1936 Cadillac Series 70

The Cadillac styling for 1934 moved from classical formality to modern sleek streamlining riding on a new X-frame chassis frame. The new bodywork featured airfoil-shaped front fenders, a steeply raked V-shaped radiator shell, and rear fenders that swept neatly into the rear deck. The bodies were given minimal brightwork with horizontal cooling louvers visually lengthening the entire car. The improved body construction isolated passengers from road noise and engine heat, while the new 'Knee-Action' independent front suspension improved comfort and drivability. The basic Cadillac body-design styling remained mostly unchanged for 1935 and 1936, except for the repositioned headlamps, narrower radiator shell and a 'Convex Vee' grille, a more-pronounced V-shaped windshield, and the appearance of built-in luggage (bustle-back style) trunks. Most of the doors were now front-hinged, replacing the previous 'suicide'-style doors.

Cadillac's entry-level model was the 36-60 offered as a coupe, convertible coupe, and touring sedan with prices that ranged from $1,645 to $1,730. The L-head, eight-cylinder engine displaced 322 cubic inches and delivered 125 horsepower. Its wheelbase measured 121 inches and hydraulic drum brakes at all four corners provided the stopping power.

For the first time since 1914, Cadillacs were designated by model year, with annual model changeovers and new-car introductions held each fall annually. One of Cadillac's biggest rivals, Packard, referred to its new product lines as 'Series' and not by specific model years.

Above the eight-cylinder Series 70 and Series 75 were the twelve-cylinder Series 80 and Series 85, and the sixteen-cylinder Series 90. The Series 90 were built to order and only 52 examples were built, with nearly half being seven-passenger limousines. The 452-CID sixteen developed 185 horsepower while the 368-CID twelve delivered 150 horsepower. The all-new 346 cubic-inch, L-head V8 engine debuted in 1936, with improved serviceability and simplified design. It used one-piece cylinder block architecture, advanced manifold design, and downdraft carburetion. It was stronger, yet weighed just 20 pounds more, than the engine it replaced. It was a refined engine with nearly-silent operation, three main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and 135 horsepower at 3,400 RPM. It was backed by a three-speed selective, synchromesh transmission with a single disc clutch. Braking was by hydraulic drums.

The Series 70 had a wheelbase of 131 inches and a length of 206.25 inches while the Series 75 rested on a longer 138-inch wheelbase platform with a length of 213.5 inches. A commercial chassis was also offered on the Series 75, with a 156-inch wheelbase. Approximately 2,000 examples of the Series 70 and 3,227 of the Series 75 were produced and both models were bodied exclusively by Fleetwood. there were four factory bodies offered on the Series 70, ranging from $2,600 to $2,750, and ten on the 138-inch platform of the Series 75, priced from $2,650 to $4,450. Four factory bodies were offered on the commercial chassis, all with seating for seven passengers, with prices in the high $2,000s.

Cadillac proudly touted its 1936 lineup as the 'Royal Family of Motordom.'

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe

The famed Fleetwood Body Company, which had been completely absorbed into General Motors during 1931, continued to supply bodies for Cadillac's finest models in 1936, all the way up to the super-sized 154-wheelbase V-16s.

While Fisher bodies were used on the new, smaller, and less expensive Cadillac Series 60 V8 line for 1936, the larger Series 70 and 75 V8s carried the prestigious 'Body by Fleetwood' label. Both lines were powered by a new 125-horsepower L-head Cadillac V8 making its debut in 1936....with ongoing refinements, the engine would be used in Cadillac models through 1948, and specially designed versions would power tanks and other military vehicles in WWII.

This Model 7067 Convertible Coupe displayed here was one of the five styles offered in the 1936 Series 70 line. The car's 131-inch wheelbase and overall appearance were shaped with the Series 80 V12 Convertible of the same year. The large body incorporated both a two-passenger rumble seat and a small trunk compartment. Optional equipment on this example includes the dual side-mount spares, a Deluxe radio, and a heater-making it a well-equipped all-weather vehicle for its era. It is believed that less than 200 of these models were produced.

This Series 70 Convertible was restored to show condition by an Illinois owner in the late 1980s but required refurbishing when the present owners acquired it in 2007. It has since been meticulously redone to present-day show standards.

Convertible Sedan by Fleetwood
Chassis number: 3111969

For 1934, Cadillac introduced a new X-frame chassis that supported new bodywork which, from a style standpoint, moved from classic formality to sleek streamlining. The designs had airfoil-shaped front fenders and a steeply raked V-shaped radiator shell, with rear fenders sweeping neatly into the rear deck. Cadillac chose to use minimal chrome treatments giving it a classy appearance. The hood was extended and given horizontal cooling louvers which visually lengthened the entire car.

The body designs would remain virtually unchanged for 1935 and 1936, with the exception of a narrower radiator shell, repositioned headlamps, and the appearance of built-in luggage trunks.

With the improved body construction, the passengers were further isolated from engine heat and road noise. The handling and ride were improved with the new 'Knee-Action' independent front suspension.

