1950s continental kit

[Lexi]

Looking for a mid '50s Cadillac continental kit, preferably the after market one (which is similar to the OEM).  Do not want the "porch" type, (where entire rear bumper is extended). Drop me a line with what you have. Will consider a project. Clay/Lexi

[Phil Terry]

Clay,

You need to reach out to Lucien Cloutier in Quebec CA.  He makes them!  His info is in the IMD pg. 207.
good Luck,

Phil

[Lexi]

Phil much thanks for the tip. I will look into that. Was not aware of Lucien, so I will look him up and contact him. Clay/Lexi

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Looking for a mid '50s Cadillac continental kit, preferably the after market one (which is similar to the OEM).  Do not want the "porch" type, (where entire rear bumper is extended).

G'day Clay,

As far as I am aware, it was only Chevrolet and maybe Pontiac that offered a Continental Kit as a factory option.   I think Cadillac may have had one for the '53 Eldorado, but generally, I would have thought that Cadillac would have frowned upon fitting these to any other Cadillac model after WWII.

When I was at Dearborn in 2002, and Cherry Hill in 2008, I made it a point of looking at all the Continental Kits I could find, and most all of them had different methods of attachment, especially in the locking and latching department, whereas the Chevrolets for '55 to '57, were all the same, and looked very professional.   I had parts of one from a '56 Chev, and I am sure there were GM Part Numbers stamped into the parts.   But, that was back in 1968.

Bruce.

PS.   Yes, I too don't like the "Porch" types, as loading up a trunk would be very awkward.

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

Cadillac only offered a "factory" continental kit
for the year 1957. The rest were dealer add-on's
made by various manufacturers.

Mike

[Lexi]

Mike thank you. That is what I thought, no factory kit until '57. The one I am looking for is after market and was made by a company known as Huddleston (Ohio?) I believe. Like Bruce, not sure about that '53 Eldo kit. For those interested here is a shot from an old Whitney catalog that shows some of the after market kits available in the mid '50s. That "Elite" kit I have seen on many '55 and '56 Caddies. Also, I sent Lucien an email. Clay/Lexi

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Clay,

The ones I have seen from Canada are the copy of the factory ones that were made for the Chevrolets, which is the way I have constructed the three Continental Kits that made.   2 for my Chevrolets, and the last for my Eldorado.

Moving the whole bumper back creates a reason for back strain as when trying to put something large into the trunk, like an olden type TV, or an engine block would mean that one would have to actually stand on the extension, at the risk of falling through it.

With mine, one can get up close, plus still operate the bumper bar jack, which I don't think those extended types would allow that.

Bruce.

PS.   I will send you some pictures of what I did for my '55 Chev by email, as it cannot be posted here.

[Lexi]

Thanks Bruce. Got them! You are one handy guy. I actually would not mind either building or restoring one, if I must, (preferably the later). That is why if someone even just had a few parts let me know or send some detailed pictures of the dagmar style continental kit for me to study. Also, I contacted Lucien and he does not build c-kits. He does have a pair of Continental Enterprises Kits installed in his cars. They are not the style I was looking for though. Clay/Lexi