Cadillac Models & History 1930

Thestory 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.

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1930 Cadillac

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

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

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

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.

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

 

1930 Cadillac Cathedral Hearse by James Cunningham Son and Co.
A very special open drive hearse originally built for Robert J. Ambruster.

DRIVETRAIN

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.

OPTIONS

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

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
Ford Model A (wb 103.5)1,140,710
Business coupe110
Cabriolet29,226
DeLuxe Coupe29,777
DeLuxe Phaeton4,635
DeLuxe roadster11,629
DeLuxe Sedan13,710
Fordor sedan7,838
Phaeton39,886
Roadster122,703
Sport coupe72,572
Standard coupe232,564
Standard sedan59,958
Town Car96
Town sedan122,534
Tudor sedan425,124
Victoria6,447
Wagon3,799
Chevrolet (wb 107 in.)640,980
AD Universal Club sedan24,888
AD Universal Coach255,027
AD Universal Coupe rumble seat9,211
AD Universal Coupe100,373
AD Universal Phaeton1,713
AD Universal Roadster5,684
AD Universal Sedan135,193
AD Universal Special sedan35,929
AD Universal Sport Coupe45,311
AD Universal Sport Roadster27,651
Buick181,743
Series 4078,131
Series 5025,414
Series 6031,191
Studebaker123,216
53 Six (wb 114)22,371
FC Dictator Eight (wb 115)16,359
FD Commander Eight (wb 120)24,639
FH President Eight (wb 125)17,527
GJ Commander Six (wb 120)16,019
GL Dictator Six (wb 115)17,561
Dodge90,755
DA Six (wb 112 in.)15,000
DB Six Senior (wb 120 in.)7,000
DC Eight (wb 114 in.)19,993
DD New Six (wb 109)29,651
Chrysler77,881
Imperial (wb 136 in.)615
Model 66 (wb 112.8 in.)12,606
Model 70 (wb 116.5 in.)18,733
Model 77 (wb 124 in.)16,688
Model C6 (wb 109 in.)28,503
Plymouth76,950
Essex68,593
Nash63,265
450 Single Six (wb 114.3 in.)33,118
480 Twin Ignition Six (wb 118 in. or 128.3 in.)17,346
490 Twin Ignition Eight (wb 124 in. or 133 in.)12,801
Pontiac62,888
Oldsmobile49,395
Export Production214
F-30 DeLuxe Six (wb 113.5)9,649
F-30 Special Six (wb 113.5)6,404
F-30 Standard Six (wb 113.5)33,128
Hudson36,674
Packard36,334
726 Eight (wb 127.5)15,731
733 Eight (wb 134.5)12,531
734 Speedster Eight (wb 134)113
740 Custom Eight (wb 140.5)6200
745 DeLuxe Eight (wb 145.5)1,789
Graham33,560
Custom Eight (wb 127 in. or 137 in.)575
Special Eight (wb 122 in. or 134 in.)2,025
Special Six (wb 115 in.)2,600
Standard Eight (wb 122 in. or 134 in.)925
Standard Six (wb 115 in.)18,000
DeSoto32,091
Model K Six (wb 109 in.)See 1931
Model CF Eight (wb 114 in.)19,525
Model CK Finer Six (wb 109 in.)7,443
Whippet30,000
Willys29,650
98B Six (wb 110 in.)7,579
8-80 Eight (wb 120 in.)1,901
87-Knight (wb 112.5 in. or 115 in.)3,627
70B-Knight (wb 112.5 in. or 115 in.)10,723
66B-Knight (wb 120)5,820
Hupmobile22,183
Oakland21,943
Cadillac17,117
353 Eight11,005
370 Twelve (1930-31)5,725
Sixteen (1930-31)3,250
Series 4100295
Series 4200326
Series 43002,547
Misc. Fisher35
Misc. Fleetwood53
Rockne16,150
LaSalle14,986
Auburn14,380
685 Six (wb 120 in)3,984
895 Eight (wb 125 in)5,738
125 Custom Eight (wb 130 in)4,658
Reo11,450
Model C Master Flying Cloud (wb 121)N/A
Model B-2 Flying Cloud (wb 115)N/A
Model 20 Flying Cloud (wb 120)2,189
Model 25 Flying Cloud (wb 124)2,128
Model 15 Flying Cloud (wb 115)1,789
American Austin (wb 75 in.)8,558
Pierce-Arrow6,795
Model A (wb 144 in.)335
Model B (wb 134 in. or 139 in.)1,338
Model C (wb 132 in.)1,082
Franklin5,744
Marmon4,681
Big Eight (wb 136)903
Model 79 (wb 120)1,122
Model 69 (wb 114)1,833
Lincoln3,212
Cord (wb 137.5 in.)1,700
Viking1,390
Stutz649