1950s 56 eldo

[johnnyo]

hi new to club just purchased a 1956 eldorado seville coupe. car has spot light is this factory ??

[Roger Zimmermann]

As far as I know, those horrors were not offered by the factory.

[Lexi]

hi new to club just purchased a 1956 eldorado seville coupe. car has spot light is this factory ??

Congratulations on your new old car. We love to see pictures so please post away! In answer to your question:

I suspect that Roger is correct, that Spotlights were NOT factory options in 1956. However, in 1956 Cadillac did offer spotlights as an option, as they are listed in the Cadillac dealer options brochure, as well as in the original 1956 Cadillac Master Parts List bearing Cadillac parts numbers (packed in official Cadillac parts boxes). Cadillac only offered a left hand (driver side) spotlight as an option in 1956, which cost the customer $23.95, (suggested retail). Not sure if that included installation.

Don't think they sold a lot of them, at least based on what I have seen, nearly 70 years later. That said, I have certainly seen spotlights intended for different year Cadillacs, installed in 1956 cars. I believe the 1954 - 1956 Cadillac Spotlights will fit all Cadillacs for those 3 years, (though Commercial cars were excluded in the parts list). Beware that the 1956 Cadillac Spotlight was a one year only item, (at least with respect to certain features). So think 1954 and 1955 spots will still fit, but there are differences. That probably explains the mis-matched parts I have seen in cars over the years. Like a lot of 1956 Cadillac parts, there are many one offs that year. If memory serves, while the 1957 MPL no longer mentioned Spotlights as a whole unit, it still listed a gazillion replacement parts to service existing units from previous years. Perhaps someone can confirm that 1956 was the last year Cadillac offered Spotlights as a Cadillac Dealer option with a Cadillac part number?

Would love to see some detailed pictures of your Spotlight, both outside and inside especially of the handle and trigger, as well as close ups inside and outside, as I have one to install on my car. I should be able to tell you what year, or parts thereof, make up your Spotlight if it was not installed when new, and built from parts.

Also, should anyone have a sharp and readable set of mounting instructions for the 1956 Cadillac Spotlight, I would love to receive a scan or clear high res photographic image of such, including the template (1:1 scale).

Clay/Lexi

Edit: Based on your posted side shot photo of your car, the Spotlight does not appear to be '56 Cadillac, though the detail in the chrome which I base this on, may in fact be non-image formed reflections and not spotlight body anomolies.

[V63]

Are the hood ornament blades missing?

[Lexi]

The blades do appear to be missing. My research continues to indicate that the last year Cadillac offered spotlights (or spotlamps as they are sometimes called), as a dealer installed option, was indeed 1956. So it appears that any spotlight mounted on a Cadillac from 1957 on, was either after market, or perhaps an older Guide part that was perhaps jerry-rigged to fit. Other than one photo, (which had the incorrect lamp installed), I was unable to find any other photos of '56 Caddies with the correct dealer mounted spotlights. They are indeed a rare breed, and one that appears to have generated few sales. Clay/Lexi

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Welcome the 56 Sevilles always had a very unique/pretty look to them.

[59-in-pieces]

John,

Like Lexi, during my research for 59 passenger cars with spotlights, I discovered that the spotlights installed on non-commercial cars were by the dealers, and were actually from the commercial vehicles of that era - ambulances for the most part.
They were manufactured by Unity.

So the source of your spotlight may have had the same origins.

The spotlights were "all the rage" in the forties, and I'm still looking to put a set - both sides- on my 47 Series 62 convertible.
Sorry for the horrors.

Have fun,
Steve B.

[Lexi]

LOL Steve, (horrors), though I am guessing Unity may also have been the manufacturer, but not sure. 1956 was the last year for the actual Cadillac part numbered spotlight by "Guide". It was available in another style to some GM products in 1957, and perhaps Oldsmobile in 1958 according to a collector I consulted with, but even he was not 100% on that. But '57 or perhaps '58 was the end of Guide spotlights for what GM cars still had them optioned, with Cadillac having ended their Cadillac Guide unit in 1956. Apparently flaws in the design of their new 12 volt bulb system helped kill them. There are after market pillar mounted spots, many of which predate our cars, though some of them are "dummies" and not functional. Many of the functional ones are 6 volt. Think the Guide 12 volt units came out in '53 or '54. Clay/Lexi

[Roger Zimmermann]

Sorry for the horrors.

Well, Steve, it seems that you understood that I hate them! (like the exterior sun visors)

[Lexi]

Roger has a point. While I wouldn't go as far to say that spotlights are "horrors", I can see whey some don't like them. An argument can be made that spotlights tend to break up the lines of our cars, (like 4 door cars are said to do the same, at least to some). That said, a buddy had a 1956 Series 62 convertible with a 1955 spotlight. In his case I thought the spot looked great. While they are part of our Cadillac heritage, they are not for all.

