The 1959 - 1960 Authenticity Manual is Complete

[Cadillac Nut]

Whatever happened with the 59-60 Authenticity manual?  Every other year is available but not 59-60.  Had read it was supposed to be available last year

[Clewisiii]

I know it is only like one person working on it as a volunteer. But i am also sure there are a lot of debates on details holding it up. I know of at least one mistake in the 61 manual and several other debates that are listed in it.

[Jay Friedman]

That's a big job for one person.  I worked on the 48-49 manual along with a committee of several others.  Even then it took us a year for the first edition and then, when we found it was inadequate, at least that long for the second and third editions.  Fifty Nines are very popular, so I'm surprised only one person is working on it.

[Carfreak]

I'm not sure if it is 'only one' person working on this Manual but I do know of one person who is editing and he is a very good authority on the years. 

There is a high expectation and anticipation for the final result.  If it is not just right you know the complaints will be forthcoming and plentiful (memories of the recent Fall Festival discussion). 

[Cadillac Nut]

I hope they can get something out there soon, it's such a valuable resource. Small edits and revisions can always be made later. 

[David Greenburg]

Some of us have been waiting for over 25 years.  I'll believe it when I see it.

[Warren Rauch #4286]

It is a bit of a mystery how these things get published. I edited one for 1963-64 models, 28 years ago. They claimed it was too long,and wanted it cut down. I didn't have time then. It still isn't published. Most of the illustrations were photo copies, and would need updating now. Maybe it should be put on a CD so it wouldn't cost much per copy. But I always feel it is best to have more  facts then not enough .

Warren

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I'd be up for a copy if it becomes available.  My understanding is that similar to other 50s Cadillacs...there were variances between the early and late production 59s.  Can anyone confirm this?

[Jason Edge]

It is a bit of a mystery how these things get published. I edited one for 1963-64 models, 28 years ago. They claimed it was too long,and wanted it cut down. I didn't have time then. It still isn't published. Most of the illustrations were photo copies, and would need updating now. Maybe it should be put on a CD so it wouldn't cost much per copy. But I always feel it is best to have more  facts then not enough .

Warren

I took the 63/64 Authenticity Manual for a while and had a couple things working against me:

The first thing was time. I was and still am involved in a lot of other projects related to my 1912 house and at that time me and my wife were dealing with two mom's that had dementia.

The second, was the fact I have completely parted out 58 1963/64 Cadillacs with my side parts business and have thousands of pictures, actually tens of thousands, but more importantly, I have seen hundreds of variations from things as minute as the type of fasteners and clamps used at various times of the production run to large items such as radiator fans that were introduced, pulled, reintroduced again during the same year (e.g. 7 bladed non-clutch fans for 1964).

It worked against me to have seen and disassembled such a large sample which pointed out MANY nuances and minor changes vs say having a knowledge based on a limited set of cars.  It was just hard for me to get into any aspect of these cars and notwrite about everything thing I knew and had confirmed. For example I could easily write a page on the power steering pump pulleys as some were solid, some were vented, some were black, some were Cadillac blue, and it differed between the model years, and as other items such as the power steering vent cooler was introduced. It is that type of detail that made me walk away from it at the time.

I was not worried about someone finding things that needed to be edited... or needed to be added, or was simply incorrect, I expected it ... but it was just the idea of documenting everything I had run across with 58 parts cars in 25 years for the sake of authenticity.  While there really is no expert on an entire production model year, unless you have inspected all 10,000 parts on every car to roll off the assembly line, I think it actually helps to have a more generalized knowledge of a particular model year range you are writing an authenticity manual.  Others can then provide edits or additions as needed.

[hmbmw21]

This does take a tremendous amount of time and effort and I do appreciate there work . I have a 1960 convertible. And I'm amazed that there are so many differences in just the one year apart. I think it would be a great ideal to see 1959 owners and 1960 owners come together and talk about our cars . This would hopefully help who ever and what ever. Can anyone tell me in the engine bay area about what hardware is used just silver bolts or Cad-plated hardware this seems to be a mystery? Thank you. 

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

With almost every '59 and '60 owner wanting the first issue of the manual to be perfect, I am of the opinion it will never get done, as my reasoning is this.

The first issues never went to print as the initial compilers wanted to wait till it was perfect.

If it did go to print, there would be so many parts that needed correcting, that there would have had to be an addendum issued every year to cover the edits.

With so many of these cars being restored, and judged, there would be so many arguments as to who was right and who had an upgrade that made their car better than others.

Members want a definitive reference manual to refer to, but with so many changes during production, as has been witnessed over the years of this Forum with Members questioning their own cars, any manual produced will be out of date.

