FS: 1956 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan, black, 3800 miles, auction on BAT

[jdemerson]

This one is unbelievable! Just amazing!
https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbringatrailer.com%2Flisting%2F1956-cadillac-series-62-sedan-2%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cjemerson%40middlebury.edu%7Ccd085decc99f40a1fbae08db45efc2b9%7Ca1bb0a191576421dbe93b3a7d4b6dcaa%7C1%7C0%7C638180668291690529%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VykdcPaJjMoecoCqJuzE68PxjSazIEvYDUBzUHHpfPU%3D&reserved=0


John Emerson
1952 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan, black, 6219X

[Cadman-iac]

Nice car for sure! I have to wonder about how the engine is holding up having not been run much over the last 67 years.  3776 miles over that period works out to just 56 miles a year, how ironic huh? How much longer will the cam hold up?
I noticed the radio delete plate in the dash as well. I've never seen one in a Cadillac before. The underside looks as if it's been touched up with black paint. You can see it right above the springs on the axle housing, and the floor braces on the edges. Still it's a perfect looking car. I wouldn't kick it out of my garage! Actually, it probably wouldn't make it into the garage, because I'd be driving it all the time.
Rick

[Lexi]

First impression is wow. A very quick and incomplete scan of the photos, show some anomalies though. Parts of the engine appear to be not painted the correct color. Is this engine even original? Don't think there is a shot of the number on the block unless I missed it. If I recall, at the advertised 3,800 original miles why did I see a mileage of 12,000 entered on the lubrication agreement as of September 1957? Have only seen radio delete plates in Professional Caddies that year, so interesting to see one in a "civilian" daily driver model. I have a mint delete plate here and what is in this car looks correct. No power windows. This is a bare bones short deck model which may have more of a story to tell, especially if the engine has been swapped or has had work done on it. There are apparent mileage descrepancies based on information & photos the seller provided. Still, in many respects a nice looking car. Clay/Lexi

[Roger Zimmermann]

For sure, a nice car. I'm just wondering why the radiator's upper water tank is so damaged for so few miles?

[Cadman-iac]

  I noticed that the headlights were replaced with halogens too. I doubt I could ever let a perfectly good car sit for year after year and not drive it. I could believe 103776 miles on it, and that's not bad either, but when you look at the interior, you can clearly see it's not been used. I thought the color of the oil pan was a lighter blue than the valve covers as well.
Another point is that if it was driven more than the 3776 miles claimed in Massachusetts, it would be rusted beyond repair, and it's clearly not.

Rick

 Edit:  Clay, the certificate for the oil change says it's void after 12K or September of 57.

[Lexi]

That would explain it. Another case where I should have worn my glasses. That and the slightly blurry photo didn't help. LOL. Still, I am puzzled as to some of the engine colors. Looks like the intake manifold may, I say may be black. Hard to tell as not many good shots of the engine bay. Should be Cadillac blue if unmolested. Oil filter canister should be black as well as the P/S pump body. The lid of the pump is  perhaps correct but the pump reservoir is the wrong color. I checked the Authenticity Manual which adds that the factory colors should be semi-gloss black. I believe that the oil fill cap should also be black, (not blue). Didn't check all, but these were things that immediately caught my eye. Engine may have had some work. Not a lot of wear on the gas pedal. Still, a car that shows and appears to operationally sound and run quite well. One of my favorite models for that year. Too bad it was ordered with few if any accessories.  Not necessarily a selling point especially as the car is a shorter length 4 door vehicle. Still, I would not mind owning as I prefer 4 door cars. There seems to have been a stab at getting a lot of fair to good photos of this car posted, but a lot them I found to be lacking with other photos that should be there were absent, especially with respect to the enigne bay area. Some shots under exposed, others blurry, others are quite good. They tried. Clay/Lexi

[V63]

It was very common in the 50's to put seat covers
on from new. I bought a 1955 sedan once and the seat covers
 were worn enough the cotton batting was coming thru. So I gambled
and bought the car and same day cut off the seat covers
 to find absolutely
BRAND NEW original wool upholstery underneath.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Radio was optional equipment - not deleted.

