Eight10,600 Packard55,247 Clipper23,304 Clipper Custom15,380 Patrician9,127 Four Hundred7,206 Caribbean500 Hudson45,535 Rambler25,173 Wasp7,191 Hornet 66,911 Hornet V86,219 Italia5 Lincoln27,222 Custom3,549 Capri23,673 Imperial11,432 Imperial11,260 Crown Imperial172 Willys6,565 Metropolitan6,096 Kaiser1,291

PHOTOS

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