Cadillac Series 355

Cadillac Series 355

1934 Cadillac Series 355D
Overview
Manufacturer Cadillac (General Motors)
Model years 1931–1935
Assembly Detroit Assembly, Detroit, Michigan, United States[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 Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive[1][2]
Platform GM C platform
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 Cadillac from 1931 to 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.

Models

355A (1931)

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]

355B (1932)

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]

355C (1933)

1933 Cadillac Series 355C

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]

355D (1934)

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]

355E (1935)

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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 Kimes, Beverly (1996). standard catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 Gunnell, John (2005). Standard Catalog of Cadillac 1903-2005. Krause publications. ISBN 978-0-87349-289-8.
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