Not saying that '59 and '60 owners are fussy, but they seem to be more particular than those of other years.

Bruce.

[CadillacFanBob]

I was not worried about someone finding things that needed to be edited... or needed to be added, or was simply incorrect, I expected it ... but it was just the idea of documenting everything I had run across with 58 parts cars in 25 years for the sake of authenticity.  While there really is no expert on an entire production model year, unless you have inspected all 10,000 parts on every car to roll off the assembly line, I think it actually helps to have a more generalized knowledge of a particular model year range you are writing an authenticity manual.  Others can then provide edits or additions as needed.

@Jason Edge I can't Image the time you took to take dismantle and document with photos 58 cars, GREAT JOB

Bob

[Lexi]

Wow, is all I gotta say. Clay/Lexi

[59-in-pieces]

Well, I want to thank you for all your comments.

The 1959 - 1960 Authenticity Manual is complete, and a flash drive has been sent to Bill Anderson for immediate publishing.

Housekeeping:
There are 580+ pages of narrative.
There are 2,800+ Tables, Diagrams, and Photographic Images.
There are 6 Sections: Section 1 - Vehicle Identification, Section 2 - Operation and Controls, Section 3 - Engine Compartment, Section 4 - Chassis-Underbody, Section 5 - Interior, and Section 6 - Exterior.

Before moving forward, my heartfelt appreciation must be given to Herman G. "Duke" Gercke and his wife Donna J. who began this effort back in 2007, with Duke outlining the first sections by hand writing his thoughts on pages of yellow tablet paper, and his wife dutifully transcribing his efforts into their computer.  Unfortunately, a number of years after taking over the reins from Duke, I learned from Donna that Duke lost his life, believed to be from Covid-19, in 2020 at the age of 83.

I would like to share with you my thinking that drove the construction of the Manual.
I did not want to make a coffee table picture book.
I did not want to make a rehash of the Shop Manual and Supplement.
I did not want to create a Manual that was the end-all, do-all for judging at Amelia Island, Pebble Beach and the like.  In fact it would likely take a lifetime to cover every iteration of changes during production or between each model year.

I wanted to make a manual that the regular Joe, like me, who really loved these cars, and lusted after them for years, and finally got his hands on one, could use every day to help get the car up and running and on the road to enjoy.
I wanted to focus on what was generally thought to be a regularly produced car, and only skim the edges of what was exactly done to build the care - way too many changes for that to happen which would be way out of the reach of regular Joe, and postpone driving the car.

I hope you enjoy the Manual.

Indulge me a bit, I wanted to respond to your comments.

Garrett - The Peer Review Group was a grueling process, but well worth the time and learning experience from a several guys with extensive year specific collections, and encyclopedic knowledge.  That may have delayed the completion.  But, I can assure you the time was well spent on the quality and breadth of the Manual.

Carl - Although I am the "Author", there were always many individuals who worked right along side with opinions, photos, etc.  Remember it takes a village to accomplish this task.

Jay - I think you have the best experience, and expressed it well, as to what it takes to put out such a Manual.  It's not easy or quick if you care about the results.

Carfreak - I don't know about the issues with the Fall Festival, but there will always be "TROLLS", as the kids say - so it is necessary to have the strength of ones convictions, and push pass and forward the disgruntled and nonproductive.

David - Harsh, 25 years is a long time to sit and wait.

Warren - If length was a problem then, this Manual is sizeable.  But during your production and discussions with the person that asked you to create it, and the review process, nobody said whoa slow it down.  That's just not right.  Hope it doesn't happen here, as too much water has passed under this bridge - and I would get wrapped around the axle, if happens here.

Tim - So true.  There are obvious difference between 1959 and 1960 cars, without noted changes within each production year.  And knowing what I have learned, the Manual would not be done for years to come.

Jason - You hit the nail on the head, impossible to identify every change and confirm it with documentation that is correct and supply before and after pictures.  I have already been tipped off there are snakes in the grass waiting to "denigrate" my work and the work of the Peer Review Group.

hmbmw21 - I think you are correct.  Yes a 59 is a 60 with smaller fins is the general thinking, but they would be dead wrong.  And that is why I went back as far as I could in the Forum to review the questions on 59 and separately 60 issues, and address those issues.  Is the Manual complete in that regard - Nope, just the best I could do.

 Bruce - Among the folks who have helped put the Manual together and the Peer Review Group, some of which spent 10 hour days going over the Manual page by page with me.  We concluded that the Manual has information which is the best available at the time.  And, after the release and autopsy there will still be required another edition.  The need will be based upon GM and/or Cadillac Division verifiable documentation to try to limit the "I think" and "my car is this or that".  Corrections are inevitable.

