1934 Cadillac Model 370-D Twelve

Cadillac produced the Series 370 V-12 from 1931 through 1937 with a total of 10,903 examples built. Dealerships began receiving the V-12s in October 1930, a month later than the V-8s for the 1931 model year. Although overshadowed by its V-16 sibling, the V-12 delivered impressive performance at a fairly reasonable cost, selling for $800 more than comparable V-8 models. The 368 cubic-inch engine offered 135 horsepower and 285 foot-pounds of torque offering a top speed of over 80 mph. A V-12 roadster was selected to pace the Indianapolis 500.

For 1934, all Cadillacs were redesigned with sharp and clean styling. They had wide pontoon fenders, a V-style grille, large bullet-style headlamps and Art Deco bi-plane bumpers. Cadillac was the first manufacturer to hide the spare tire in the rear trunk, yet allowed buyers to optionally order side-mounted spares. A vast selection of 52 Fisher and Fleetwood body styles was available.

A total of 683 Series 370D V-12s were built in 1934, all resting on a 146-inch wheelbase.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2019