1955 CADILLAC SERIES 62 COUPE DE VILLE

In mid-1951, Edward “Ed” Glowacke took up the role of Cadillac’s chief designer, and initially focused on detailed changes. One of the first was the bullet-shaped chrome bumper-guards on the front, reintroduced in a more distinctive and plainer form than 1942, when it was first used. These bullet-shaped guards were called “Dagmars”: Dagmar was the character name of a TV actress of the 1950s, Virginia Ruth Egnor, whose ample endowment was much photographed.
GM literature refers widely to this styling on its cars: the Dagmar bumper was also used in the 1955 Buick Riviera in our Museum.

The 1955 Cadillac was introduced with make-ups to the body which had been refreshed in 1954. Selling more than 96,680 numbers in 1954, the Cadillac sold 140,777 in 1955 and broke its 1950 record. Cadillac finished the year in 10th place, but with a market share of 44.8% in the luxury car class.

The Coupe de Ville built for the United States market features a 250 bhp engine as standard. However, this Coupe de Ville in our Museum was assembled in Switzerland for the European market and is equipped with a 230 bhp 4-barrel single carburetor engine for economy. Without reference to economy, this Cadillac, able to reach 116 miles an hour, was the fastest mass product car on the road in 1955.

Our Coupe de Ville was one of the first car purchased for the Museum. It was restored twice, first painted black, and then brought back to its original color, Alpine white.