Cadillac Series 355
Cadillac Series 355 | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | General Motors |
Model years | 1931–1935 |
Assembly | Detroit, Michigan, USA[1][2] |
Designer | Harley Earl |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Full-size luxury car |
Body style |
2-door convertible[1][2] 4-door convertible[1][2] 2-door coupe[1][2] 4-door sedan[1][2] 4-door town car[1][2] 4-door limousine [1][2] |
Layout | FR layout[1][2] |
Related |
Cadillac Series 452 Cadillac Series 370 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 353 cu in (5.8 L) L-Head V8[1][2] |
Transmission | 3-speed synchromesh manual[1] |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase |
1931: 134.0 in (3,404 mm)[1][2] 1932–33: 134.0 in (3,404 mm) and 140.0 in (3,556 mm) 1934–35: 128.0 in (3,251 mm) and 136.0 in (3,454 mm) Commercial: 1931: 152.0 in (3,861 mm)[1][2] 1932–33: 156.0 in (3,962 mm)[1][2] 1935: 160.0 in (4,064 mm)[1][2] |
Length |
1931: 203.0 in (5,156 mm)[1][2] 1932–33: 207.0 in (5,258 mm) and 213.0 in (5,410 mm) 1934–35: 207.5 in (5,270 mm) and 215.5 in (5,474 mm)[1] |
Width |
1931: 73.6 in (1,869 mm) 1932–35: 77.0 in (1,956 mm) |
Height |
1931: 72.5 in (1,842 mm)[1][2] 1932–33: 71.5 in (1,816 mm) 1934–35: 69.5 in (1,765 mm) |
Curb weight | 4,600–5,100 lb (2,100–2,300 kg) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Cadillac Series 353 |
Successor | Cadillac Series 70/75 |
The Cadillac Series 355 was manufactured by the Cadillac Division of General Motors from 1931-1935. They were 8-cylinder cars, sold in several models: a 2-door club coupe, a 2-door convertible, 4-door convertible, a 4-door sedan a 4-door town car and a 4-door limousine.[3]
The 1931 Series 355A was very similar to the Series 353 except it was longer and lower, had a longer hood with five hood ports, with matching doors in the cowl.[1][2] There was a modified coach sill with no compartments in the splash pan.[1][2] The battery and tool compartment were now under the front seat.[1][2] Floor boards were made of metal for the first time.[1][2] The instrument panel was oval with the same gauge groupings as in the Series 353. The Series 355 featured a radiator screen, a single bar bumper and dual horns.[1][2] The headlight diameter was reduced by one inch.[1][2] There was a new frame with divergent side rails.[1][2] The suspension springs now had metal covers.[1][2] The radiator was mounted lower in the frame and there was now a condenser tank for cooling operation.[1][2] The engine was the same 353 cu in (5.8 L) L-Head V8 as on the Series 353, thus the series designation no longer matched the displacement.[1][2] Engine horsepower was 95.[1][2] A five point engine suspension, similar to the V-16 was used.[1][2] An intake muffler was added and the distributor was mounted 1.5 in (38 mm) higher.[1][2] The fan was mounted lower to match the lower radiator.[1][2] Model year sales totaled 10,717.[1][2]
The 1932 Series 355B was even longer and lower, with an entirely restyled front assembly.[1][2] The roof line was lowered 1–3 in (25–76 mm).[1][2] The longer hood now had six hood ports.[1][2] The new front end styling included a flat grille built into the radiator shell, head and side lights of streamlined bullet shape and the elimination of the fender tie bar and monogram bar.[1][2] The trumpets of the dual horns projected through the headlight stanchions.[1][2] The headlight lenses were 9.5 in (241 mm) in diameter.[1][2] The dual taillights matched the headlights.[1][2] Super safe lighting featured three filament bulbs and four contour positions for degree and angle of illumination.[1][2] The front license plate was mounted on the bumper.[1][2] Runningboards curved to match the sweep of the front fenders and blended into the rear fenders.[1][2] The tail of the rear fenders blended into the fuel tank valence.[1][2] The trunk on the town sedan, town coupe and five-passenger convertible coupe was integral with the body.[1][2] The vision of the driver was improved by 30 percent as a result of the elimination of the outside visor and the construction of a 12 degree sloping windshield and corner posts.[1][2] There was a large ventilator on top of the cowl and none on the sides.[1][2] All separate body moldings were eliminated.[1][2] A three spoke steering wheel enabled an unobstructed view of the instrument cluster when in the straight ahead position.[1][2] The right side of the instrument panel was occupied by a "locker."[1][2] Engine horsepower increased to 115.[1][2] The deepening Great Depression helped sales plummet to 2,700.[1][2]
The bumpers on the 1933 Series 355C were sectioned, with plain ends and a three bar center.[1][2] The grille was made V-shaped and blended into the painted (chrome optional) radiator shell.[1][2] The radiator cap disappeared under the hood on the right side (same side as the oil level gauge).[1][2] The fender tie bar, after a year's absence was sectioned and the center section was hidden behind the grille.[1][2] Six horizontal doors replaced the vertical hood doors. Skirts were added to the front and rear fenders.[1][2] The most significant change in body detail was the introduction of no-draft Individually Controlled Ventilation (ICV) or pivoting vent windows in the front doors and the rear quarter or rear door windows.[1][2] In early production the front door window had to be lowered to disengage the channel at its front edge from the vent window to allow the vent window to pivot.[1][2] In later production the sealing channel was attached to the door frame rather than to the window glass so that the vent window could be operated independently of the window glass.[1][2] Windshield and rear quarter windows were made stationary.[1][2] Absence of a windshield operating mechanism on the closed car allowed room to conceal the wiper motor behind the headboard.[1][2] The cowl ventilator was baffled and drained in such a way as to be rainproof.[1][2] Chassis changes were few and minor in nature.[1][2] Controlled free wheeling was discontinued.[1][2] Vacuum assist was added to the brake system.[1][2] Changes in shock absorber valves extended the range of the ride control system.[1][2] During the model year the dual point four lobe distributor was replaced by a single point eight lobe unit.[1][2] A radio was optional.[1][2] Model year sales were 2,100.[1][2]
