Cadillac Models & History 1930
Thestory of the 1930 Cadillac has to be divided into two sections: the 1930 series 353 eight cylinder model and the 1930-31 series 452 and 452-A V-16.
The Cadillac series 353 eight cylinder was an extension of the series 341-B of 1929 with a few changes. The Fisher body (called “Fisher Custom”) was reduced to seven closed bodies including the Convertible Coupe. The Fleetwood body (called “Fleetwood Special Custom”) consolidated its offerings into eleven basic bodies with many variations.
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1930 Cadillac
The louvers carried well into the front of the hood. The Fleetwood Roadster had louvers in the sides of the cowl. There was a wider radiator and larger headlights (305mm lens and 330mm overall). The windshield sloped a few degrees instead of being upright. The visor was a short cadet type. A valance was featured across the rear of the car which covered the fuel tank and frame and joined with the rear fenders. The rear tread was wider and the rear cushions were made 102mm wider. Except for a few bodies, all were prewired for a radio with an aerial built into the top.
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1930 Cadillac
The chassis no longer had ball and socket spring shackles. The front tread increased from 1422mm to 1499mm. The rear tread increased from 1473mm to 1511mm. The third rear shoe for emergency was dropped. Instead, a lever operated the rear service brake shoes. The exhaust tail pipe end was fan shaped. Demountable wood wheels were offered as an extra cost option. All cars had a 3/4 floating rear axle.
The bore of the engine was increased 1.6mm. A reduction type starter was also used. The fan was lubricated by the engine oil return pressure. A cover was installed over the spark plugs. A new distributor had wires coming out the rear into a single conduit.
There were no serial numbers on the 1930 Cadillac Series 353. Engine numbers were stamped on the crankcase just below the water inlet on the right hand side. The starting number was 500001 and ended 511005.
STYLE
| Fisher Custom | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style | Body | Type | Passengers | Price | Weight |
| 30152 | 4-dr. | Town Sedan | 5 | $3495 | 2291 kg |
| 30158 | 2-dr. | Coupe | 2/4 | $3295 | 2252 kg |
| 30159 | 4-dr. | Sedan | 5 | $3695 | 2305 kg |
| 30162 | 4-dr. | Sedan | 7 | $3795 | 2350 kg |
| 30163 | 4-dr. | Imperial | 7 | $3995 | 2368 kg |
| 30168 | 2-dr. | Convertible Coupe | 2/4 | $3595 | 2209 kg |
| 30172 | 2-dr. | Coupe | 5 | $3595 | 2248 kg |
STYLE
| Fleetwood Built-to-order | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style | Body | Type | Passengers | Price | Weight |
| 3350 | – | Transformable All Weather Phaeton 152″ wheelbase | 7 | $- | – |
| 3902 | 2-dr. | Roadster | 2 | $3450 | 2102 kg |
| 3912 | 4-dr. | Transformable Town Cabriolet | 5/7 | $4995 | 2377 kg |
| 3912-C | 4-dr. | Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet | 5/7 | $5745 | – |
| 3920 | 4-dr. | Town Cabriolet (quarter window) | 7 | $5145 | 341 kg |
| 3920-C | 4-dr. | Collapsible Town Cabriolet (quarter window) | 7 | $5945 | – |
| 3925 | 4-dr. | Transformable Town Cabriolet (no quarter window) | 7 | $5145 | 2341 kg |
| 3925-C | 4-dr. | Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet (no quarter window) | 7 | $5895 | – |
| 3930 | 4-dr. | Imperial | 5 | $4395 | 2373 kg |
| 3930-S | 4-dr. | Sedan | 5 | $4195 | 2341 kg |
| 3930-C | 4-dr. | Collapsible Imperial | 5 | $5195 | – |
| 3930-SC | 4-dr. | Collapsible Sedan | 5 | $4995 | – |
| 3950 | – | Town Car with Full Collapsible Top | 7 | $- | – |
| 3955 | 4-dr. | Imperial Cabriolet | 5 | $4445 | 2336 kg |
| 3955-S | 4-dr. | Sedan Cabriolet | 5 | $4245 | 2364 kg |
| 3955-C | 4-dr. | Collapsible Imperial Cabriolet | 5 | $5195 | – |
| 3955-SC | 4-dr. | Collapsible Sedan Cabriolet | 5 | $4995 | – |
| 3975 | 4-dr. | Imperial | 7 | $4595 | 2418 kg |
| 3975-S | 4-dr. | Sedan | 7 | $4275 | 2400 kg |
| 3975-C | 4-dr. | Collapsible Imperial | 7 | $5395 | – |
| 3975-SC | 4-dr. | Collapsible Sedan | 7 | $5095 | – |
