1932 Cadillac Series 355-B Eight

The three 'P's' of automotive elegance - Packard, Peerless, and Pierce-Arrow - were in trouble during the early 1930s, as were many other marques due to the Great Depression. Companies like Cadillac and Lincoln had the added security of diversification from their sister companies to help weather the lean years. Nearly coinciding with the stock market crash of 1929, Cadillac introduced its V-16 model and Duesenberg its mighty Model J. Both of these were among the most expensive, technologically advanced, and powerful vehicles on the market, and although the timing was unfortunate, the development had begun years in advance. For Cadillac, the sixteen-cylinder engines had been developed during the prosperous years of the late 1920s, when the company was able to devote time and resources. With the arrival of the Cadillac Sixteen and the Duesenberg Model J (followed a short time later by Marmon's sixteen-cylinder model), other companies were forced to catch up, using resources they did not have. The industry was 'on the ropes' when Cadillac dealt another blow - a twelve-cylinder model to bridge the gap between the eight and sixteen-cylinder models. The Twelve was similar to the Sixteen, with similar quality, body styles, precision engineering, but with fewer cylinders and at a lower price. With this lineup and the enviable resources of the entire General Motors marque, many luxury automakers were unable to compete.

The average new car price in 1932 was around $600, while Cadillac's entry-level 355B Roadster cost $2,895, certainly a luxury purchase. The 355A, introduced in September of 1930, benefitted from the modern styling of the newly introduced companion marque, the LaSalle, penned by Harley Earl and the 'Art and Color' department. Updates to the Cadillac included a new lower frame, a sleeker and lower hood with six vents, a roofline that was three inches lower, and an increase in horsepower from the V-8 by 21 hp, achieved mostly due to the new manifold design providing equal length to each cylinder, and larger carburetor. In the front were new bullet headlamps and a new radiator screen, protecting the lower radiator that now incorporated a condenser tank. The new running boards swept right into the fenders and the windshield was positioned at a 12-degree sloping angle. In the back were new dual taillights, and the interior view of the road was improved by thirty percent when the outside visor was eliminated.

The roadster, convertible coupe, coupe, and standard sedan by Fisher rested on a 134-inch wheelbase platform and was priced from $2,800 to $3,000. Nine additional Fisher bodies were offered on a longer, 140-inch wheelbase and were priced from $3,000 to $3,300. The list included Phaetons, coupes, 5- and 7-passenger sedans, Town Sedan, and an Imperial sedan. Fleetwood offered nine catalog bodies on the 140-inch platform with prices ranging from $3,400 to $4,300.

Power was from a ninety-degree, L-head eight-cylinder engine with a cast-iron block on an aluminum crankcase. It displaced 353 cubic inches, had three main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, a Cadillac/Johnson carburetor, and delivered 115 horsepower at 3,000 RPM. It was backed by a three-speed selective, synchromesh transmission with a twin-disc clutch. 15-inch mechanical drum brakes were on all four wheels. The rear axle was redesigned to be lighter and stronger, and the final drive ratios were changed to reduce engine RPMs. A mechanical fuel pump replaced the vacuum tank fuel feed, and a separate vacuum pump to operate the windshield wipers was added. Wire wheels became standard with demountable wood being optional. Additional options included trunks, Heron or Goddess mascot, wind wings, a radio, mirrors, full covers for wire wheels, and colored fender set (among others).

Cadillac had produced 10,717 examples of the Series 355A in 1931, and due to the Great Depression, produced just 2,700 examples of the 355B the following year.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2020