1937 Cadillac Series 85

1937 was the final year for Cadillac's smooth, quiet, and powerful V12 engine. It was a record-breaking year for Cadillac with 46,152 vehicles sold, making it the second year in a row that the company doubled the previous year's total sales. While Cadillac's competition was being eradicated by the Depression, Cadillac managed to not only stay afloat, but to thrive, and come out of it arguably stronger than they had been entering it.

In 1930, Cadillac introduced the Owen Nacker-designed V16 engine endowed with several unique innovations including a 45-degree cylinder angle and overhead valve design that allowed for the engine to be more compact. The hydraulic valve system Nacker developed gave the car a nearly silent smooth ride and allowed for more efficient engine performance. It received a new chassis and unique Fleetwood coachwork with completely concealed mechanicals and wiring, resulting in a more stylish appearance. Smaller, more scaled-down, and less expensive V8 and V12 models. They offered similar styling and amenities as the V16 model but at a reduced price.

The 1937 Cadillac model lineup was offered in seven different series of cars ranging in price from $1,000 to over $9,000 and included V8, V12, and V16 engine options. The styling was new, highlighted by a die-cast egg-crate grille, large pontoon front fenders, and new front bumpers with the Cadillac crest in the center. The 1937 Cadillacs could be optioned with the side mount spares, and the hood vents were nearly hidden giving the long hood a modern and straightforward appearance. Both the V8-powered series 75 and V12 series 85 were built on the same 138-inch wheelbase, aside from the insignia on the grill and trunk, the two series were virtually indistinguishable, clad in their Fleetwood bodies. The previous Series 80 with its 131-inch wheelbase was no longer offered. The pressure radiator cap and the oil bath air cleaner were also new to the Series 85 line.

The Cadillac Series 60 had a 124-inch wheelbase, the Series 65 had a 131-inch wheelbase, and the Series 75 rested on a 138-inch wheelbase. All three had Fisher coachwork, the Series 75 also offered a line of Fleetwood bodies. The Series 70 had Fleetwood coachwork and rested on a 131-inch wheelbase. All were powered by an eight-cylinder engine that had a 346 cubic-inch displacement and developed 135 horsepower at 3,400 RPM.

The Series 85 was powered by a twelve-cylinder engine with overhead valves, a 368 cubic-inch displacement, four main bearings, a Dual Detroit Lubricator carburetor, mechanical valve lifters with a hydraulic silencer on the rocker bushings, a standard 6.0:1 compression ratio, and 150 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. It used a three-speed selective, synchromesh transmission with a single disc clutch and hydraulic brakes on all four wheels. Both 'civilian' and commercial body styles were built on the 138-inch wheelbase with a length of 215 inches. Prices ranged from the high-$3000s to $5,250 - or higher depending on the coachwork. The 'civilian' bodies had seating for five to seven passengers while the business cars had seating for eight.

The sixteen-cylinder Cadillac would survive a few more years, ending in 1940. The start of the 1941 Cadillac model year marked the first time since 1926 that all Cadillac models were powered by the same engine.

Although the Twelve and Sixteen-cylinder engines did not enjoy the same longevity as the eight-cylinder unit, they were instrumental in raising the prestige of the Cadillac nameplate to a level unattainable by all other companies. The Great Depression had been detrimental, but those companies who tried to match Cadillac's development pace only quickened their demise. The few companies that emerged from the Great Depression had moved downmarket, catering to a wider audience of buyers, and would eventually relinquish their share of the market entirely to Cadillac.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2021