Forever regarded as conspicuously cool, why is the 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville still a fan favourite amongst both revheads and collectors around the world?
The iconic vehicles of yesteryear don’t only appeal to car lovers, but also attract those passionate about engineering, design, art and yes, history. Before cars were built for efficiency and speed, it was about the experience, style, exclusivity and ultimately, craftsmanship – making them timeless, works of art.
For many classic car collectors, owning a piece of automotive history is still considered to be a luxury, which is perhaps why the 1956 Cadillac Coupe De Ville has remained at the top of the wish list for many motor enthusiasts. After all, Cadillac has long held the prestigious title of being one of the world’s most opulent automotive brands – but what’s so special about this particular model?
The Legend Of The Cadillac Coupe De Ville
As one of the world’s oldest motor vehicle manufacturers, the Cadillac brand roared to life all the way back in 1902 at the turn of the century. Henry Leland was the man behind the brand, and named the company after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. In just six short years, Cadillac went on to introduce the concept of interchangeable parts to the automotive industry, and are now considered to be groundbreaking pioneers in terms of laying the groundwork for modern mass production of automobiles.
By the time General Motors purchased the company in 1909, Cadillac had already established itself as one of America’s premier luxury car makers. By 1912, Cadillac had already become the first manufacturer to offer a passenger car with a fully enclosed cabin, along with the release of the Model Thirty. This resembled the brand’s first foray into paying attention to the finer details, as this was indeed the world’s first car with no crank, otherwise known as an electronic self starter.
With celebrity fans ranging from Elvis Presley to Al Capone, owning a Cadillac was all about status, wealth and luxury. For fifty years, Cadillac remained the top selling motor vehicle brand in the United States, and was arguably at its peak during the 1950’s and 1960’s era. With designs that made for an amazingly smooth ride paired with great performance, it’s these styles of classic cars from a bygone era that we envision when we think of drive-in cinemas and rockabilly culture.
In fact, it was the design team behind Cadillac and General Motors that first introduced hard top motor vehicles to the American market, and didn’t take long at all for the freshly released 1956 Series 62 Cadillac Coupe De Ville to take the world by storm. Marketed as a continuation of the Cadillac motto of “As The Standard Of The World Turns”, it’s ground-breaking styling concept was the brainchild of Harley J. Earl, chief design stylist for the Cadillac Motor Division of General Motors.
Thought to be the perfect choice for consumers seeking both comfort, beauty and a sense of adventure, the innovative design was like nothing else yet seen on the American market – but it wasn’t just the exterior that had received a makeover. The interior of the 1956 Cadillac Coupe De Ville featured chrome bows as part of the headlining to simulate convertible hardware, sumptuous leather upholstery like a convertible, and power windows, with leather upholstery becoming available for later model years.
It’s not unrealistic to state that it was the 1954-1956 Cadillacs that played a major role in crafting the overall brand identity and prestige that Cadillac holds today. With the show stopping tail fins and chrome finishings, it was models exactly like the 1956 Cadillac Coupe De Ville that solidified the company’s overall position as a dominant player in the global automotive industry.
The Cadillac Brand Today
Even in the 21st Century, the name Cadillac is still synonymous with innovation and style. In fact, the brand even introduced a new design philosophy dubbed “Art and Style”, in which it states to “incorporate sharp, sheer forms and crisp edges – a form vocabulary that expresses bold, high-technology design and invokes the technology used to design it.” Over one hundred years later, the brand is still going strong thanks to a company wide vision that refuses to compromise on quality.
However, for vintage car lovers and automotive enthusiasts in Australia, getting your hands on a 1956 Cadillac Coupe De Ville can be a tough one – however, one just happens to reside in the collection at Brisbane based Classic’s Garage.
Finding a fellow vintage auto enthusiast can feel a bit like finding a needle in a haystack, but rest assured that Wayne understands the thrill more than most. Having spent forty years collecting anything and everything from matchbox cars to hub caps, he’s successfully followed his passion to source, collect and stock beautiful and low mileage classic automobiles from around the world.
With our showroom conveniently located at Seventeen Mile Rocks, if you would like to arrange a viewing or inspect any other of our classic vehicles, please get in touch with us today.