Cadillac history 1933

1933 CADILLAC

Despite tough times, Cadillac fielded an extensively revamped lineup of V-8s, V-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.

355-C Eight cylinder

In the 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

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

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	4825 lb
33-8-178	2-door	Coupe	2/4	$2695	4855 lb

Fisher 140" wheelbase
Job Number	Doors	Style	Seating	Price	Weight
33-8-252	4-door	Sedan	5	$2995	5060 lb
33-8-256	4-door	Phaeton	5	$2895	4865 lb
33-8-259	4-door	Sedan	5	$2895	5000 lb
33-8-262	4-door	Sedan	7	$3045	5105 lb
33-8-263	4-door	Imperial Sedan	7	$3195	5140 lb
33-8-272	2-door	Coupe	5	$2895	4850 lb
33-8-273	4-door	All Weather Phaeton	5	$3395	5110 lb

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

Ninety degree L-Head.
Eight cylinders.
Cast iron on aluminum crankcase.
Bore & Stroke: 3-5/8 x 4-15/16 in.
Displacement: 353 cu. in.
Compression ratio: 5.40:1 (std); 5.70:1 (opt)
Brake horsepower: 115 @ 3000 rpm
SAE/Taxable horsepower: 36.45.
Main bearings: Three.
Valve lifters: Mechanical.
Carburetor: Cadillac-Johnson.

CHASSIS

Wheelbase: 134, 140 in. (Commercial chassis: 156 in.)
Overall Length: approx. 207-213 in.
Front Tread: 59-7/8 in.
Rear Tread: 61 in.
Tires: 7.00 x 17.

TECHNICAL

Selective, synchro transmission.
Speeds: 3 Forward l Reverse.
Controls: Left hand drive, Center control (Right hand drive optional).
Twin disc clutch.
Shaft drive
torque tube
3/4 floating rear axle
spiral bevel drive.
Overall ratio: 4.36:1, 4.60:1.
Mechanical brakes on four wheels with vacuum assist.
15" drums.
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

Introduced January, 1933.
Innovations: Fisher no-draft individually controlled ventilation (I.C.V.) (Vent windows).
Model year sales: 2100.
Model year production: 2100.
The president and general manager was Lawrence P. Fisher.

NEXT: History of the 1933 Cadillac 12-cylinder 370-C NEXT: History of the 1933 Cadillac 16-cylinder 452-C NEXT: History of the 1934 Cadillac

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May 11, 2000; March 8/03