Cadillac Models & History 1928

SERIES 341-A

1928 Cadillac V8 Town Sedan owned by Al Capone

 

Body

  • General Motors now owned 100% of Fisher and had purchased Fleetwood and made it a division of Fisher.
  • Practically all of Fleetwood’s output was now on Cadillac/LaSalle chassis, and most Cadillac/LaSalle catalog or full customs were by Fleetwood.
  • By using several variations and combinations of treatment above the belt line on a few basic body shells, Fleetwood was able to satisfy most customers’ special desires and still offer short delivery (3-7 weeks).
  • For the few who wanted something truly unique, Fleetwood produced full customs to order (4 months delivery).
  • The Fisher and Fisher “Custom” lines were merged.
  • The Victoria was dropped.
  • The two door Brougham was replaced by the four door Town Sedan.
  • Funeral Coaches, Ambulances, and a combination of the two were offered on the new 3861mm wheelbase chassis; bodies by Superior.
  • All passenger car bodies were on a 3556mm chassis.
  • The longer wheelbase and underslung rear springs allowed for long, low-slung body lines.
  • The deep, narrow, cellular radiator slung low in the frame and the slatted metal cover sweeping down over the fuel tank contributed to this effect, but the kick panels under the doors detracted somewhat.
  • Massive 300mm bullet type headlights were mounted on a crossbar between the fenders.
  • A monogram rod was attached between the headlights and nickeled wire-conduit stanchions were placed between headlights and frame.
  • Matching sidelights were mounted on the cowl.
  • Dual ball-shaped rear lights were fender mounted.
  • The top of the hood and radiator shell were flattened and thirty narrow louvers were set toward the rear of the side panels.
  • Dual ventilator doors were in the top of the cowl on open cars and in the sides on closed cars.
  • The wind split on the lights was also featured in panels and moldings on the hood and cowl.
  • An extra wide single belt molding blended into the cowl and hood, as well as the pillars.
  • The monogram panel on four door open bodies was back to rear-doors-only.
  • Fleetwood bodies featured a molding sweeping down and forward on the sides of the cowl, except on the transformables, which had a bold molding sweeping up the cowl and forward across the top of the hood.
  • Other body details included 89mm wider rear compartment (rear tread had been increased by 51mm), adjustable front seats on all but Imperials, and bumpers as standard equipment on all cars.

Chassis

1928 Cadillac Victoria

  • Front brake drums increased from 406mm to 432mm in midyear.
  • Rear springs under-slung.
  • Fuel tank filler neck extended outside frame side rail.
  • Hydraulic shock absorbers.
  • Rear tread increased to 1473mm

Drive line:

  • New twin disc clutch, cast iron transmission housing, torque tube drive.

Engine

1928 Cadillac 314
Victoria Coupe

  • New bore and stroke dimensions of 84mm x 125mm were the first change for the Cadillac V-8 since the Type 51.
  • The transition which had started with the final version of the Series 314 engine was now complete; the 341 Cadillac engine and the 303 LaSalle engine were practically identical in configuration.
  • The 341 now had offset blocks, side by side connecting rods, single exhaust system, horizontal starter along right side of transmission, oil filter mounted on engine, oil level indicator behind right hand block, manifold vacuum plus vacuum pump operating fuel feed system and windshield wipers.
  • Aside from differences due to displacement and power, the only noticeable difference was the enameled heat deflector over the Cadillac carburetor.

I.D. DATA

1928 Cadillac Sport Phaeton

  • There were no serial numbers used.
  • Engine numbers were stamped on plate on front of dash and on crankcase just below the water inlet on the right side.
  • Starting: 300001. Ending: 320001.

