The Cadillac Series 61 was Cadillac's mainstream product
[Odin, L.C. ''World in Motion 1939 – The whole of the year's automobile production''. Belvedere Publishing, 2015. ASIN: B00ZLN91ZG.] model range. It was priced and equipped more modestly below the limousine,
GM D platform
The GM D platform (informally, D-body), was a General Motors automobile platform designation, used in two series (1936-1984 and 1985–1996) for large body-on-frame rear-wheel drive automobiles. For the majority of its existence the D-Body repre ...
Cadillac Series 85,
Cadillac Series 90,
Cadillac Series 72,
Cadillac Series 67, and
Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75. It was upgraded to the
Series 62 in 1940 only to return to production in model year 1941, replacing the cancelled
LaSalle Series 50. While production was suspended from model years 1943–1945 due to World War II, it remained as the junior level product line until 1951. The size, equipment list and quality level were the most popular with buyers who wanted a prestigious luxury car that was usually driven by the owner, while the longer cars were chauffeur driven.
It combined the most popular features of the previous Series 60 and Series 65 and was priced at the same level as Buick products of the time.
__TOC__
1939, 1941 (not offered 1940)
The 1939
Fisher
Fisher is an archaic term for a fisherman, revived as gender-neutral.
Fisher, Fishers or The Fisher may also refer to:
Places
Australia
*Division of Fisher, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives, in Queensland
*Elect ...
-bodied Series 61 used a wheelbase. All GM vehicles for 1939 adopted the
Torpedo
A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, s ...
appearance with an extended,
protruding bow appearance to enhance its aerodynamic appearance. A number of modern
ocean liners had been recently launched and the appearance was very popular at the time. 1939 was also the year of the
1939 New York World's Fair and the streamline appearance gave a futuristic look when it was on display at the
Futurama exhibit. The protruding center grille and the functional side grilles were die-cast, with slender bars. Single die-cast louvers were positioned to the rear of each hood side panel for engine compartment ventilation.
It was available as a club coupe, convertible or sedan, and a manual retracting center divider made from
safety glass
Safety glass is glass with additional safety features that make it less likely to break, or less likely to pose a threat when broken. Common designs include toughened glass (also known as tempered glass), laminated glass, and wire mesh glass ...
was optional on the sedan, along with the choice to add or remove running boards.
A new exterior featured concealed door hinges, and exotic sea shell horns were available. All Series Sixty Special and Series 61's shared the same 346 in³
L-head
A flathead engine, also known as a sidevalve engine''American Rodder'', 6/94, pp.45 & 93. or valve-in-block engine is an internal combustion engine with its poppet valves contained within the engine block, instead of in the cylinder head, as ...
V8 in 1939,
with power at 135 hp (101 kW) and rising to 150 hp (112 kW) for 1941.
Prices were the most affordable for Cadillac products with the 2-passenger coupe starting at US$1,695 ($ in dollars ), the Touring Sedan was listed at US$1,805 ($ in dollars ) and the 5-passenger Convertible Sedan was listed at US$2,265 ($ in dollars ).
When the LaSalle product line was cancelled, production was suspended at the
LaSalle Factory at Wyoming Road and the facility closed.
In 1941, the Series 61 returned to complement the Series 62 which was introduced in 1940, and the Series 61 replaced the LaSalle in the Cadillac pricing structure. All 1941 Cadillacs used the same
Monobloc V8 with the same displacement of when the
Cadillac V16 engine used in the
Series 90 was cancelled. The most notable technical advancement was the introduction of the
Hydramatic automatic transmission as a US$125 option ($ in dollars ) which brought the listed price to US$1,535 ($ in dollars ) for the Deluxe Sedan. In 1941, the one piece hood came down lower in the front, included the side panels and extended sideways to the fenders. A single rectangular panel of louver trim was used on each side of the hood. The rectangular grille was wide, vertical, and bulged forward in the middle. Rectangular parking lights were built into the top outer corners of the grille. Headlights were now built into the nose of the fenders, and provision for built in accessory fog lights was provided under the headlights. Three chrome spears appeared on the rear section of all four fenders. Rear fender skirts were standard.
File:40 Cadillac (8942830512).jpg, 1940 Cadillac Series 61
File:1941 Cadillac 61 Sedan - black - fv (4610137043).jpg, 1941 Cadillac grille
File:1941 Cadillac1.jpg, 1941 Cadillac Series 61 five passenger coupe
Series 63
![Cadillac 1941 Series 63 Four-Door Sedan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Cadillac_1941_Series_63_Four-Door_Sedan.jpg)
The Series 63 was a sedan only for 1941 and 1942. It was only offered with a 126-inch wheelbase shared with the Series 61 and Series 62 but had a six-window B-body shared with the fastback Series 61. The main difference with the Series 63 was the different trunk (not a fastback) and the list price of US$1,695 ($ in dollars ) which meant the optional equipment and appearance features on the Series 61 were standard on the Series 63.
