Cadillac Models & History 1933

Despitetough times, Cadillac fielded an extensively revamped lineup of V-8sV-12s, and V-16s for 1933. Most notably, the boxy look of the Twenties began to give way to the streamlined look of the Thirties. Featured were fully skirted, flowing fenders and a graceful “windsplit” veed grille, which boasted a painted shell that blended in smoothly with the bodywork.

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1933 Cadillac V-16 Victoria Cabriolet

355-C EIGHT CYLINDER

 

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1933 Cadillac V-16 Victoria Cabriolet

Inthe mid twenties, Cadillac broke with functional body design and began a period of “stylish functional.”

  • The 1933 “C” cars ushered in the period of styling/streamlining for its own sake.
  • A face lift, simple in execution but startling in effect, transformed the “B” cars and started the concept of selling cars on the basis of styling features and selling replacement cars on the basis of changes in style.
  • Bumpers were sectioned, with plain ends and a three-bar center.
  • The grill was made Vee-shaped and blended into the painted (chrome optional) radiator shell.
  • The radiator filler cap disappeared under the hood on the right side (same side as the oil level gauge).
  • The fender tie-bar, after a year’s absence, was sectioned and the center section hidden behind the grill.
  • Six horizontal doors replaced the vertical hood doors.
  • Skirts (valences) were added to front and rear fenders.
  • The most significant change in body detail was the introduction of no-draft Individually Controlled Ventilation (I.C.V.) or pivoting vent windows in the front doors and rear quarter or rear door windows.
  • 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.
  • In later production, the sealing channel was attached to the door frame rather than the window glass so that the vent window could be operated independently of the window glass.
  • Windshield and rear quarter windows were made stationary.
  • Absence of windshield operating mechanism on closed cars allowed room to conceal wiper motor behind the headboard.
  • The cowl ventilator was baffled and drained in such a way as to be rainproof.
  • Chassis changes were few and of minor nature.
  • Controlled free wheeling was discontinued.
  • Vacuum assist was added to the V-8 brake system.
  • Changes in shock absorber valves extended the range of the ride control system.
  • At engine unit number 30-3607; the dual point, four lobe distributer was replaced by a single point, eight lobe unit.

I. D. DATA

 

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1933 Cadillac 355C four-door sedan

  • Serial numbers were not used.
  • Engine numbers were stamped on crankcase near the water inlet on the right hand side.
  • Starting: 3000001.
  • Ending: 3002100.

STYLE

Fisher 134″ wheelbase
Job Number Doors Style Seating Price Weight
33-8-155 2-door Roadster 2/4 $2795
33-8-168 2-door Convertible Coupe 2/4 $2845 2193 kg
33-8-178 2-door Coupe 2/4 $2695 2207 kg

STYLE

Fisher 140″ wheelbase
Job Number Doors Style Seating Price Weight
33-8-252 4-door Sedan 5 $2995 2300 kg
33-8-256 4-door Phaeton 5 $2895 2211 kg
33-8-259 4-door Sedan 5 $2895 2273 kg
33-8-262 4-door Sedan 7 $3045 2320 kg
33-8-263 4-door Imperial Sedan 7 $3195 2336 kg
33-8-272 2-door Coupe 5 $2895 2205 kg
33-8-273 4-door All Weather Phaeton 5 $3395 2323 kg

STYLE

Fleetwood 140″ wheelbase
Style Number Doors Style Seating Price Weight
5330-S 4-door Sedan 5 $3295
5375-S 4-door Sedan 7 $3445
5375 4-door Limousine 7 $3645
NA 2-door Coupe 5
5312 4-door Transformable Town Cabriolet 5/7 $3995
5391 4-door Transformable Limousine Brougham 7 $4145
5325 4-door Transformable Town Cabriolet 7 $4145
5357 4-door Transformable 7
5381 2-door Town Coupe 5
5312-C 4-door Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet 5/7
5325-C 4-door Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet 7
5375-C 4-door Collapsible Limousine 7
5375-H4 Limousine with 4″ extra headroom 7
5330-FL 4-door Imperial Cabriolet 5
5375-FL 4-door Imperial Cabriolet 7
5364 4-door Transformable Town Brougham 5
5320 4-door Transformable Town Cabriolet 7

ENGINE

Type Ninety degree L-Head.
Cylinders Eight cylinders.
Crankcase Cast iron on aluminum crankcase.
Bore & Stroke 85.7 x 125.4mm
Displacement 5.793 Liters
Compression ratio 5.40:1 (std); 5.70:1 (opt)
Brake horsepower 115 @ 3000 rpm
Power 86 kW @ 3000 rpm
SAE/Taxable horsepower 36.45
Main bearings Three.
Valve lifters Mechanical.
Carburetor Cadillac-Johnson.