Exterior sun visors? I always loved them on some of the older Cadillacs. Stuff like that always made a car look more elegant but in an old fashioned sort of way, in my opinion. Growing up I always associated Cadillac with extreme luxury and automotive innovation. Bigger was better, and you could always spot a Cadillac a mile away. I imagine to some that those exterior sun visors were the ultimate "old man car" statement, but I always thought they looked great. Those old men who drove those cars won WWII. That said, they tend to look more out of place once cars lost that more boxy appearance. Probably not a good idea for most American cars that post date circa 1953, (give or take).

I have noticed that vintage Cadillacs fall into a couple of styling areas that more or less appeal to those who like; 1) traditional, more genteel models or those who gravitate more to, 2) sporty models.

There can be huge differences in those cars, model year dependant. Like compare a '55 and '56 Eldo to their Series 62 counterparts. The Eldos have totally differenct fins, (shark fins), while the Series 62 had those more restrained, dare I say more "elegant" fish tail fins basically held over from 1948. The Series 62 convertible also had fender skirts as well as the Flying Goddess hood ornament, (skirts gone from the Eldos as was the Flying Goddess in 1956 for the Eldo models). I really miss those details which probably explains why my favorite Eldo of all time is the 1954 model. My buddy also preferred the more traditional styling and as a result chose a 1956 Series 62 convertible rather than the Eldo model. That said, the "rebellious" styling of the Eldos help to explain their current mystique and interest among collectors.

To each their own as the idiom goes, but hopefully we have enough collectors to keep all of these wonderful cars alive. Clay/Lexi

[Roger Zimmermann]

Usually my comments are rasher harsh due to my limited ability to develop arguments. I will try to soften my previous comments.
Fashion or habits from a previous epoch is sometimes difficult to understand, especially if those habits were popular in a foreign country.
Take the spotlights: when they were commonly seen on cars in the US, I can imagine that illumination in villages was poor. To find an address without to get out of the car, especially in bad weather, spotlights were certainly useful to find the searched place. To like them or not is something personal, but adding them now on a vehicle is requiring holes and so on.
Sun visors: tinted windows were not common when those accessories were usual. My reason to dislike them: the windows from those cars were rather small, with the windshield "almost" vertical, the roof's begin was way ahead of the driver. Adding a sun visor is aggravating the already poor vision the driver had; it' like a tunnel.
I just hope that people who love those accessories will accept my reasons to dislike them!

[V63]

Sometimes our tastes season as we age, I remember liking continental kits, spotlights and sunvisors, not to mention cars with factory side mounts or vinyl tops.

But now, I appreciate  'less is more'

[Lexi]

Hey Roger, no need to explain. We all don't like the same thing, which is good. If not we would all want the same car, same girl, same house, etc. That would be awful! Like you I am not a fan of drilling holes in my car either, but will make allowances for proper Cadillac accessories. AC is probably the most invasive accessory to install, though I imagine always done at the factory originally. On my car Fog lights were an accessory but I believe these were dealer installed. They change the look of the car, but is as GM intended if chosen as an option. Both would be somewhat problematic to install outside of the factory or dealership today, with a resto-mod AC being downright scary to attempt.

The reasons for spotlights however, reveal a dual purpose which may explain more why some are not fans of them. As Roger described their advertised purpose; identifying address numbers/signs at night (as well as having a spare front light), is accurate. The customizer community liked them even to the point of installing dummie spotlights in pairs as they looked "cool". Not my thing. The other reason for them is that they were also commonly found on emergency service vehicles and police cars. Perhaps that dichotomy highlights the dual class of vehicles that had more of a need for them than regular passenger cars? Perhaps there is a subconscious reason for not wanting a car to look like a police vehicle or an ambulance? Just thinking out loud here. Arguably, they don't help with our car's body lines either. By 1956 for Cadillac, they appeared to have fallen out of favor. Last year for them and it appears not many sold. Perhaps Roger's sentiments echoe what GM Cadillac and the general public were thinking about them at that time?

Never drove a car with one those large visors, so can't comment on their usefulness. But in the mid 1950s I tend to gravitate to those Cadillac models that have their roof line extended over the windshield. Not really addressed by Roger or I earlier, but I think is an interesting segue.

It is like a built in short sun visor and is there for that purpose as per period Cadillac literature. My Limo has it, as does the 8 Passenger Sedan, the 60 Special and the 4 Door Sedan model, in 1956. Think the same for those identical models of Cadillac in 1954 - 1955. It is actually very useful and in my opinion attractive. I always thought my 1956 CDV looked out of sorts without it! Like it was missing something. Seems that the roof line without that extension was perhaps more "sporty" to look at? Just a guess. The cars that did have them are probably the more stodgy in appearance to some, (as they are all sedans), but not to me. Seems to be more of the 2 door vs 4 door thing, which I always found odd.

