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1939 Cadillac Series 75 news, pictures, and information

Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Fleetwood
Chassis Num: 5320019
Engine Num: 3290431
Build Num: 11
 
Sold for $73,700 at 2008 RM Auctions.
In 1939, there were a mere 2069 examples of the Series 75 produced. This 1939 Cadillac V8 Convertible Coupe was the recipient of an older high-quality restoration and was originally owned by William Wrigley Jr., of the chewing gum fame and owner of the Chicago Cubs baseball team.

This car left the factory painted Trinidad Gray, color code 60, but is now painted in red-copper metallic with a tan leather interior. It has a beige canvas top that is showing some ware and beginning to fade. In the rear is a large trunk lined in black carpet. The odometer shows just 12,498 miles since new.

In 2008 it was brought to the Automobiles of Amelia presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $75,000 - $100,000. This car has bodystyle 39-7567 and is number 11 of just 27 produced in 1939. It is a very rare car with a history that includes a famous owner. The restoration has help up rather well over the years and it is very presentable in modern times. The large trunk space makes this a suitable candidate for long touring expeditions and the convertible top makes it an all-weather vehicle.

There was no reserve placed on this vehicle meaning the high bidder would become the new owner. At auction, the lot did find an interested buyer, and one who was willing to part with $73,700 including buyer's premium to own this car. The lot was sold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008
Imperial Sedan
Coachwork: Fleetwood
 
The 1939 Cadillac 75 Models were completely restyled with a V-shaped grille, more glass area and a shorter wheelbase. The Imperial sedan rode on a 141 inch wheelbase and was powered by a 346 cubic-inch V8 engine producing 135 horsepower coupled with a three-speed column mounted manual transmission.

This 'touring' sedan features a divider between the driver and passenger compartments, allowing it to be chauffer driven on formal occasions. The body (style number 7519-F) was made by GM's Fleetwood division, which only produced coachwork for the top-of-the-line Cadillacs. This car was originally sold in Montreal, Canada. It is powered by the noteworthy 'ninety Degree' L-head V8 capable of 145 bhp.

This five-passenger version is one of just 53 examples built. Though not confirmed, the DuPont family owned a car just like this and with the extremely limited production, this could be it.
Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Fleetwood
 
This rare Cadillac is the pinnacle of bold American art deco design. The stylized chrome grill, hood ornament, and interior accoutrements harkens back to a bygone era. This Fleetwood bodied convertible was one of only 27 built in 1939, with just five surviving today. Its original sale price of $3,500 ensured exclusivity. This particular car was featured in the factory's Fleetwood brochure, with its striking combination of Kingston gray over green leather. The daunting 141-inch wheelbase was shared with the V-16 models of that year.

This car was originally delivered to Seattle, WA. It was later discovered in 1990, after spending 30 years in a Vancouver auto museum. The car underwent a painstaking three-year restoration to factory specifications. The car has been regularly exercised as originally intended, completing a 2,000 mile tour across the Canadian Rockies and 1,000 mile jaunt across Europe.

The car entered into the collection of the current owners in early 2009. A sympathetic preservation was performed by Randy Kimberly, which ensures that it remains authentic and reliable for years to come.
Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Fleetwood
 
Walt Disney Company purchased this car along with a group of cars of the same year. They were for a promotion set up as a salute to the Queen Mary, which is still docked in Long Beach, California. It is one of only five left in the country and has an interesting history. Research has discovered the car was originally purchased in New York, as a special order car, for what was believed to be a front company for a mafia organization. There were only two previous owners of the car before being purchased by the current owner in 1992. The three-year complete restoration, performed by Steve Cooley Motors Inc., brought it back to original specifications up to and including the antenna under the running board.
The Cadillac Series 75 was the marque's flagship V8 from 1936 onwards, though the lower priced series easily outsold it. Production of the full-size V8 powered Cadillac's would continue from the 1930s through the 1950s. It served as a replacement for the outgoing 355-D and was introduced around the same time as the less-expensive Series 60 model. Outwardly, the Series 80, including the 85, were similar in appearance with the main difference being underhood. The Series 80/85 featured a V12 engine while the Series 70/75 had a V8. The V8 produced 135 horsepower while the V12's output was 150 hp.

In 1941, the short wheelbase Series 70 was replaced by the Series 62 and the long wheelbase Series 75 was integrated into the Fleetwood line. Cadillac would continue the '75' name until the mid 1960s.

The V8 Series 70 of the mid 1930s were powered by a Monoblock V8 engine that displaced 346 cubic-inches and produced 135 horsepower. A total of 5,248 examples were sold in 1936. There were three body-styles available for the Series 70 from 1936 through 1937 consisting of a 131-inch wheelbase for the 36-70, a 138-inch version of the 36-75 and a large 156-inch platform for the 36-75 Commercial version.

There were a wide variety of body-styles to select from and all wore badges of Cadillac's in-house coachbuilder Fleetwood. The list ranged from two-passenger coupes to seven-passenger town cars with 14 cataloged styles offered.

The Fleetwood Metal Body Company had a history that dated back to 1905 when they were formed in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. During their early years, some of their best customers were Packard, Pierce-Arrow and Cadillac. Lawrence Fisher, head of GM's Fisher Body Company and later president of Cadillac was pleased with Fleetwood's coach-building work and felt the union between the two companies was appropriate. The company was purchased by Cadillac in 1925 and the sales and design offices were moved to Detroit. Additional plants were built in Pennsylvania for body production and Fleetwood continued to accept body-requests from non-GM companies.

A Fleetwood plant was built in 1929 in Detroit, adjacent to the Fisher Body facility, and by 1931 all production had migrated to this location. Later, the production was absorbed by General Motors Art & Colour and Fisher Body. The Fleetwood name persisted for many decades, often referring to limited and low-production styles.

In 1939 the Cadillac V8 models were given a new frontal look with a matching textured grille. On either side were two side grilles. The engine still displaced 346 cubic-inches but further tuning had increased the horsepower output and its compression.

The Series 72 was a Fleetwood car that rode on a shorter, 138-inch wheelbase.

Production ceased during the Second World War and resumed in 1946. When it did, the Series 75 became Cadillac's largest model offered; now riding on a 136-inch wheelbase. The 346 L-head V8 engine was the same as was most of its basic styling. Just like most other automakers, a 'new' model would not be introduced for several years.

For the Series 75, this did not occur until 1950. It had a 146.7 inch wheelbase with seating for seven. Engine options included a 346- and 365-cubic-inch V8.

The wheelbase size was again increased by 1954, now measuring 149.8 inches. To carry the extra weight Cadillac increased the horsepower to 230. The following year it rose again to 250 hp, with an optional dual-four barrel carburetor version offered that produced 270 horsepower. 1956 saw another increase in horsepower, now ranging from 285 to just over 300.

Another restyling occurred in 1957 and would remain until 1965. By now, the name '75' had all but disappeared. Horsepower hovered around the 300 to 325 range depending on the engine and the setup. The long version of the Fleetwood became known as the Series 6700 in accordance with the new Cadillac naming scheme.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008
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