1930 Cadillac history

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1930 Cadillac

The story of the 1930 Cadillac has to be divided into two sections: the 1930 series 353 eight cylinder model and the 1930-31 series 452 and 452-A V-16.

The Cadillac series 353 eight cylinder was an extension of the series 341-B of 1929 with a few changes. The Fisher body (called "Fisher Custom") was reduced to seven closed bodies including the Convertible Coupe. The Fleetwood body (called "Fleetwood Special Custom") consolidated its offerings into eleven basic bodies with many variations.

The louvers carried well into the front of the hood. The Fleetwood Roadster had louvers in the sides of the cowl. There was a wider radiator and larger headlights (305mm lens and 330mm overall). The windshield sloped a few degrees instead of being upright. The visor was a short cadet type. A valance was featured across the rear of the car which covered the fuel tank and frame and joined with the rear fenders. The rear tread was wider and the rear cushions were made 102mm wider. Except for a few bodies, all were prewired for a radio with an aerial built into the top.

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1930 Cadillac

The chassis no longer had ball and socket spring shackles. The front tread increased from 1422mm to 1499mm. The rear tread increased from 1473mm to 1511mm. The third rear shoe for emergency was dropped. Instead, a lever operated the rear service brake shoes. The exhaust tail pipe end was fan shaped. Demountable wood wheels were offered as an extra cost option. All cars had a 3/4 floating rear axle.

The bore of the engine was increased 1.6mm. A reduction type starter was also used. The fan was lubricated by the engine oil return pressure. A cover was installed over the spark plugs. A new distributor had wires coming out the rear into a single conduit.

There were no serial numbers on the 1930 Cadillac Series 353. Engine numbers were stamped on the crankcase just below the water inlet on the right hand side. The starting number was 500001 and ended 511005.

STYLE

Fleetwood Built-to-order
Style	Body	Type	Passengers	Price	Weight
3350	-	Transformable All Weather Phaeton 152" wheelbase	7	$-	-
3902	2-dr.	Roadster	2	$3450	2102 kg
3912	4-dr.	Transformable Town Cabriolet	5/7	$4995	2377 kg
3912-C	4-dr.	Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet	5/7	$5745	-
3920	4-dr.	Town Cabriolet (quarter window)	7	$5145	341 kg
3920-C	4-dr.	Collapsible Town Cabriolet (quarter window)	7	$5945	-
3925	4-dr.	Transformable Town Cabriolet (no quarter window)	7	$5145	2341 kg
3925-C	4-dr.	Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet (no quarter window)	7	$5895	-
3930	4-dr.	Imperial	5	$4395	2373 kg
3930-S	4-dr.	Sedan	5	$4195	2341 kg
3930-C	4-dr.	Collapsible Imperial	5	$5195	-
3930-SC	4-dr.	Collapsible Sedan	5	$4995	-
3950	-	Town Car with Full Collapsible Top	7	$-	-
3955	4-dr.	Imperial Cabriolet	5	$4445	2336 kg
3955-S	4-dr.	Sedan Cabriolet	5	$4245	2364 kg
3955-C	4-dr.	Collapsible Imperial Cabriolet	5	$5195	-
3955-SC	4-dr.	Collapsible Sedan Cabriolet	5	$4995	-
3975	4-dr.	Imperial	7	$4595	2418 kg
3975-S	4-dr.	Sedan	7	$4275	2400 kg
3975-C	4-dr.	Collapsible Imperial	7	$5395	-
3975-SC	4-dr.	Collapsible Sedan	7	$5095	-
3975-P	4-dr.	Imperial (plain hood)	7	$4845	-
3980	4-dr.	All Weather Phaeton	5	$4700	2268 kg
3981	4-dr.	Sedanette Cabriolet	5	$4500	2305 kg
3982	4-dr.	Sedanette	5	$4595	2305 kg
3991	4-dr.	Transformable Limousine Brougham	7	$5145	2418 kg
3991-C	4-dr.	Collapsible Transformable Limousine Brougham	7	$5945	-
4150	4-dr.	Full Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet	-	$-	-
4157	4-dr.	Touring	7	$-	-
4160	4-dr.	Sport Phaeton	5	$-	-
4160-A	4-dr.	Sport Phaeton	5	$-	-
4160-B	4-dr.	Sport Phaeton	5	$-	-
4161	4-dr.	Sedan or Imperial Sport Cab	5	$-	-
4164	4-dr.	Transformable Brougham	5	$-	-
4164-B	4-dr.	Transformable Brougham with cane work	5	$-	-
4176	2-dr.	Sport Sta. or Convertible Coupe	2	$-	-
4185	2-dr.	All Weather Coupe	4	$-	-

