1938 Cadillac Series 75

Cadillac aggressively pursued the hearts of those who favored the pinnacle of the American luxury car industry, introducing large and stately vehicles with modern, streamlined styling with equally impressive performance. Many consider the new 1938 model designs from the top GM Division ranked firmly among the very finest automobiles of the prewar era. Among the unqualified milestones were the first Bill Mitchell-styled Sixty Special Sedan (Series 60S) and the updated Series 90 V-16.

Cadillac's V-8 cars, comprising Series 61, Series 60S, Series 65, and the top-echelon, Fleetwood-bodied Series 75, wore distinctive grille designs, one for Series 60 and one shared by the larger Series 65 and Series 75 models. The Series 60 received thin, horizontal grille bars around the sides of the squared-off nose, while the Series 65-75 cars had tall, vertical, die-cast egg-crate grilles. The front and rear bumpers on all models wore the Cadillac name in large, bold scripts. Model year changes included a 'Synchro-Flex' flywheel, a hypoid-type rear axle, slightly higher compression on the V-8 engine, repositioning of the horns to just behind the grille, and the relocation of the gearshift lever on all Cadillac models from the floor to the steering column.

The Cadillac model lineup had included eight-, twelve-, and sixteen-cylinder models throughout most of the 1930s, with the sixteen joining in 1930 and the twelve-cylinder in 1931. For buyers seeking a more affordable option, the General Motors division offered a plethora of options, including the newly introduced LaSalle. Bodies were designed by Harley Earl and the newly formed Art and Colour department with catalog coachwork provided by Fisher and Fleetwood.

Cadillac began using the Series 75 designation in 1936, representing the largest and most expensive version of the eight-cylinder model, resting on a 138-inch wheelbase and wearing coachwork by Fleetwood. Comparatively, the Series 70 had a 131-inch wheelbase with Fleetwood coachwork and powered by the same 346 CID eight-cylinder engine used in the Seris 75, and the entry-level Series 60 using a 121-inch wheelbase with three factory body styles by Fisher and powered by a 322 CID eight-cylinder engine.

For 1937, the Series 60 gained a convertible sedan body style, the 322 CID eight was dropped (now all eight-cylinder models were powered by the same 346 CID engine), and a new series called the Series 65 joined the lineup - offered solely as a touring sedan on a 131-inch wheelbase. The Series 60 and 65 wore coachwork by Fisher, the Series 70 by Fleetwood, and the Series 75 by Fisher and Fleetwood.

The Fisher-bodied Series 75 and the V-12 Series 85 were dropped for 1938, a convertible sedan was added to the Series 65 line, and the Series 60 Special Sedan on a 127-inch wheelbase with Fisher coachwork joined the eight-cylinder model line. The Fisher Series 60 used a 124-inch wheelbase and was priced from the mid-$1,000s to the low-$2,000s. The Fisher Series 65 had a 132-inch wheelbase with prices that ranged from $2,290 to $2,600. The Series 75 used the same 141-inch wheelbase as its larger Series 90 sixteen-cylinder sibling, with most body styles priced from $3,000 to $4,000.

Mechanical updates for 1938 gave the Cadillac models even more sophistication, ease of operation, and drivability. All models, except the Series 90, used a 346 cubic-inch, L-head engine with three main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and a Stromberg carburetor. The Series 60, 60 Special, and 65 used a 6.25:1 compression version rated at 135 horsepower at 3,400 RPM, while the Series 75 had 6.7:1 compression and developed 140 hp. All 1938 Cadillac engines were backed by a three-speed selective synchromesh transmission with a single disc clutch and gearshift controls on the column. Hydraulic brakes at all four 16-inch Disc wheels provided the stopping power.

Commercial bodies on the Series 75 chassis included a seven-passenger touring sedan, priced at $3,100, and a Touring Imperial listed at $3,250. Twelve additional bodies were offered in a variety of configurations including coupes, convertible coupe, and sedans. The sedan, Imperial Sedan, Formal Sedan, Town Sedan, and Convertible sedan had seating for five. Seven-passenger versions were offered for the Town Car, Formal Sedan, Imperial Sedan, and Sedan. The Town Car was the most expensive in the Series 75 line, listing for $5,115. The seven-passenger Formal Sedan had a base price of $3,990, the 7-passenger sedan at $3,200, and the five-passenger sedan at $3,075. The convertible sedan was among the most expensive at $3,940.

Cadillac produced just 315 of its range-topping Series 90, 1,476 of the Series 65, 2,052 of the Series 60, and 3,704 of the Series 60 Special. The 1,911 examples of the Series 75 represented approximately twenty percent of Cadillac's 1938 production.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021