By the time the decision was made to drop the
LaSalle for 1941, at least three wood and metal mockups had been made for potential LaSalle models. One was based on the
notchback GM C platform
The C Platform, or C-body, name has been used twice by General Motors for its full-size car platform.
* 1925-1984 GM C platform (RWD)
* 1985-1996 GM C platform (FWD)
The C-body was used for the Pontiac Series 24/29 Torpedo, Oldsmobile 90, th ...
which ended up being shared by the
Cadillac Series 62
The Cadillac Series 40-62 is a series of cars which was produced by Cadillac from 1940 through 1964. Originally designed to complement the entry level Series 61, it became the Cadillac Series 6200 in 1959, and remained that until it was renamed t ...
,
Buick Roadmaster
The Buick Roadmaster is an automobile that was built by Buick from 1936 until 1942, from 1946 until 1958, and then again from 1991 until 1996. Roadmasters produced between 1936 and 1958 were built on Buick's longest non-limousine wheelbase and s ...
and
Super, the
Oldsmobile 98
The Oldsmobile 98 (spelled Ninety-Eight from 1952 to 1991, and Ninety Eight from 1992 to 1996) is the full-size flagship model of Oldsmobile that was produced from 1940 until 1942, and then from 1946 to 1996. The name – reflecting a "Serie ...
and the
Pontiac Custom Torpedo.
A second was based on the
fastback GM B platform
The B platform (also known as the B body) is a full-size rear-wheel drive car platform that was produced by General Motors (GM) from 1926 to 1996. Originally made for Oldsmobile and Buick, all of General Motors's five main makes would use it at ...
which ended up being shared by the Cadillac Series 61, the
Buick Century
Buick Century is the model name that was used by Buick for a line of upscale full-size cars from 1936 to 1942 and 1954 to 1958, as well as from 1973 to 2005 for mid-size cars.
The first Buick Century debuted as the Series 60 then renamed in 19 ...
and
Special
Special or specials may refer to:
Policing
* Specials, Ulster Special Constabulary, the Northern Ireland police force
* Specials, Special Constable, an auxiliary, volunteer, or temporary; police worker or police officer
Literature
* ''Specia ...
, the
Oldsmobile 70 and the
Pontiac Streamliner Torpedo. A third was a modified notchback design, derived from the fastback B-body, but described as "
A-body-like", that ended up being used by the Cadillac Series 63.
Any or all of these could have ended up being part of the next LaSalle line. However, it has been inferred that of the three, the third design was most likely to have been a LaSalle, with that platform being assigned exclusively to LaSalle, and that the second design, whose platform was shared with the Series 61, was the next most likely.
Sales of the Series 63 were 5,030 in 1941 and 1,750 in 1942 before production was suspended February 4, 1942 to contribute to the war effort.
1942–1947
Model year 1942 saw a dramatic appearance change on all GM vehicles, where the curve of the front fenders extended halfway across the front doors, called "Airfoil" and fastback appearance was adopted company-wide. Vehicles that were built until February 1942 could be identified as lacking chrome trim starting in January when it was prohibited due to wartime production and trim pieces including bumpers were painted.
After the War, the Series 61 returned on a wheelbase. The engine remained the same 346 in³
L-head
A flathead engine, also known as a sidevalve engine''American Rodder'', 6/94, pp.45 & 93. or valve-in-block engine is an internal combustion engine with its poppet valves contained within the engine block, instead of in the cylinder head, as ...
V8 as before. The grille became more massive in 1942, with even fewer bars and was the beginning of the traditional "egg crate" appearance that all future products adopted. Parking lights became round and fog light sockets became rectangular and were included in the grille area. A bullet shape appeared on the tops of the bumper guards. Fenders were rounded and longer. Front fenders extended into the front doors.
The new fenders had heavy moldings along the sides. A new fresh air ventilating system with air ducts leading from the grille replaced cowl ventilators at the base of the windshield. Handbrake control was changed from lever to tee-shaped pull handle. Radiator shutter control of engine temperature was replaced by a blocking type thermostat in the water return fitting in the radiator.
