Cadillac Models & History 1955

Whileno major appearance changes were seen on Cadillacs this year, a number of refinements were apparent.

1955 Cadillac

  • The grille was redesigned with wider spaces between the blades
  • the parking lamps were repositioned directly below the headlights.
  • On the sides of the body the rub-rail moldings formed a right angle with the vertical trim on the rear doors or fenders of Series 62 and 60S models.
  • This accentuated a character line in the sheetmetal.
  • The Florentine curve rear window treatment was adopted for sedans.
  • Three chrome moldings bordered the rear license plate on either side and deck lid decorations consisted of a V-shaped ornament and a Cadillac crest
  • The Coupe DeVille had a golden script nameplate at the upper body belt just forward of the rear window pillar.
  • The Eldorado sport convertible featured extras such as
    • wide chrome body belt moldings
    • a distinctive rear fender design with twin round taillights halfway up the fenders and flatter, pointed tailfins.
  • Tubeless tires were a new feature throughout the line.

Cadillac horsepower seemed to climb right along with sales. For 1955 it reached 250 standard via higher compression (9.0:1) and improved manifolding; Eldorado now boasted 270 bhp courtesy of dual four-barrel carburetors, optional for other models.

1955 Cadillac

1955 Cadillac

I. D. NUMBERS

1955 Cadillac

  • Serial numbers and engine numbers were the same again
  • They were found in the same locations as previous year.
  • The first two symbols were “55” to designate 1955 model production.
  • The next two symbols indicated the series as follows:
    • “62” = Series 62 and Eldorado
    • “60” = Series Special Fleetwood
    • “75” = Series 75 Fleetwood
  • The remaining digits represented the consecutive unit number and began at 00000 for each series.
  • All series had the same ending number, which would be misinterpreted if listed.

1955 Cadillac

1955 Cadillac

STYLE

Model No. Body Style Door Model Seat Price Weight Production Total
55-62 6219(X 4 Sedan 6 $3977 1989 kg 44,904
55-62 6219(X 4 Export sedan 6 $3977 1989 kg 396
55-62 6237(X 2

Hardtop Coupe

6 $3882 1984 kg 27,879
55-62 6237DX 2 Coupe DeVille 6 $4305 2013 kg 33,300
55-62 6267X 2 Convertible Coupe 6 $4448 2105 kg 8,150
55-62 62 Chassis only 7
NOTES:

  • The export sedan was shipped in CKD form to foreign countries.
  • The symbol X in brackets after Body Style Number indicates hydraulic window lifts optional;
  • without brackets indicates this feature standard.

1955 Cadillac

1955 Cadillac

ENGINE

1955 Cadillac

Type V-8: Overhead valves
Block Cast iron block
Displacement 5.425 Liters
Bore and stroke 96.8mm x 92.1mm
Compression ratio 9.0:1
Brake horsepower 250 hp @ 4600 rpm
Power 186 kW @ 4600 rpm
Bearings Five main bearings
Valve Lifters Hydraulic valve lifters
Carburetors Carter WCFB four-barrel, Models 2355S, 2354S, 2185S, 2186S, 2266S, 2267S, and 2255 – also – Rochester 4GC four-barrel, (Less air conditioning) Model 7007970; (With air conditioning) Model 7007971.

CHASSIS

Feature Series 62 Sedan Other Series 62
Wheelbase 3277mm 3277mm
Overall Length 5494mm 5669mm
Front Tread 1524mm 1524mm
Rear Tread 1603mm 1603mm
Tires 8.00 x 15 8.00 x 15
Exhausts Standard dual exhausts
Standard Rear axle ratio 3.36:1
Optional Rear axle ratio 3.07:1

1955 Cadillac

1955 Cadillac

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS

1955 Cadillac

The 270 horsepower Eldorado engine was available as an optional “Power Package” in other models for $161 extra.

