1956 Cadillac Series 62

Keldridge · January 15, 2020, 05:11:16 PM

I am restoring a 56 series 62. I had ordered a new set of carpet and liners for the trunk. Upon receiving them they were incorrect. My right rear fender area has a sunken in compartment. The left fender liner is flat but the right fender has a cut out (it has the same liner as the rest of the trunk) and contains a bracket that holds the foot for the jack. First I'm interested to see how rare this is. Second, the bracket holding the jack foot looks pretty bush league and I'm guessing it has been remade. Do any of you have pictures? Thanks in advance. Kevin

Cadman-iac · January 15, 2020, 09:51:33 PM

I've just posted a thread on the correct jack for a 56 a week or so ago, and there's some pictures of the stuff that goes with it, including the foot bracket. You're right, it looks hokey, but it's correct if it looks like mine.
I'd like to repost it here for you, but I delete a lot of pictures after I post them simply because they're for reference only and I don't need them for anything.
Hope it answers your question.
Rick

Keldridge · January 16, 2020, 07:02:39 AM

Rick I went back and saw your post. Your bracket is like mine. Thanks. Some things they did so well and then other things it appears it was last minute. My right inner trunk is different from yours. I have a compartment inside the rear not far from the tail light. Have you seen that before?

Cadman-iac · January 16, 2020, 07:52:36 AM

Quote from: Keldridge on January 16, 2020, 07:02:39 AM
Rick I went back and saw your post. Your bracket is like mine. Thanks. Some things they did so well and then other things it appears it was last minute. My right inner trunk is different from yours. I have a compartment inside the rear not far from the tail light. Have you seen that before?

Hey Kevin,
Which model do you have? Is it a 2 or 4 door hardtop or a 4 door sedan? I know that the trunk/quarter panel inner structure is slightly different between them.
Can you take a picture of the compartment you're referring to so I can see what you're talking about?

Keldridge · January 16, 2020, 01:57:50 PM

1956 Cadillac Series 62 4 door. This is the right rear side of the trunk.

Cadman-iac · January 16, 2020, 02:16:46 PM

Quote from: Keldridge on January 16, 2020, 01:57:50 PM
1956 Cadillac Series 62 4 door. This is the right rear side of the trunk.

That is interesting . I've never seen that before either, but I've not looked at a lot of 56 trunks before either. It could be someone modified that interior panel in order to have a place to put the lug wrench and other things.
I like it. I have a 55 series 62 but the interior on it was already torn out of it before I got it.
I would like to know if yours has a small rectangular fiber piece that sits on the head of the body to frame bolt behind the spare tire for the jack to lay on I'm guessing. I found one in one of my cars a while back.
I'll try to post a picture here. No promises as I've been having trouble posting pictures all morning.

Keldridge · January 16, 2020, 08:14:16 PM

I do not have that small square of rubber that you have.

Keldridge · January 16, 2020, 08:24:54 PM

An earlier comment mentioned maybe this had been modified. Note that the inside of this compartment has factory fitted and matching board. I think this must have been a rare factory item.

Cadman-iac · January 16, 2020, 08:32:44 PM

Quote from: Keldridge on January 16, 2020, 08:24:54 PM
An earlier comment mentioned maybe this had been modified. Note that the inside of this compartment has factory fitted and matching board. I think this must have been a rare factory item.

Yes that's possible too. I was thinking that the factory looking stuff in the box itself is just the remnants of the piece that is cut out to make the pocket in the first place though.

Roger Zimmermann · January 17, 2020, 02:57:56 AM

My '56 Sedan de Ville had also this kind of arrangement. I don't have the car anymore and don't have a picture. My '56 Biarritz don't have this pocket.

Keldridge · January 17, 2020, 07:03:29 AM

Good to know there was another one Roger. The compartment area has the same metal fold over pieces to hold the boards in place as the rest of the trunk.

Cadman-iac · January 17, 2020, 06:36:11 PM

Since I have both, a coupe and a sedan, and neither have any of the original trunk lining in them, I could see all the internal structures of the body.
One major difference is how the 1/4 panel/trunk floor is reinforced. I'll post some pictures to illustrate.
But I think the sedan has the pocket because of the way the reinforcement is located. It's taken up valuable space, and so the designers may have made the pocket to make up for it.

The top pic is the 2 door, the bottom the 4 door.
Because the 4 door hardtop was a brand new body style for '56, it's my thought that the engineers were thinking that they had to add extra reinforcement to the rear of the car, since the 1/4 panel is shorter and there's more stress on the roof and frame than on a 2 door.
But that's just me.
Rick

Lexi · January 17, 2020, 07:11:01 PM

Seem to recall that some Fleetwoods also had this. Here is that trunk of a '54 (think it was a Fleetwood 60 Special) and also that of a '56 Fleetwood 60 Special, (will have to open and enlarge to see it clearly). They both have that 'cut away' trunk side panel. I don't remember my '56 CDV having it though. A previous owner has re-done the liner in my '56 Series 75, but i don't think it originally had that style of liner either. Clay/Lexi

Caddy Wizard · January 20, 2020, 10:06:12 AM

Quote from: lexi on January 17, 2020, 07:11:01 PM
Seem to recall that some Fleetwoods also had this. Here is that trunk of a '54 (think it was a Fleetwood 60 Special) and also that of a '56 Fleetwood 60 Special, (will have to open and enlarge to see it clearly). They both have that 'cut away' trunk side panel. I don't remember my '56 CDV having it though. A previous owner has re-done the liner in my '56 Series 75, but i don't think it originally had that style of liner either. Clay/Lexi

My 55 FW has the look of the top photo...

Keldridge · January 20, 2020, 05:10:34 PM

Is there someone out there selling the "hold down" for the 1956 spare tire? In the earlier picture the one tire has a hubcap, the other has the dome hold-down which I don't think is correct for 1956. Any ideas?

Lexi · January 20, 2020, 05:31:05 PM

By "hold down" for spare tire, I assume you mean the "L" shaped threaded rod that used one of the stud holes in the rim to secure the spare wheel? See attached image. I believe I have one of those. Also may have the special extra long "lug" styled nut that went on it. Would have to take a look, so let me know if you are interested. The grey dog dish center cap with the finger hole was discontinued sometime during the 1954 model year, and does not pertain to 1956. Clay/Lexi

Cadman-iac · January 20, 2020, 05:41:15 PM

I think you mean the stud and nut that actually keeps the spare in the well, right?

Lexi · January 20, 2020, 05:43:33 PM

Yes, as per the image posted, (though I don't have a shot of the nut at this time). Clay/Lexi

Keldridge · January 21, 2020, 07:47:02 AM

I'm sorry I didn't make myself clear enough. I an looking for what took place of the dome that went in the center of the wheel. I have the stud and nut, but need the center piece, which would actually be some form of a big flat washer. Thanks

Roger Zimmermann · January 21, 2020, 08:09:18 AM

No. The stud is going through a wheel hole (not the center one) and you put the nut on the stud. Easy.

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1956 Cadillac Series 62