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Factory Rear-Mounted Air Conditioning Unit

5:40
17:21
47.3K views

At 5:40 in

Inside President Dwight Eisenhower's 1955 Cadillac Limo: "Parts Bin Special"

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What happens here

Contrary to initial assumptions, the Cadillac was equipped with a factory-installed rear air conditioning unit. This unit, made by Frigidaire, was located in the trunk and featured two blower fans. Its seamless integration and hidden nature led to the initial misconception that the car lacked AC. The owner confirmed that the unit was a factory option costing $620 at the time, which, when adjusted for inflation, would be a significant percentage of the car's overall cost today. The system was controlled by a small, discreet knob on the rear package tray, allowing passengers to turn it on/off.

Goal: Discover and explain the trunk-mounted factory air conditioning system

Tools and materials

  • Blower Fans — Circulating air from the AC unit
  • Control Knob — Activating and deactivating the air conditioning
  • Frigidaire Air Conditioning Unit — Providing cooling to the rear cabin

What they say

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way they got fresh air in here. >> Was there a blower fan in there or did it just reliable? >> There was a blower fan in the trunk when I looked in there. There was one on that side and one on this side. >> We had no idea at the time that unit in the trunk is actually an air conditioner and it is a factory item. It was not put there by Hess and Eisenhart. That's just how these things work. According to the internet, it was an extra $630 option to have this air conditioner in the trunk. And those clear plastic ducts were

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