Were spare tire covers offered on the 1956 Cadillac?

[Richard Sills - CLC #936]

A friend has asked whether spare tire covers were available on the 1956 Cadillac. 

I checked some reference books and the earliest reference I saw to spare tire covers was in the 1959 catalog.  In 1959, a spare tire cover was standard on the Fleetwood 60 Special and the Eldorados, and optional at extra cost on all other Cadillacs.  (That was also the first year when the spare tire was located horizontally on the trunk floor, rather than upright as in prior years.)

Does anyone know the answer to this?

Thank you.     

[Otto Skorzeny]

I have never seen a factory cover on a '56 nor have I seen any in any of the literature I own.

It doesn't show up in the spec and options manual, owner's manual, or the large deluxe sales brochure.

[Richard Sills - CLC #936]

Thanks, Otto.  This sounds like the right answer. 

The question arose because there is one restored '56 on the show circuit that has a spare tire cover.  It was made from the trunk material when the trunk lining was replaced.  While it looks very nice, I didn't think the factory did that in '56.