Cadillac Series 60
Overview
ManufacturerCadillac (General Motors)
Model years1936–1938
AssemblyDetroit Assembly, Detroit, Michigan
Body and chassis
ClassFullsize luxury car
Body style2-door club coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door convertible
LayoutFR layout
PlatformB-body
RelatedBuick Century
Buick Special
Cadillac Series 65
LaSalle Series 50
Oldsmobile L-Series
Powertrain
Engine322 cu in L-head
346 cu in L-head
Transmission3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase121.0 in (3,073 mm)
124.0 in (3,150 mm)
Length204.3 in (5,189 mm)[1]
Chronology
SuccessorCadillac Series 61

The Cadillac Series 36-60 was Cadillac's entry-level product in the luxury vehicle market when it appeared in 1936, competing with the entry-level Packard Six. Each model year added the year prefix to the series (37-60 and 38-60) in the number hierarchy used at the time. It was replaced by the Series 39-61 in 1939, but a model that was derived from it, the Sixty Special or 60S, continued off and on through 1993.

The Series 60 was the brainchild of new Cadillac manager, Nicholas Dreystadt. Debuting in 1936, it filled a gaping price gap between the updated appearance of the successful LaSalles of which the Series 60 was the upgraded version with the "Cadillac" name, and the Series 36-70 Cadillac models. Initially it rode on a 121.0 in (3,073 mm) wheelbase and shared the B body with cars from LaSalle, Buick, and Oldsmobile. This went up to 124.0 in (3,150 mm) in 1937–1938.[1]

The exterior featured a new Harley Earl–designed look with a tall, slender grille and split vee-shaped windshield. This body used Fisher Body's new Turret Top one-piece roof and Bendix dual-servo brakes. "Knee-Action" independent suspension, first introduced by Cadillac in 1934, was a welcome novelty for the mid-price market at the time.[2]

Under the hood was the new (less expensive) Monobloc V8. This 322 cu in (5.3 L) engine produced 125 hp (93 kW), just 10 less than that in the larger Cadillacs. The Series 60 immediately became the company's best-selling model, making up half of all Cadillacs sold the first year.[1]

The next year, displacement on all Monobloc Cadillacs was 346 cu in (5.7 L). This new engine produced 135 hp (101 kW), more than all V8 Cadillacs of just a few years earlier. The Series 60 was upgraded to the Series 61.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kimes, Beverly (1996). standard catalog of American Cars 1805-1942. Krause publications. pp. 201–245. ISBN 0-87341-478-0.
  2. ↑ "Knee-Action Front Wheels" GM ad Popular Science Monthly, March 1934, first introduced on Pontiac automobiles with the Straight-Eight engine
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cadillac Series 60.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.