1940 Cadillac Series 75

Cadillac introduced the Series 75 in 1936 and it served as the top-of-the-line V-8 model, positioned above the Series 60 line. Both Fisher and Fleetwood bodies were offered, with only Fleetwood bodies being offered from 1938 onwards.

The 1940 model year was the final year of the true pre-war design and marked a turning point for Cadillac. Strongly influenced by Bill Mitchell's Series 60 Special of 1938, the V-8 models wore less chrome, low-set headlamps, and modern pontoon fenders. The grille received slight revisions that included fewer bars of more substantial design and the introduction of a pair of louver bars on the side panels of the hood. The styling was modern, continuing the company's 'projectile' or 'torpedo' body styling of the previous year.

Standard equipment included sealed beam headlights and turning indicators; running boards were offered as no-cost options, and the engine inlet manifold was set at a five-degree angle to give a more balanced fuel supply and to cancel its rearward tilt. This was also the final year of the V-16 models which shared its Fleetwood bodies with the top-of-the-line eight-cylinder series, the 75. After the V-16 was discontinued, it was no longer feasible to continue the wide range of bodies.

The Series 75 was powered by an overhead valve V-8 engine with a 346 cubic-inch displacement and offered 140 horsepower. They had a three-speed synchromesh manual transmission, independent coil-spring front suspension, Hotchkiss semi-floating rear axle, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

Both the Series 75 and the Series 90 rested on a 141-inch wheelbase platform, with the Series 90 employing a V16 engine. Both the V-8 powered Series 75 and its larger Series 90 had the same catalog of Fleetwood bodies, including a convertible and convertible sedan, 5- and 7-passenger sedan, 5- and 7-passenger Imperial sedan, 5- and 7-passenger Formal Sedan, 2- and 5-passenger coupe, town car, and town sedan. Prices of the Series 75 ranged from $2,995 to $5,115, while the Series 90 listed at $5,140 to $7,175. Cadillac produced 956 examples of the Series 75 in 1940 and 61 examples of the Series 90.

1940 was the final year for the sixteen-cylinder Series 90. The Series 75 became the top-of-the-line model in 1941 and continued into 1942. Civilian automobile production was halted in support of the war effort, and when peacetime resumed, Cadillac's lineup included the Series 61, Series 62, Series 60 Special Fleetwood, and the Series 75 Fleetwood. The Series 61 rested on a 126-inch wheelbase platform, the Series 62 on a 129-inch platform, the Series 60S measuring 133 inches, and the range-topping Series 75 on a 136-inch wheelbase. Its body panels were unique and not shared with other General Motors divisions. Production was exclusive with fewer than 2,000 examples built in 1946 with the majority of the body styles being commercial chassis and seven-passenger sedans. Series 75 produced continued uninterrupted through 1976, it then lay dormant until 1985. Production of the long-wheelbase Series 75 ended in 1987.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019