For 1936, the Cadillac 36-70 and the 36-75 were available in a variety of body styles. The 36-70 came as an enclosed- or convertible coupe, a touring sedan, or a convertible sedan. Pricing ranged from $2450-$2745. The 36-70 had a wheelbase size of 131 inches while the 36-75 body styles rested on a larger, 138-inch platform. The 36-75 were custom bodied by Fleetwood with 10 body styles to select from. Five of these body styles were for five-passenger vehicles while the remaining five body styles had seating for seven. An additional four body styles were available as Fleetwood-bodied Commercial vehicles. The most expensive vehicle in the lineup was the $4,445 seven-passenger Town Car.

Powering these Cadillac models was a 90-degree, L-head eight-cylinder engine with the blocks cast enblock with the crankcase. The 346 cubic-inch unit produced 135 horsepower and was mated to a three-speed selective synchromesh gearbox. Hydraulic drums could be found in both the front and the back.

This Series 75 Convertible Sedan is the 58th example produced for 1936. In the 1970s, it was given a restoration. A short time after the work was completed, the car was sold to its current owner, a Cadillac dealer. Since then, it has been displayed in his showroom, driven sparingly, and occasionally used for special events and weddings.

This Convertible Sedan features a division window, a 'banjo' steering wheel, and dual side-mounted covered spares.

In 2010, this car was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $60,000 - $80,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $57,750, which includes the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Sedan by Fleetwood

Powering the 1936 Cadillac Series 75 was an all-new L-head 346 cubic-inch V8 engine offering 135 horsepower and rode on a 138-inch wheelbase. The 5-passenger convertible sedan weighed 5,040 lbs and cost $3,395. The Fleetwood Metal Body Company was founded in 1905 in Pennsylvania and produced custom bodies for all major luxury car brands. The company was acquired by Cadillac in 1925 and moved to Detroit to eventually become the exclusive body maker for Cadillac.

This Series 75 Convertible Sedan was originally a special order in the non-standard Golden Tan color for the Cadillac showroom in downtown Detroit. In 2012, the full restoration was completed by the current owner.

Touring Sedan by Fleetwood
Chassis number: 3A3064
Engine number: 3A3135

The Cadillac models were all-new for 1936, with bodies that featured a new design, with front-hinged front doors and all-steel 'turret tops' on closed models, and the new V-8, which was an L-head like its predecessors, now combined the crankcase and cylinder blocks into a single iron casting. The engine came in two sizes, with a larger bore of 346 cubic inches for the Series 70 cars.

The Touring Sedan with an integral luggage compartment was a popular body style for General Motors and included them in all series, including the Fleetwood-bodied 70 and 75 series.

This five-passenger Series 70 Touring Sedan by Fleetwood is one of just two thousand short-wheelbase Fleetwood cars of all body styles. It wears an older restoration and is finished in maroon paint with a brown cloth interior. The odometer currently shows barely 5,000 miles.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible Coupe
Chassis number: 3a4365

This 1936 Cadillac Model 7067 Convertible Coupe was originally purchased by James S. Copley Chairman of Copley Newspapers, and it would remain in the Copley family for 77 years. It has been given a comprehensive restoration, is a CCCA Full Classic, and is powered by a 346 cubic-inch V8 engine offering 135 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission, dual side-mount spare tires, a rumble seat, a deluxe radio, and a deluxe heater. There is a blue exterior and gray interior.

by Dan Vaughan

Touring Sedan by Fleetwood
Engine number: 3A4726

Cadillac redesigned its vehicles for 1934, bestowing share and clean lines that were second to none. The sleek and aerodynamic appearance was modern and dashing, with a sharp V-style grille, Art Deco bi-plane bumpers (one year only), rounded body lines, and large bullet-style headlamps. Cadillac was the first to hide the spare tire in the rear trunk, although side-mounted spares were still available as an option. A plethora of body styles were offered, along with a choice of V-8, V-12, or V-16 power. Class, style, and elegance were the hallmarks of Cadillac's line-up.

The 1936 Cadillac models were given a redesigned front-end featuring a 'Convex Vee' grille and a more pronounced V-shaped windshield. Most of the doors were now front-hinged, replacing the previous 'suicide doors.' In the back, many of the 1936 Cadillac bodies were given the bustle-back style trunk area.

Within the Cadillac lineup, the Series 75 was a medium-priced offering designed to compete against the new Packard 120. The 346 cubic-inch L-Head eight-cylinder engine had a one-piece cast block and crankcase with hydraulic lifters and a single Stromberg carburetor. It developed 135 horsepower at 3,600 RPM and was backed by a full synchro three-speed manual transmission featuring what Cadillac described as triple-silent helical-cut gears for all forward speeds. Hydraulic brakes were a first on Cadillacs for 1936.

1936 Cadillac Series 75 Seven-Passenger Touring Sedan by Fleetwood

This 1936 Cadillac was delivered new to a Mr. M.T. Crawford of Somerset, Kentucky, from Dixie McKinley Cadillac in Lexington, Kentucky. Later in its life, it was restored to a high standard. By 2010, it had been acquired by the Bill Munday Auto Collection in Texas before entering the current ownership in 2014.

The body panels on this Cadillac are believed to be original and are currently finished in a maroon paint scheme. There are newer tan wool upholstery and carpets, an AM radio, a clock, and rear jump seats.

by Dan Vaughan

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 was 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 Dan Vaughan