[Lexi]

Eric is correct. Radio was optional. Delete plate is a generic term used by a lot of car guys to refer to the unit that covers the  dash opening should the buyer elect not to buy the radio as an optional piece of equipment. Their design pattern is done to match or compliment the dash. Usually seen in Professional cars that often were not ordered with the radio option. The 1956 MPL term for this plate is "Cover, Radio Opening", Group 3.1210. By 1959, the part description was changed to; "Cover, Radio opening, for Cars Less Radio". All the same Group #3.1210. Attached is a pic of a 1956 cover. Clay/Lexi

[billyoung]

Basic Cadillac no option crank window Radio delete car. I have seen many of these where the original owner could barely afford it and preserved it as their crowning achievement.

[Cadman-iac]

  I got into Cadillacs after dealing with other GM brands for years, and we always just called the block-off plate
for the radio a radio delete plate. I guess we always thought a radio was standard equipment, not an option,
since almost every car I'd ever seen had a radio. Even the trucks were usually equipped with a radio. I guess I'll have
to remember that radios were optional.
Were radios ever considered as standard equipment, like maybe in the 80's or 90's? I
know that they have an RPO code for whichever one is in the car, but isn't there a base
model that would have been standard, and for whatever dollar amount you could upgrade it to
something else that you want? Just curious now.

Rick

[V63]

I want to suggest 1969 or 70 when an AM radio was a standard offering? 
I have a 1961 Chevrolet truck and it had no radio.
 New Trucks,  well into the 80's were offered without a rear bumper

[Lexi]

Basic Cadillac no option crank window Radio delete car. I have seen many of these where the original owner could barely afford it and preserved it as their crowning achievement.

Yes, I think you might be right, never thought of it that way. Makes sense. LOL. Clay/Lexi

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Before 1962, even heater was optional on most standard models.

"Deleted" is often an erroneously used term. Unless a given accessory
is listed as standard in the base price, it cannot be said to have been
deleted regardless of how frequently equipped in production.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

I got into Cadillacs after dealing with other GM brands for years, and we always just called the block-off plate
for the radio a radio delete plate. I guess we always thought a radio was standard equipment, not an option,
since almost every car I'd ever seen had a radio. Even the trucks were usually equipped with a radio. I guess I'll have
to remember that radios were optional.
Were radios ever considered as standard equipment, like maybe in the 80's or 90's? I
know that they have an RPO code for whichever one is in the car, but isn't there a base
model that would have been standard, and for whatever dollar amount you could upgrade it to
something else that you want? Just curious now.

Rick

I believe radio became standard equipment beginning with Cadillacs produced
on January 1st 1974, along with air conditioning and a number of other items (excluding
Commercial Chassis).  Of course this change was reflected in a significant MSRP base price
increase. However, any or all of this newly standard equipment could still be deleted
through the end of the model year. The first occasion I found radio listed as standard
equipment was in the 1975 brochure. 

[V63]

I guess too it would depend on the model
so a standard radio probably offered
as a fleetwood offering initially.

[billyoung]

Again Eric is correct I misspoke, In fact at that time there were Basic option groups offered. Basic Group A was usually Radio, Heater, EZ EYE Glass White Sidewall tires. Looking at this car again I do not see E Z EYE Glass ( the shading at the top of the windshield was standard in any case ) This car is even more unusual than I first noticed. I believe the first owner ordered this car  with Heater only.

[James Landi]

and I thought I owned 2 "odd duck" optioned model 62 short decks... both had a/c, power seat, but neither had power windows.  James

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

P on body tag = Plain Glass (non-tinted). Windshield had been replaced
with a tinted one according to the seller. Bill is correct- the darkened band
across the top would remain regardless.

Other options on the car I can see are Door Guards, Floor Mats (front & rear),
and Whitewall Tires (as evidenced by the spare which the seller attests is original).

[Cadman-iac]

I want to suggest 1969 or 70 when an AM radio was a standard offering? 
I have a 1961 Chevrolet truck and it had no radio.
 New Trucks,  well into the 80's were offered without a rear bumper

  I do remember trucks being sold without a rear bumper, and I could never figure out why you would not want a bumper on a new truck.

 Rick