In 1982, Fred Wachter was playing poker and won a 1956 Cadillac Sedan DeVille from a guy in the game.
It was love at first sight for Fred and unleashed his unbridled affection for all Caddy models built in 1956.
Jim Sutherland
There was a surprising array of different Cadillac models built in 1956, so Fred began his Caddy collection, but was unable to locate some of the wilder variations like the custom-built flower cars built for the funeral market. He kept his poker car for the rest of his life and enjoyed every opportunity to hit the road in his beloved 1956 Cadillac Sedan DeVille over the years.
The relationship between Fred and his Caddy was not lost on his daughter Lynn and she associated her father’s car with many happy memories from her own life.
MyStarCollectorCar spotted the 1956 Cadillac in a parade at a summer car show and were fortunate to connect with Lynn and get her story about the family heirloom because she is now the owner of the classy vintage sedan.
1956 was an interesting year for Cadillac because the GM flagship division introduced the first production model 4-door hardtop model choice, namely the Sedan DeVille. It was a feature that gave the Sedan DeVille a stylishly clean look after Cadillac removed the B-pillar (center support post from roof to body).
It was also a year when Cadillac occupied the top rung for consumers who wanted a luxury vehicle and associated Cadillacs with upscale tastes.
A 1956 Cadillac Sedan DeVille had plenty of reasons to fit the upscale luxury bill. Lynn’s Caddy retains all its fancy factory features like power windows, power steering, power brakes, and even a power radio antenna and leather interior, all of which give the car an abundance of creature comforts not found on most cars that year.
Lynn’s ’56 Caddy even has an electric eye feature that detects headlights from oncoming vehicles and automatically dims the car’s headlights.
The Cadillac Sedan Deville still has its factory 365 cubic inch V-8 engine coupled to its Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic transmission. It’s an ideal combination that gives the Caddy plenty of power and smooth shifting on the road. Additionally, the suspension on the Cadillac was built to soften bumps and give a luxurious road experience for passengers on any trip.
Fred decided to restore the Caddy back to its original factory glory over the years and used an old school approach for replacement parts during a pre-internet area. Consequently, Fred connected with his Cadillac guys via the phone and snail mail to achieve his goal. He was fortunate enough to acquire quality parts via his search and kept very good records about the process.
Driving the 1956 Cadillac Sedan Deville was one of the true pleasures in Fred’s life and he offered his daughter Lynn some wise words before she became its owner: “Just drive it”.
It was good advice because Lynn loves to drive the family heirloom as much as her father did when he owned the classic Caddy, so she makes every journey in the Caddy a trip down memory lane.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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