1954 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 Imperial Sedan Limousine - Recently Restored

1954 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 Imperial.

History of the 1954-1956 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75

The Series 75 Fleetwood was Cadillac’s limited-production limousine and eight-passenger sedan and featured an extended wheelbase for plenty of back-seat room and a “high headroom” taller passenger compartment. There was an optional interior partition with a power glass window that defined “Imperial Sedan” limousine models. The car’s prodigious passenger capacity came from two rear-facing jumpseats in the back seat footwell. The Series 75 Fleetwood was also available as a commercial chassis for use as a hearse or ambulance.

Engine power in the Series 75 was a 331-cid V-8 that delivered 230 horsepower. With a curb weight of 5,031 pounds and a wheelbase of 149.1 inches, the Fleetwood was far from a performance model. The commercial chassis featured an impressive 158-inch wheelbase. The standard transmission was a three-speed manual, but few of these were ever made. The optional four-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission was generally preferred.

Options were few and generally selected for sedans and limos, including air conditioner, heater, autronic eye automatic headlight dimmer, power brakes, and a radio, among other standard GM options. For 1954, 889 sedans, 611 imperial sedans (limousines), and 1,611 commercial chassis were produced.

For the 1955 model year, an increase in compression boosted engine output to 250 horsepower, and the brand-new twin-carburetor Eldorado engine with 270 horsepower was available as an option. Production of the Series 75 included 1,075 sedans, 841 limousines, and 1,975 commercial chassis in 1955.

Engine displacement increased to 365-cid in 1956 -- the last year of this generation of Series 75 -- and output was raised to 285. The Eldorado engine was again available at 305 horsepower. An improved version of the four-speed Hydramatic transmission debuted to great praise over its predecessor. Total production in 1956 was 1,095 sedans, 955 limousines, and 2,025 commercial chassis.

Outwardly, only minor trim changes distinguish any of the model years of this generation of the Series 75 Fleetwood. Collectors will likely prefer the limousine models from 1956 with the higher-horsepower engines and updated transmission, but as with all cars from this era, overall condition is paramount. While commercial chassis production was greater than passenger cars, surviving examples of these cars may be the rarest and most desirable of all.

1954 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 Info

Body Styles

4dr Imperial Sedan

4dr Sedan

Commercial Chassis

Engine Types

8-cyl. 331cid/230hp 4bbl

Additional Info

Curb Weight: 5055 lbs.

Vehicle Length: 237.2 in.

Wheel Base: 149.8 in.

1954 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 4dr Sedan 8-cyl. 331cid/230hp 4bbl Info

Number Produced: 889

More information on the 1954 Cadillac can be found by downloading this complete .PDF file. There is plenty of great information @ https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Cadillac/1954_Cadillac_VVI.pdf

THE STORY BEHIND THIS VEHICLE

I purchased this vehicle from a private party who had just had a cosmetic restoration done to the vehicle in the late 90’s. (See the picture with the tagline 1954 Cadillac Fleetwood) I purchased it to use if for weddings in our small limousine service outside of Chicago. We had it professionally painted white (see picture) I sold the company in 2002 but stayed on as an advisor. In 2012, I purchased the car back from the company. At that point, I wanted to take it back to its original Sky Blue with a White top. When I took it to the body shop, we realized just how “cosmetic” the original restoration was and made the decision to do it correctly. We took it down to the metal and replaced any Bondo with metal. There wasn’t any rust, it just looked like they filled dents instead of repairing them. (see pictures of the car down to bare metal)

I am not going to tell you this is a #5 show car, but it’s clean, with nice interior and no rust on the body or chassis, all the chrome is in place and it drives straight. The engine and transmission are strong, but they had no PVC valves back then, do there is a little blow by from the engine. Everything runs mechanically. I do drive it from time to time. The factory AC works but needs to be recharged. It has been sitting for the most part of 6 years. The AC system has been converted to 134a. The original gigantic Frigidaire compressor has been replaced with a smaller more efficient unit that produced colder air at idle speeds, which was important for weddings. Suggestions I would make, would be to have the master cylinder rebuilt as it has a leak. The rebuild kit comes with the car. The power steering pump has a leak but works fine. (these leaks developed from the vehicle sitting unfortunately) The manual fuel pump has been replaced with an electric one along the chassis rail. The electronics work, except for the clocks. The glass is all intact. There is a small crack in the driver side wing window, but it was there when I originally bought it. There is also a BB whole in the top center of the windshield. It too was there when I originally bought it. The original AM radio works I believe, but I added a nicer AM/FM CD player. An Elvis’s 30 Greatest Hits CD comes with the car! Also included are the original owner’s and accessory manual and a reprint of the shop manual.

I have tried to be as honest and straight forward with you as I can on the vehicle. I don’t want you to have any surprises. The car is beautiful as you can see from the pictures, it just need the right person to love her and take care of her. My reserve is based on rating the car in “Good” condition.

YouTube link to a 360 video view of the exterior and interior of the vehicle:https://youtu.be/L4Ge4z-WH_k

YouTube video of the331cid/230hp 4bbl running:https://youtu.be/VgWw1wQ0L6M

On Jul-30-18 at 12:24:11 PDT, seller added the following information:

just a quick note. The battery is brand new.