Bob - As a potential every day user - generalized is the way to go. Unfortunately, there are those like Mustang and Corvette collector types who must have an indisputable Holy Handbook - that is not this Manual.

Lexi - "Wow is all I can say".  is that a good Wow, or a bad Wow.  Kinda walking on the yellow line on that one.

Have fun,
Steve B.

[59-in-pieces]

The 1959 - 1960 Authenticity Manual is complete, and a flash drive has been sent to Bill Anderson for immediate publishing.

Housekeeping:
There are 580+ pages of narrative.
There are 2,800+ Tables, Diagrams, and Photographic Images.
There are 6 Sections: Section 1 - Vehicle Identification, Section 2 - Operation and Controls, Section 3 - Engine Compartment, Section 4 - Chassis-Underbody, Section 5 - Interior, and Section 6 - Exterior.

Before moving forward, my heartfelt appreciation must be given to Herman G. "Duke" Gercke and his wife Donna J. who began this effort back in 2007, with Duke outlining the first sections by hand writing his thoughts on pages of yellow tablet paper, and his wife dutifully transcribing his efforts into their computer.  Unfortunately, a number of years after taking over the reins from Duke, I learned from Donna that Duke lost his life, believed to be from Covid-19, in 2020 at the age of 83.

I would like to share with you my thinking that drove the construction of the Manual.
I did not want to make a coffee table picture book.
I did not want to make a rehash of the Shop Manual and Supplement.
I did not want to create a Manual that was the end-all, do-all for judging at Amelia Island, Pebble Beach and the like.  In fact it would likely take a lifetime to cover every iteration of changes during production or between each model year.

I wanted to make a manual that the regular Joe, like me, who really loved these cars, and lusted after them for years, and finally got his hands on one, could use every day to help get the car up and running and on the road to enjoy.
I wanted to focus on what was generally thought to be a regularly produced car, and only skim the edges of what was exactly done to build the care - way too many changes for that to happen which would be way out of the reach of regular Joe, and postpone driving the car.

I hope you enjoy the Manual.

Have fun,
Steve B

[Lexi]

Well, I want to thank you for all your comments.
Lexi - "Wow is all I can say".  is that a good Wow, or a bad Wow.  Kinda walking on the yellow line on that one.

Have fun,
Steve B.

No need to "walk the yellow line" on my post. "Wow" comment was made with respect to CadillacFanBob's quote of all of the work Jason Edge put in documenting those 58 cars. Thought it was clear, but if not, for the record that was a well earned positive & fantastic "Wow". Same "Wow" now applies to your above post. Sounds like a monumental task. Any idea when this may be available? Congratulations and well done. Clay/Lexi

[59-in-pieces]

The 1959 - 1960 Authenticity Manual is complete, and a flash drive has been sent to Bill Anderson for immediate publishing.

Housekeeping:
There are 580+ pages of narrative.
There are 2,800+ Tables, Diagrams, and Photographic Images.
There are 6 Sections: Section 1 - Vehicle Identification, Section 2 - Operation and Controls, Section 3 - Engine Compartment, Section 4 - Chassis-Underbody, Section 5 - Interior, and Section 6 - Exterior.

Before moving forward, my heartfelt appreciation must be given to Herman G. "Duke" Gercke and his wife Donna J. who began this effort back in 2007, with Duke outlining the first sections by hand writing his thoughts on pages of yellow tablet paper, and his wife dutifully transcribing his efforts into their computer.  Unfortunately, a number of years after taking over the reins from Duke, I learned from Donna that Duke lost his life, believed to be from Covid-19, in 2020 at the age of 83.

I would like to share with you my thinking that drove the construction of the Manual.
I did not want to make a coffee table picture book.
I did not want to make a rehash of the Shop Manual and Supplement.
I did not want to create a Manual that was the end-all, do-all for judging at Amelia Island, Pebble Beach and the like.  In fact it would likely take a lifetime to cover every iteration of changes during production or between each model year.

I wanted to make a manual that the regular Joe, like me, who really loved these cars, and lusted after them for years, and finally got his hands on one, could use every day to help get the car up and running and on the road to enjoy.
I wanted to focus on what was generally thought to be a regularly produced car, and only skim the edges of what was exactly done to build the care - way too many changes for that to happen which would be way out of the reach of regular Joe, and postpone driving the car.

I hope you enjoy the Manual.

Have fun,
Steve B

[marty55cdv]

 This is an early Christmas present !!   Thank you Steve for all your hard work as well as everyone involved !

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

That's great news Steve!

[Gabe Davis]

Steve, thank you for all of the effort to put this together.

You mentioned a flash drive - will the authenticity manual be available for download or is it print only? Is there a fee to obtain a copy?

Looking forward to going through it!