ENGINE

CHASSIS

Item	Series 353	Commercial
Wheelbase	3556mm	3861mm
Length	5349mm
Front Tread	1499mm	1499mm
Rear Tread	1511mm	1511mm
Tires	7.00-19	7.00-19

DRIVETRAIN

OPTIONS

HISTORICAL NOTES

1930 Cadillac Notes

The V-8 was introduced September, 1929.
The V-16 was introduced January 1930
Innovations: Radio available.
Most bodies prewired for radio, with aerial built into top.
Engines have automatic hydraulic tappet clearance adjustment to reduce maintenance.
Model year sales for V-8s: 11,005.
Model year production of V-16: 3250
Although a token number (approximately one percent) of the V-16 chassis were sold to domestic and foreign coachbuilders, all body styles advertised by Cadillac were "Catalog Customs" by Fleetwood. The customer was able to order limited variations in the "Catalog Customs" or order a full-custom creation.
It is remarkable that Fleetwood was able to turn out four to five hundred bodies per month at a time when activities at the Pennsylvania shop were being phased out and "production" at a new location in Detroit was being set up.
Through the Fall of 1930, dealers were required to furnish the factory with weekly and monthly owner reaction and service reports on each V-16 delivered.
Lawrence P. Fisher was president
Ernest W. Seaholm was chief engineer
H. M. Stephens was general sales manager until September
J. C. Chick was general sales manager from September

1930 Automotive Notes

Industry production dropped over a million to 2,910,187 cars and 599,991 trucks
Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was president of GM
Lammot du Pont was chairman of the board at GM
GM cars have a tilted windshield
Oakland stops using a 6-cylinder in favor of an unreliable V-8
Studebaker begins using "free-wheeling"
American Austin Car Company builds British Austins
Cadillac, LaSalle, Chrysler, Dodge, Marmon, and Roosevelt cars are wired for radio installation
Chrysler reduces the amount of wood in its frames
Harry C. Stutz (1876-1930) dies
Lionel M. Woolson (1888-1930) dies (Designer of the Packard Diesel Engine)
Nash introduces a Twin-Ignition Eight
Top model year production for 1930

Fisher Custom
Style	Body	Type	Passengers	Price	Weight
30152	4-dr.	Town Sedan	5	$3495	2291 kg
30158	2-dr.	Coupe	2/4	$3295	2252 kg
30159	4-dr.	Sedan	5	$3695	2305 kg
30162	4-dr.	Sedan	7	$3795	2350 kg
30163	4-dr.	Imperial	7	$3995	2368 kg
30168	2-dr.	Convertible Coupe	2/4	$3595	2209 kg
30172	2-dr.	Coupe	5	$3595	2248 kg

Engine Type	Ninety degree V-8. L-Head. Cast iron on silicon / aluminum crankcase.
Bore and Stroke	85.7mm x 125.4mm
Displacement	5.793 Liters
Compression ratio	5.05:1 std (4.91:1 opt)
Brake HP	96 @ 3000 RPM SAE
Taxable HP	36.45
Main bearings	Three.
Valve lifters	Mechanical, with rollers riding on cams
Carburetor	manufactured by Cadillac under C. F. Johnson patents.

Transmission	Selective synchro-mesh transmission.
Speeds	3 Forward and 1 Reverse
Controls	Left drive, center control (right hand drive optional)
Clutch	Twin disc clutch
Drive	Shaft drive (torque tube)
Axle	3/4 floating rear axle spiral bevel gears
Overall ratio	5.08:1 std; 4.39:1; 4.75:1 opt. (4.75 made standard in midyear)
Brakes	Safety-mechanical brakes on four wheels (16.5 in. drums)
Wheels	Wood artillery wheels (disc, wire, wood demountable opt)
Wheel size	19 in.

Tire cover(s)	$6.50 - $30.00
Wind wings	$25.00 - $55.00
Tonneau Shield	$185.00
Radio	$175.00
Heater	$42.50
Radiator ornament	$25.00
Trunks	$80-115
Seat covers	$26.75 - 230.25
Spotlight / driving light	$15.50 - 80.00
Tire mirrors	$32.00/pair
5 Wire wheels	$70.00
6 Wire wheels with fender wells, trunk rack	$210.00
5 Demountable wood wheels	$50.00
6 Demountable wood wheels with fender wells, trunk rack	$190.00
5 Disc wheels	$50.00
6 Disc wheels with fender wells, trunk rack	$190.00

STYLE

STYLE

ENGINE

CHASSIS

DRIVETRAIN

OPTIONS

HISTORICAL NOTES

LITERATURE & LINKS