STYLE

Fisher — 140 in. (3556mm) wheelbase
Style No. Doors Body Type Seating Price Weight
1173 2-dr. Roadster 2/4P $3350 2086 kg
1171 4-dr. Touring 7P $3450 2105 kg
1172 4-dr. Phaeton 4P $3450 2109 kg
1172-B 4-dr. Sport Phaeton 4P $3950 2339 kg
7920 2-dr. Coupe 2/4P $3295 2191 kg
7980 2-dr. Convertible Coupe 2/4P $3495 2120 kg
7970 2-dr. Coupe 5P $3495 2164 kg
7950 4-dr. Sedan 5P $3595 2218 kg
7960 4-dr. Town Sedan 5P $3395 2216 kg
7960-L 4-dr. Town Sedan 5P $3395 2216 kg
7930 4-dr. Sedan 7P $3695 2257 kg
7990 4-dr. Imperial Sedan 5P $3745 2239 kg
7990-L 4-dr. Imperial Cabriolet 5P $3745 2239 kg
7940 4-dr. Imperial Sedan 7P $3895 2284 kg
7940-L 4-dr. Imperial Cabriolet 7P $3895 2284 kg
Semi-Commercial — 152 in. (3861mm) wheelbase:
Style No. Doors Body Type Seating Price Weight
NA Limousine Funeral Coach
NA Limousine Ambulance
Fleetwood — 140 in. (3556mm) wheelbase
Style No. Doors Body Type Seating Price Weight
8020 4-dr. Sedan 5P $4095 2327 kg
8020-L 4-dr. Sedan (leather back) 5P
8030 4-dr. Imperial Sedan 5/7P $4245 2311 kg
8030-L 4-dr. Imperial Sedan (leather back) 5/7P
8025 4-dr. Sedan Cabriolet 5P $4095 2327 kg
8035 4-dr. Imperial Sedan Cabriolet 5/7P $4245 2311 kg
8045 4-dr. Sedan Cabriolet 6P $4095 2327 kg
8045-C 4-dr. Collapsible Landau 5P $4795
8055 4-dr. Imperial Sedan Cabriolet 5/7P $4245 2311 kg
8000 4-dr. Sedan 7P $4195 2291 kg
8000-L 4-dr. Sedan (leather back) 7P
8010 4-dr. Imperial 7P $4445 2355 kg
8010-L 4-dr. Imperial (leather back) 7P
8005 4-dr. Sedan Cabriolet 7P $4195 2291 kg
8015 4-dr. Imperial Cabriolet 7P $4445 2355 kg
3525 4-dr. Trans. Town Cabriolet 7P $5500 2355 kg
3525-C 4-dr. Touring Town Collapsible Landeau 7P $6200
3512 4-dr. Trans. Town Cabriolet 5/7P $5000 2355 kg
3512-C 4-dr. Touring Town Collapsible Landeau $5700
3520 4-dr. Trans. Town Cabriolet 7P $5500 2355 kg
3520-C 4-dr. Touring Town Collapsible Cabriolet 7P $6200
3591 4-dr. Touring Limousine Brougham 7P $5500 2355 kg
3591-C 4-dr. Touring Collapsible Limousine Brougham. 7P
3550 Full Collapsible Cabriolet (on order)
3550-C (Town Car with full collapsible top) 7P

Note: The following body styles are listed as Fleetwood 341, 341-A, 341-B, but are unconfirmed. All are on 3556 mm wheelbase except as noted. Included must be full customs and one-off variations of catalog customs.

1928/1929 CADILLAC
SERIES 342-A, 341-B
Style No. Body Type Seating
3015 Limousine 138″ wheelbase 7
3097 Limousine 5
3133 All Weather Touring 5
3135 Special Town Cabriolet
3144 Sedan 132″ wheelbase 4
3174 Sport Cabriolet 5
3185 Sedan 7
3199 Coupe 2
3208 Imperial Cabriolet 152″ wheelbase 5
3238 Club Cabriolet 5
3274 Sport Cabriolet Sedan 5
3300 Convertible Cabriolet 7
3360 Sedan 5
3360-S Imperial 5
3361 Sedan 5
3361-S Imperial 5
3375 Sedan 7
3375-S Imperial 7
3376 Sedan 7
3412 Town Car 152″ wheelbase 7
3435 Town Car 152″ wheelbase 7
3475 Limousine 7
3512-P Town Car 5
3512-C-P Town Car 5
3515 Limousine 7
3520-P Town Car 5
3520-C-P Town Car 7
3525-P Town Car 7
3525-C-P Town Car 7
3591-P Town Car 7
3591-C-P Town Car 7
3885 Convertible Sedan
3891 Imperial Sedan 7