The 1934 Model 355D was completely restyled and mounted on an entirely new chassis but used the same engine as in 1933.[1][2] The Model 355 was divided into three series, the Series 10, 20 and 30.[1][2] Bodies on the Series 10 and 20 were built by Fisher and on the Series 30 by Fleetwood.[1][2] The bodies on the Series 30 were shared with the Cadillac V-12 and V-16.[1][2] Styling emphasized streamlining, including concealment of all chassis features except the wheels.[1][2] Body construction was improved for better insulation against engine heat and reduction of engine, road and wind noise.[1][2] Bumpers were a stylish but ineffective biplane design, mounted against telescoping springs.[1][2] The grille was V-shaped and sloping, set into a painted shell.[1][2] Although restricted use of chrome was a feature of the overall ornamentation, a chrome plated radiator shell was available as an option.[1][2] Horns and radiator filler cap were concealed under the hood.[1][2] Teardrop Guide Multibeam headlights were mounted on streamlined supports attached to the fenders.[1][2] Parking lamps were mounted on the headlight supports.[1][2] Airfoil shaped fenders were brought low over the chassis.[1][2] The hood sills were high with the entire fender shape molded into the radiator shell. A curious horizontal crease broke the nose contour of the fenders. Hoods extending nearly to the windshield carried shutter-type louvers in the side panel.[1][2] Windshields were fixed and steeply sloping; 18 degrees on Fisher bodies, 25 degrees flat or a 29.5 degree V on Fleetwood bodies.[1][2] Cowl vents opened toward the windshield; one vent on flat windshield bodies, two vents projecting through openings in the hood on V-shaped windshield bodies.[1][2] Bodies were 2.0 in (51 mm) lower than on previous models.[1][2] Added passenger space in the front compartment was achieved by moving the hand brake lever to the left of the driver, under the instrument panel.[1][2] Rear fenders were airfoil shaped and carried rear lights that matched the headlights.[1][2] The gas tank filler was on the left side at the rear of the body, on Fleetwood bodies in the left rear fender.[1][2] All bodies featured beaver tail deck that completely covered the chassis.[1][2] On Fleetwood bodies the spare was concealed under the rear deck, unless optional fender mounts were specified.[1][2] Independent front suspension was introduced, called "knee-action".[1][2] Engine horsepower increased to 120.[1][2]
The 1935 Model 355E remained virtually unchanged from 1934.[1][2] The biplane bumpers of 1934 were replaced with more conventional units.[1][2] One major change was introduced on Fisher bodies, the all steel Turret Top.[1][2] Fleetwood bodies would not have the Turret Top until 1936.[1][2] Having been associated with funeral and ambulance equipment for many years, Cadillac embarked on an extra effort to consolidate this business in 1935.[1][2] Three Fleetwood bodied seven passenger livery sedans were offered on the Series 30 chassis. Additionally a 160.0 in (4,060 mm) wheelbase commercial chassis was offered for hearse and ambulance adaptation.[1][2] Engine horsepower increased yet again to 130.[1][2] Combined model year sales for 1934 and 1935 totaled 8,318.[1][2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.57 1.58 1.59 1.60 1.61 1.62 1.63 1.64 1.65 1.66 1.67 1.68 1.69 1.70 1.71 1.72 1.73 1.74 1.75 1.76 1.77 1.78 1.79 1.80 1.81 1.82 1.83 1.84 1.85 1.86 1.87 1.88 1.89 1.90 1.91 1.92 1.93 1.94 1.95 1.96 1.97 1.98 1.99 1.100 Kimes, Beverly (1996). standard catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.42 2.43 2.44 2.45 2.46 2.47 2.48 2.49 2.50 2.51 2.52 2.53 2.54 2.55 2.56 2.57 2.58 2.59 2.60 2.61 2.62 2.63 2.64 2.65 2.66 2.67 2.68 2.69 2.70 2.71 2.72 2.73 2.74 2.75 2.76 2.77 2.78 2.79 2.80 2.81 2.82 2.83 2.84 2.85 2.86 2.87 2.88 2.89 2.90 2.91 2.92 2.93 2.94 2.95 2.96 2.97 2.98 Gunnell, John (2005). Standard Catalog of Cadillac 1903-2005. Krause publications. ISBN 978-0-87349-289-8.
- ↑ "1931 Cadillac history". Motorera.com. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
Cadillac vehicle timeline, 1930s–1970s — next » | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Type | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
Mid-size | WWII | Seville | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Entry-level | 60 | 61 | 61/63 | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
65 | 62 | Series 62 | 6200 | Calais | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Full-size | de Ville | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
353 | 355 | 70 | 60S | Series 60S | Fleetwood Brougham | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Limousine | 353 | 355 | 67/72/75 | Series 75 | 6700 | Series 75 | FL Limo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Halo | V-12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
V-16 | 70 | Eldorado Brougham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal Luxury | Eldorado |