1959 Cadillac standard air filters?!

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Okay I'm about to scream.  I cannot for the life of me find the air filter I need for my car.  I have found plenty of tri-power air cleaners however nothing for a standard car.  Does anyone have a source?  What gives?  How did they suddenly all dry up?

[Clewisiii]

1961 was hard to find last I looked as well. I think someone recently said the 59 filter was on Amazon. But I cannot confirm.

[MY 59]

I posted  about this exact thing a few days ago, very hard to find it seems. let me know how you go I am after at least 3 of them !

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

David,

Rock Auto shows them, but they are out of stock at the moment.

Have you tried AAAP in Ballarat?

Bruce.

[MY 59]

Hi Bruce
Sure did try AAAP, they cannot currently source these filters either
There are some on eBay that claim to fit however dimensions stated are way off so be wary of them

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Nobody has em.  Manufacturers stopped making them and whatever stock has seemed to go poof!

[MY 59]

The only place I can find that has them is Cadillac Parts LTD. They say it is exclusive to them

[Daryl Chesterman]

Amazon shows that they have them, but don't be surprised if they can't ship it!!!

Amazon—WIX 42092 air filter

A lot less expensive that Cadillac Parts LTD. at $88.50!!!  http://www.cadillacpartsltd.com/19ca19ca4air.html

Daryl Chesterman

[MY 59]

Amazon shows not available:(
Lists it but out of stock
$18 I would buy 10 🤣

[Cadillac Jack 82]

It appears you can order on the website for Amazon but delivery won't occur until May?  Yeah I'll wait or opt to go with Cadillac Parts LTD.  Weren't the original filters red rubber or something?  I seem to recall seeing a mint 59 with a reddish type rubber seal around the air cleaner.

[MY 59]

Yep mine had the red one in it when I first got it, old and dirty as hell. All repro ones I see are just black

[TJ Hopland]

Are these unique in some way that makes them difficult to manufacture?

[Cadman-iac]

  TJ,

 Without looking up how many years these fit, I'm guessing that it's not a big spread, so therefore there's not a big demand and the manufacturing cost as well as the logistics of stocking them in multiple locations being expensive, I'm betting that they have ceased manufacturing, and someone on the inside has bought up all that they can, so the price is what they decide they want. How many distributors are showing stock on hand now?
 With how the "greenies" are screwing up our hobby, I wouldn't be surprised if this is what happened.

 Rick

[TJ Hopland]

So its just slightly different round than other round filters?

My guess is what has happened is demand is so far down for round air filters overall that people quit maintaining the machines and people that ran them.  Maybe they replaced that machine with one that makes newer designs and maybe that machine could make round ones but someone would have to do the programming and possibly make molds and they just don't think its worth the investment. 

Interesting that the demand is apparently so low that they are not being made basically by hand in an India Pakistan sort of place.  I guess even there they only work in volume.   

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I find it funny that amazon and others sell the tri power filter but not the regular filter?  What gives?

[Cadman-iac]

I find it funny that amazon and others sell the tri power filter but not the regular filter?  What gives?

Maybe these also fit another vehicle, thus a higher demand. Or, there's enough stock on hand that hasn't sold due to a very limited demand. Hard to say.

It's irritating regardless I know. I think we're going to see this sort of thing on a lot of products that we have been used to buying that are now no longer used in these plastic turdboxes that they are trying to pass off as cars. We see it in the light bulbs, oil, air, and fuel filters, A/C compressors and related parts, suspension and steering parts, brakes, and God knows what else.

Rick

[59-in-pieces]

Tim,

Eldo only - What gives??

Well, we're special. LOL LOL LOL
Only kidding.
I no cab find either.

Have fun,
Steve B.

[Cadman-iac]

The only place I can find that has them is Cadillac Parts LTD. They say it is exclusive to them

 This would be my guess as to who has bought up all existing stock.

  Rick

[Michael Petti]

Been searching myself. I see elements that claim to fit everything from Chevy to Buick, "and fits Cadillac". Does anyone know if these elements while not having the red flange like ours will work and protect our engines from dirty air?

[MY 59]

Hi Michael
The ones I have seen on Ebay that claim to fit when comparing the dimensions given to what is required they are way off in height, and both inner and outer diameter.
Responses I am getting from filter specialists in the US are national backorder with no ETA
Not promising at all