File:1947 Cadillac Series 61 at the SPECIAAL Auto Evenement Nijkerk 2011, pic3.JPG, 1947 Cadillac Series 61
File:Cadillac Series 61 Heck.jpg, 1947 Cadillac Series 61 convertible rear
1948–1951
The formerly-smaller Series 61 was moved to the
Series 62's General Motors
C-Body platform, making them very similar. Major design changes marked the C-bodied Cadillacs for 1948. They featured General Motors first all-new postwar body with styling advances including tailfins inspired by the
Lockheed P-38 fighter plane. There was also an attractive eggcrate grille, which was higher in the middle than on the sides. The front of the car was protected by a heavier and more massive bumper bar that curved around the fenders. The Cadillac crest was centered low in a "V" above the radiator grille. Chrome headlamp rims were used. Cars in the 61 series lacked bright metal front fender shields and under-taillight trim. A new dashboard with "rainbow" style instrument cluster and leather grained panels extending to the carpets was seen only this year.
The big news at Cadillac in 1949 centered on engineering, with the release of a new overhead valve V8 engine. This 331 in³ engine produced 160 hp (119 kW). Only minor appearance changes were seen. They included a more massive grille treatment with grooved extension panels housing the front parking lights and chevron slashes below the taillamps on the coupes. Once again the cars in this line lacked front fender gravel shields and rocker panel moldings and had plainer interior trim. A larger luggage compartment lid was seen on all sedans except early production units. Standard equipment now included twin back-up lamps mounted on the deck lid latch panel.
Cadillacs had extensive styling changes in 1950, as its appearance is similar to cross-town rival
Chrysler Imperial and the
Chrysler New Yorker initially in 1949, and less so with yearly appearance changes. They looked generally heavier and had low sleek contours with longer rear decks, more sweeping front fenders and a broken rear fender line. The hood protruded more at front and was underlined by a more massive eggcrate grille. Round parking lights were used, but as in the past, when buyers chose fog lamps an additional bulb and larger housing were used. This setup combined the fog lamps and the directional signals. One piece windshields were introduced and the leading edge of the rear fenders which had a broken-off look, was highlighted by chrome imitation air slots. The rear fenders were longer and ended in a swooping tailfin design. The Cadillac script again appeared on the sides of the front fenders, but was now positioned closer to the front door opening gap. As far as Series 61 models went a big styling change was a return to marketing this line on the shorter wheelbase B-body than used on the Series 62. This led to some styling differences. For example, the Series 61 Sedan had no rear window ventipanes and featured a rear wraparound backlight. An identifying feature on both models was the absence of rocker panel moldings and rear quarter panel chrome underscores. The Series 61 was 4 inches shorter than in the previous season.
A minor face lift and small trim variations were the main Cadillac styling news in 1951. Miniature eggcrate grilles were set into the outboard grille extension panels below the headlights. Larger, bullet shaped bumper guards were used. The features list included handbrake, warning lamp; key start ignition; steering column cover; Delco-Remy generator; knee-action front suspension; directionals; mechanical fuel pump; dual downdraft carburetor; slipper-type pistons; rubber engine mounts; oversize brakes; Super Cushion tires; one-piece windshield; intake silencer; 160-hp engine; oil bath air cleaner; equalized manifolding; automatic choke and luxury appointments. On the dashboard "idiot lights" were used to monitor oil pressure and electrical charge rate instead of gauges. The smaller body was once again used on the 61s and again identified by the lack of chrome underscores. However a new medallion appeared on the rear roof pillar of the Series 61, above the upper beltline molding.
Racing
In 1950,
Briggs Cunningham
Briggs Swift Cunningham II (January 19, 1907 – July 2, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and sportsman. He is best known for skippering the yacht ''Columbia'' to victory in the 1958 America's Cup race, and for his efforts as a driver, team o ...
and his team brought 2 Series 61 DeVilles to the
1950 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 18th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 24 and 25 June 1950. It was won by the French father-and-son pairing of Louis and Jean-Louis Rosier driving a privately entered Talbot-Lago.
Regulations
The re ...
. One of the cars, dubbed "LeMonstre", was modified for racing. The other was essentially stock with some minor modifications. The stock coupe finished 10th overall while the modified car finished 11th because Cunningham got stuck in the sand for 30 minutes.
Film use
A 1939
convertible
A convertible or cabriolet () is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary among eras and manufacturers.
A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving expe ...
Cadillac Series 61 was used in the
''Batman'' film serial of 1943 to represent the
Batmobile
The Batmobile is the fictional car driven by the superhero Batman. Housed in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is both a heavily armored tactical assault vehicle and a personalized custom-built pursuit and ...
.
References
{{Cadillac timeline
61
Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States
Cars introduced in 1939