CHASSIS

 

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1933 Cadillac

Wheelbase 3404mm3556mm (Commercial chassis: 3962mm)
Overall Length approx. 5258mm5410mm
Front Tread 1521mm
Rear Tread 1549mm
Tires 7.00 x 17.

DRIVETRAIN

Transmission Selective, synchro transmission.
Speeds 3 Forward l Reverse.
Controls Left hand drive, Center control (Right hand drive optional).
Clutch Twin disc clutch.
Drive Shaft drive
torque tube
axle 3/4 floating rear axle
Drive Type spiral bevel drive.
Overall ratio 4.36:1, 4.60:1
Brakes Mechanical brakes on four wheels with vacuum assist
Drums 381mm drums
Wheels Wire wheels (std.) Demountable wood (opt.)
Wheel size 17 in. Drop center.

OPTIONS

Sidemount cover(s)
Chrome wheel discs $10.00 each
Body color wheel discs $12.50 each
Standard Radio $64.50
Imperial Radio $74.50
Heater Hot air or hot water
Draft deflector for Convertible Coupe $35/pair
Luggage sets $37.00-$110.00)
Trunks with luggage $104.00-180.00
Seat Covers $10.00/seat
Mirrors
Spotlight Lorraine $24.50
Dual Pilot Ray Lights $44.50
Heron radiator ornament $20.00
Six wire wheels with fender wells.
Five demountable wood wheels.
Six demountable wood wheels with fender wells.

HISTORICAL NOTES

1933 Cadillac Notes

  • The V-8 models were introduced January, 1933.
  • The V-12 models Introduced January, 1933.
  • V-16 Introduced January, 1933.
  • Model year production of V-8: 2906.
  • Model year production of V-12: 952.
  • Model year production of V-16: 125.
  • Innovations: Fisher no-draft individually controlled ventilation (I.C.V.) (Vent windows).
  • The president and general manager was Lawrence P. Fisher.
  • Ernest W. Seaholm was chief engineer
  • J. C. Chick was general sales manager

1933 Automotive Notes

  • Industry production rises slightly to 1,627,361 cars and 358,548 trucks
  • Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was president of GM
  • Lammot du Pont was chairman of the board at GM
  • Continental is the only new automobile
  • Reo introduces a semi-automatic transmission–the “Self-Shifter”
  • Power-assisted brakes become available
  • Innovations: valve-seat inserts, independent front suspension, and reflex glass taillights
  • The first drive-in theater opens in Camden, NJ
  • Roy Chapin is president of Hudson again
  • Studebaker goes into receivership and its chairman Albert R. Erskine resigns
  • Alfred Sloan, GM president, combines Chevrolet and Pontiac manufacturing to cut costs
  • Sloan merges Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac sales division so dealers must sell all three
  • Stutz suffers financially
  • After bankruptcy, Willys-Overland introduces Model 77
  • C. L. McCuen is president of Oldsmobile
  • Harlow H. Curtice is president of Buick
  • Essex drops all models except the Terraplane
  • Top model year production for 1933
Chevrolet486,280
Master Eagle450,435
Standard Mercury35,845
Ford334,969
Plymouth298,557
Dodge106,103
Pontiac90,198
Buick46,924
Series 5027,556
Series 6012,071
Series 803,008
Series 904,269
Essex38,150
Oldsmobile36,648
Chrysler32,241
DeSoto22,736
Willys21,191
Nash14,973
Rockne13,326
Studebaker12,531
Graham10,970
Auburn8,027
Salon Eight Dual Ratio2,002
Salon Twelve Dual Ratio305
Hupmobile7,313
Packard4,803
American Austin (wb 75 in.)4,726
Reo4,112
LaSalle3,482
Cadillac3,173
355C Eight2,906
370C Twelve952
452C Sixteen125
Hudson2,852
Pierce-Arrow2,298
Lincoln1,703
Franklin1,487