Ironically, the Cadillac "Flat Tops" actually had a sort of "rear sun visor" which to me looks incredible. I think it is another reason why many collectors covet those models. Definintly added to that streamlined look. I can picture George Jetson driving one. I always found it odd, that design element receives so much attention while the forward looking built in sun visor I described earlier, is rarely if ever mentioned. But those are design features of 4 door sedan cars. The black sheep of the car collecting community. Refer to my earlier comments about "genteel vs sporty" with respect to Cadillac styling.

Not intended to question Roger's comments as we all have different likes, besides he is also one of the "Cadillac Gods" in my opinion. Rather I found this a good opportunity to flesh out some of the idiosyncrasies of the vintage car world, as individual tastes range from the common to the peculiar with all points in between. Clay/Lexi

[Roger Zimmermann]

Clay, thanks for your comments, I appreciate them!

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

Sometimes our tastes season as we age, I remember liking continental kits, spotlights and sunvisors, not to mention cars with factory side mounts or vinyl tops.

But now, I appreciate  'less is more'

exactly what I was going to say! I used to love all those bolt on accessories, they look really jarring to me nowadays.
Phil

[Lexi]

Clay, thanks for your comments, I appreciate them!

Roger YOU are one of the Cadillac Gods and have probably forgotten more than most of us know! Your hydramatic transmission knowledge for example, is incredible. The rest of us mortals can only strive to achieve your lofty level of expertise, someday. Happy New Year to you buddy. Clay/Lexi

[Lexi]

Sometimes our tastes season as we age, I remember liking continental kits, spotlights and sunvisors, not to mention cars with factory side mounts or vinyl tops.
But now, I appreciate  'less is more'

Yes, it happens. Even though I am from the Stephen Spielberg school of "Bigger is Better", I keep reminding myself that exageration without excess, (or excess within control), is probably more desirous. I normally draw the line with after market items. You won't see curb feelers, nudy wheel spinners, or felt dice on Lexi. As we are more or less Cadillac people on this site, we are already driving history's most ostentatious vehicles. As public attitudes continue to change, we will all be victimized by changing attitudes as our cars may very well someday be shunned for what they are. Happening a bit right now. Just another form of assinine cancel culture. As Laurie often says, enjoy your cars while you can. Clay/Lexi

[59-in-pieces]

Ok, called my sister (47 Series 62 convertible) with the spot lights unattractive.

Then turned around and called my other sister (1949 GMC short bed pickup) equally unattractive because of her Fulton Sun Shield over the windshield.
Admittedly, the truck roof is chopped, and the shield does make it tougher to see foreword and up.
But Damn! my little RAT ROD looks good.

And as usual that brings to mind a story about my Dad and I going hunting when I was growing up.
My Dad had dual spot lights on all his Cads of that era - primarily convertibles.
Why, because he used the spots, to see the unlit roads and signs, on our way back into the brush and trees where we intended to hunt.
And I'm quick to add, we never hunted from the roads at night with the spots, only to find the camp site, you understand, before somebody gets wrapped around the axle.

So I've alienated the spot light, Sun Shield, and non-hunting crowds, all at one time on a single Monday morning.

Have fun, and don't judge.
Steve B.

PS
I do recall our spot lights had a shinny rippled vertical strip on the top of each light assembly that read in black block letters CADILLAC.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Have fun, and don't judge.

I don't, Steve, I don't! Just saying too loud what I dislike!

[Lexi]

My Dad had dual spot lights on all his Cads of that era - primarily convertibles...I do recall our spot lights had a shinny rippled vertical strip on the top of each light assembly that read in black block letters CADILLAC.

Steve, not sure if Cadillac ever offered dual spot lights as an option, however at least sometime in the early 1950s and/or 1940s, I believe Unity made them for Cadillac, (and perhaps even to 1956). Some of these Unity spots did have a chrome badge on top of the bulb's housing as you described. They were done in an Art Deco "waterfall" style with the word Cadillac boldly imprinted on the top curved portion of the badge. Other marques also used these spots with their name on them as well. These marque identifying Cadillacs at least pre-date 1954. There were a few spotlight manufacturers then and usually noted only LH spots as being available. That said, there was sometimes a notation in the mounting instructions that one could reverse certain elements in the spot so that it could also be used on the RH side. Perhaps your father's vehicle/s pre-dated 1954 and used a set of spots that could be reversed when certain mounting instructions were followed-or he happened to have a pair of both RH and LH units? Based on your description, the above criteria matches the era of vehicle you described. Interesting story, thanks for posting. Do you have any photos of your Dad's Cads with spotlights? Clay/Lexi