CONVENIENCE OPTIONS

1955 Cadillac

Radio and antenna $132
Heating and ventilation system $129
Power brakes $48
Four-way adjustable power seat $70
Vertically adjustable power seat $54
Power windows $108
Air conditioning $620
White sidewall tires
E-Z-Eye safety glass
Autronic Eye automatic headlamp dimmer
Other standard GM options and accessories available

HISTORICAL NOTES

1955 Cadillac

  • Motor Trend magazine reported fuel consumption figures of 18.2 L/100km (stop-and-go) for a Series 62 sedan with the standard 250 horsepower V-8.
  • Total 1955 output for all models reached 140,777 units, a new record high for Cadillac Division.
  • Don E. Ahrens was general manager
  • Charles F. Arnold was chief engineer
  • Edward Glowacke was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
  • James M. Roche was general sales manager
  • Cadillac production figures
Series 6281,336 (increased 23,312)
Sedan de Ville0
Coupe de Ville33,300 (increased 16,130)
Eldorado3,950 (increased 1,800)
Series 6018,300 (increased 2,100)
Series 753,891 (increased 756)

1955 Automotive Notes

  • Production reached almost 8 million cars and 1¼ million trucks
  • Harlow H. Curtice was president of GM
  • Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was chairman of the board at GM
  • First McDonald’s Drive In opens
  • 70% of cars have automatic; nearly 80% have V8
  • Air conditioning installed in 184,000 cars, an increase from 57,000 in 1954
  • Chrysler products feature the “Forward Look” styling
  • Chrysler products use three-color motif
  • Cadillac Eldorado engine delivers 270 hp
  • Chevrolet offers its first V-8 since 1917
  • Corvette offers its V-8
  • Chevrolet introduces the Nomad station wagon; Pontiac calls theirs Safari
  • Imperial is a separate make, not a Chrysler sub-series
  • Dodge appeals to women drivers with “La Femme” — a pink and white interior & exterior hardtop
  • Ford introduces the Thunderbird as a “personal car” which vastly outsells the Corvette by 24 times
  • Ford Crown Victoria features a “basket handle” roofline with an optional transparent half-roof
  • Hudson is a warmed-over Nash with an optional Packard V-8
  • Ramblers and Metropolitans wear both Nash and Hudson badges
  • The last North American built Kaiser Manhattans and Willys sedans are built. The tooling for them is sent to South America
  • Tubeless tires are standard on most American cars
  • Michigan is first state to require those under 18 to pass a driver’s education course before obtaining a license
  • Top American Automobile Corporations for 1955


1. General Motors3,721,527 (increased 1,391,292)
2. Ford1,808,187 (increased 345,947)
3. Chrysler1,262,085 (increased 462,679)
4. Others327,223 (increased 50,763)
  • Top model year production for 1955
Chevrolet1,704,669
150125,446
210805,309
Bel Air773,240
Corvette674
Ford1,450,157
Mainline127,301
Customline470,992
Fairlane626,250
Station Wagon209,459
Thunderbird16,155
Buick737,035
Series 40 Special381,249
Series 50 Super132,463
Series 60 Century158,796
Series 70 Roadmaster64,527
Plymouth682,271
Plaza189,858
Savoy237,622
Belvedere254,791
Oldsmobile583,179
88222,361
Super 88242,192
Ninety-Eight118,626
Pontiac554,090
Chieftan (860)138,520
Chieftan (870)212,184
Star Chief203,104
Mercury329,808
Custom73,688
Monterey151,453
Montclair104,667
Dodge276,936
Coronet Six33,812
Coronet Eight77,160
Royal76,660
Custom Royal89,304
Chrysler152,777
Windsor Deluxe96,891
New Yorker Deluxe51,142
Town & Country3,019
3001,725
Cadillac140,777
Series 6281,336
Coupe deVille33,300
Eldorado3,950
Series 6018,300
Series 753,891
Studebaker116,333
Champion50,368
Commander58,792
President24,666
DeSoto114,765
Firedome77,760
Fireflite37,725
Nash96,156
Rambler56,000
Statesman14,300
Ambassador Six15,200
Ambassador Eight10,600
Packard55,247
Clipper23,304
Clipper Custom15,380
Patrician9,127
Four Hundred7,206
Caribbean500
Hudson45,535
Rambler25,173
Wasp7,191
Hornet 66,911
Hornet V86,219
Italia5
Lincoln27,222
Custom3,549
Capri23,673
Imperial11,432
Imperial11,260
Crown Imperial172
Willys6,565
Metropolitan6,096
Kaiser1,291

PHOTOS

1955 Cadillac

1955 Cadillac

1955 Cadillac

1955 Cadillac