1956 60S $18,500 asking Not Mine

[Bryan J Moran]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1844390926317216

Please dont ask if available.

1956 Cadillac 60 special in good condition, original restoration about 20 years ago, some minor rusts here and there, interior very clean and nicely restored, engine and transmission no issues.

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This one I have had saved for awhile and is also in Minnesota.  Nothing seems to be selling, maybe it's just the ads I am seeing.  $18,500 is too much.  Sellers seem stuck on not wanting to market-adjust.  For this I am speaking of driver class cars, not the best of the best.  I don't play in that sandbox but appreciate those cars as benchmarks. 

Nothing classier then a Cadillac Fleetwood in black.

[James Landi]

Apparently, not an A/C car... looks to be a really nice car.  Wonder if an up close inspection reveals some issues.  Seems to be sitting rather low in the rear.  Impressive exhaust bumper-ettes.  Maybe I'm wrong, but at that price, it's a bargain.  (is the upholstery original?)  Thanks for posting Bryan.... you find some interesting cars.  James

[Bryan J Moran]

Hello James -

In my opinion, which when it comes to Cadillacs is just that, but the interior has been redone incorrectly in a common fabric I see alot in other makes/models etc from this and other forums.  Nonetheless it is tastefully redone and maybe in the correct pattern. 

I have come to terms on reupholstery.  Correct reupholstery of almost any 1950's cars involves SMS now, or some other source for factory correct materials.  This, and reupholstery by a correct professional company you are looking at $15,000 plus.  For a four door sedan from the 1950's. 

The only irk from me is that many sellers will state the interior has been reupholstered and not care to mention it is incorrect.  Sometimes, not even close.  Or they won't comment on it and ask top money for the car. 

Things seemed simpler up until about 1953, in my opinion.  In some cases, upholstery pre 1953 (a non official cut off point) could be duplicated with incorrect materials and get 75% close to original, which should pass for a driver. 

But starting more or less with Kaiser Frazer, which employed a dedicated interior stylist in 1947, by 1953 most manufacturers were using synthetic materials in some respect and by 1956 on, some fabrics were beautifully woven and impossible to duplicate, and what's worse - they were one year only! 

I'm not sure how SMS does it, or "Just Dashes" for that matter, but they have cornered the market on post 1953 upholstery fabric.  They are famous for delays, and it might take 2-5 years to get your upholstery and it's at whatever price they want to put on it. 

So here you have it.  Look at the Minneapolis 1956 SdV I recently listed.  That undoubtedly has original upholstery and as others have noted, a phenomenal steering wheel.  The car was garage kept the past 30 + years.  Hard to say which car is better without seeing them in person, but encroaching on retirement as I am, these would be the cars I am interested in.

I believe either car could be purchased for 65 cents on the listing dollar.  There are few buyers interested in these post war drivers. 

But alas, I have a 64 Triumph TR4 going to a renowned restoration shop in October and another car I am restoring that are sucking the life out of my discretionary funds.  By the way, the TR4 interior upholstery kits, seats in biscuit leather and all the other interior panels are available, are already purchased by me and cost about $1600.  Installation will likely be about $2000. 

[Lexi]

Hello James -

So here you have it.  Look at the Minneapolis 1956 SdV I recently listed.  That undoubtedly has original upholstery and as others have noted, a phenomenal steering wheel.  The car was garage kept the past 30 + years.  Hard to say which car is better without seeing them in person, but encroaching on retirement as I am, these would be the cars I am interested in.
 

Agree with James, this at first glance appears to be a very nice car at a bargain price. If things were different for me, I might even be tempted to go have a look. At that price one would think there might be some challenging issues with this car, perhaps even unbeknownst to the owner.

Despite how well this car shows, note the aged steering wheel. Like a lot of '56s it has that fissure opening up near the bottom and there is also a contraction crack & others beginning to form. Typical flaws for this year. See my previous comments on that '56 Caddy SDV steering wheel, & others, in that Minneapolis post. Mostly, it seems there is just no way getting around this issue unless the wheel is restored or Lady Luck was on your side. Roger lucked out with his, but so many are like this one. Still a gorgeous car in my opinion. Miss the lack of AC, but this is a car probably worth having! Yes, Bryan you do find and list some wonderful cars. Clay/Lexi

[James Landi]

Quote from ROger follows:

"From an aestheticism point of view, the Cads from the fifties are fantastic but I hate to be stressed during driving with overheating, barely adequate brakes and questionable suspension."

Roger has it right... During the 60's and early 70's, I commuted with two of these 90 miles a work week.  I kept them in great repair, had specially expensive radials that I underinflated, and I put up with the less than adequate brakes, and kept the cooling systems in good working order.  The drive train seemed to prefer my long commute with few stop lights and long stretches of 50 mph driving. HOWEVER: if you were to purchase this '56, and IF the engine still has good compression, with little or no blow-by, THEN you'll need to aggressively attack the cooling system--- ANY hot spots in the cylinder heads WILL burn exhaust valves and also crack heads (especially since these engines were built to run on leaded gas)... all cooling hoses will need to be replaced, and the twin heater cores and control valve will likely leak and the water pump and thermostat are questionable--- and the list goes on and on.. and IF it doesn't need new front wheel bearings and universal joints, and if brake wheel cylinders don't leak, IF the brakes are fine, you'll definitely need to replace ancient rubber brake hoses, and likely the master cylinder, and pitman and idler arms wear on these. Then there are the tires... you'll want something special and not simple radials that will fit, oh and then there's the exhaust system-- stuck heat riser, twin mufflers and resonators... (I'm exhausted just thinking about this list...a car with low mileage that sits for decades and has not run is  chock full of time-deteriorated parts and internal rust.  So, if you limit your use to VERY FEW MILES on secondary roads, you might have  fun without the hassle and expense of "making it right."     

[Roger Zimmermann]

.... and the twin heater cores and control valve will likely leak and the water pump and thermostat are questionable

1954 models had the twin heater control valves; 1955 & 56 models had a single heater valve.