ENGINE

Engine type Ninety degree V-8, L-head. Eight. Cast Iron block on Copper/Aluminum crankcase
Bore and Stroke 84.1mm3-5/16 x 125.4mm
Displacement 5.581 Liters
Compression ratio 4.8:1 std., 5.3:1 opt.
SAE/Taxable/N.A.C.C. H.P. 35.1
Main bearings Three
Valve lifters Mechanical, with rollers riding on cams
Carburetor Mfg by Cadillac under C. F. Johnson patents.
Compression 90-92 PSI @ 1000 R.P.M., 105-107 PSI @ 1000 RPM with hi-compression heads

CHASSIS

Series 341-A Series 341-A Comm Chassis
Wheelbase 3556mm 3861mm
Overall Length 5417mm
Front Tread 1422mm 1422mm
Rear Tread 1473mm 1473mm
Tires 32 x 6.75 (7.00-20) 32 x 6.75 (7.00-20)

DRIVETRAIN

Transmission Selective transmission
Speeds 3 Forward, 1 Reverse
Controls Left hand drive, center control (rhd opt)
Clutch Twin disc clutch
Drive Shaft drive (torque tube)
Axle Full floating rear axle, Spiral bevel drive
Overall ratio 4.75:1 std; 4.39:1, 5.08:1 opt.
Brakes Mechanical brakes on four wheels 16″ rear drums, 16″ front drums (17″ front mid-year)
Wheels Artillery wheels (wire and disc opt)
Wheel size 20 in.

OPTIONS

Folding trunk rack $25.00
Step plate $3.25 ea.
Tire mirrors $30.00
Wind wings $15.00-30.00
Trunks $65.00-100.00
Herald ornament $12.00
Seat covers, Spotlight $35.00
Tire covers $10.00
Tonneau windshield $120.00
Natural wood wheels $10.00 extra
5 disc wheels $20.00
6 disc wheels, fender wells, 2 spares $175.00
5 wire wheels $95.00
6 wire wheels, fender wells, 2 spares $250
Fender wells for wood wheels, 2 spares $140.00

HISTORICAL NOTES

1928 Cadillac Model 341

1928 Cadillac Notes

  • Introduced: September, 1927.
  • Cadillac introduces synchromesh transmission
  • Cadillac features safety glass all around
  • Model year sales: 20001.
  • Model year production: 20001.
  • Lawrence P. Fisher was president
  • Ernest W. Seaholm was chief engineer
  • H. M. Stephens was general sales manager

1928 Automotive Notes

  • Industry production increases to 3,775,417 cars and 583,342 trucks
  • Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was president of GM
  • Pierre S. du Pont was chairman of the board at GM
  • The new Ford Model A has conventional 3-speed gearbox, 40 bhp, L-head 4-cyl, 4-wheel brakes, shatterproof glass
  • Chrysler Corporation introduces the Plymouth and DeSoto
  • Chrysler Corporation absorbs Dodge Brothers and put K. T. Keller as president of Dodge
  • Car radios becoming more common
  • Studebaker controls Pierce-Arrow
  • Studebaker replaces the vacuum fuel tank with a mechanical fuel pump
  • James Ward Packard dies
  • Top model year production for 1928
Chevrolet745,390
Ford607,592
Chrysler Corp360,399
Willys-Overland/Whippet315,000
Hudson/Essex282,203
Pontiac/Oakland244,584
Buick221,758
Chrysler160,670
Nash138,137
Cadillac/LaSalle41,172