| 3975-P | 4-dr. | Imperial (plain hood) | 7 | $4845 | – |
| 3980 | 4-dr. | All Weather Phaeton | 5 | $4700 | 2268 kg |
| 3981 | 4-dr. | Sedanette Cabriolet | 5 | $4500 | 2305 kg |
| 3982 | 4-dr. | Sedanette | 5 | $4595 | 2305 kg |
| 3991 | 4-dr. | Transformable Limousine Brougham | 7 | $5145 | 2418 kg |
| 3991-C | 4-dr. | Collapsible Transformable Limousine Brougham | 7 | $5945 | – |
| 4150 | 4-dr. | Full Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet | – | $- | – |
| 4157 | 4-dr. | Touring | 7 | $- | – |
| 4160 | 4-dr. | Sport Phaeton | 5 | $- | – |
| 4160-A | 4-dr. | Sport Phaeton | 5 | $- | – |
| 4160-B | 4-dr. | Sport Phaeton | 5 | $- | – |
| 4161 | 4-dr. | Sedan or Imperial Sport Cab | 5 | $- | – |
| 4164 | 4-dr. | Transformable Brougham | 5 | $- | – |
| 4164-B | 4-dr. | Transformable Brougham with cane work | 5 | $- | – |
| 4176 | 2-dr. | Sport Sta. or Convertible Coupe | 2 | $- | – |
| 4185 | 2-dr. | All Weather Coupe | 4 | $- | – |
ENGINE
| Engine Type | Ninety degree V-8. L-Head. Cast iron on silicon / aluminum crankcase. |
| Bore and Stroke | 85.7mm x 125.4mm |
| Displacement | 5.793 Liters |
| Compression ratio | 5.05:1 std (4.91:1 opt) |
| Brake HP | 96 @ 3000 RPM SAE |
| Taxable HP | 36.45 |
| Main bearings | Three. |
| Valve lifters | Mechanical, with rollers riding on cams |
| Carburetor | manufactured by Cadillac under C. F. Johnson patents. |
CHASSIS
| Item | Series 353 | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 3556mm | 3861mm |
| Length | 5349mm | |
| Front Tread | 1499mm | 1499mm |
| Rear Tread | 1511mm | 1511mm |
| Tires | 7.00-19 | 7.00-19 |
1930 Cadillac Cathedral Hearse by James Cunningham Son and Co.
A very special open drive hearse originally built for Robert J. Ambruster.
DRIVETRAIN
| Transmission | Selective synchro-mesh transmission. |
| Speeds | 3 Forward and 1 Reverse |
| Controls | Left drive, center control (right hand drive optional) |
| Clutch | Twin disc clutch |
| Drive | Shaft drive (torque tube) |
| Axle | 3/4 floating rear axle spiral bevel gears |
| Overall ratio | 5.08:1 std; 4.39:1; 4.75:1 opt. (4.75 made standard in midyear) |
| Brakes | Safety-mechanical brakes on four wheels (16.5 in. drums) |
| Wheels | Wood artillery wheels (disc, wire, wood demountable opt) |
| Wheel size | 19 in. |
OPTIONS
HISTORICAL NOTES
1930 Cadillac Notes
- The V-8 was introduced September, 1929.
- The V-16 was introduced January 1930
- Innovations: Radio available.
- Most bodies prewired for radio, with aerial built into top.
- Engines have automatic hydraulic tappet clearance adjustment to reduce maintenance.
- Model year sales for V-8s: 11,005.
- Model year production of V-16: 3250
- Although a token number (approximately one percent) of the V-16 chassis were sold to domestic and foreign coachbuilders, all body styles advertised by Cadillac were “Catalog Customs” by Fleetwood. The customer was able to order limited variations in the “Catalog Customs” or order a full-custom creation.
- It is remarkable that Fleetwood was able to turn out four to five hundred bodies per month at a time when activities at the Pennsylvania shop were being phased out and “production” at a new location in Detroit was being set up.
- Through the Fall of 1930, dealers were required to furnish the factory with weekly and monthly owner reaction and service reports on each V-16 delivered.
- Lawrence P. Fisher was president
- Ernest W. Seaholm was chief engineer
- H. M. Stephens was general sales manager until September
- J. C. Chick was general sales manager from September
1930 Automotive Notes
- Industry production dropped over a million to 2,910,187 cars and 599,991 trucks
- Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was president of GM
- Lammot du Pont was chairman of the board at GM
- GM cars have a tilted windshield
- Oakland stops using a 6-cylinder in favor of an unreliable V-8
- Studebaker begins using “free-wheeling”
- American Austin Car Company builds British Austins
- Cadillac, LaSalle, Chrysler, Dodge, Marmon, and Roosevelt cars are wired for radio installation
- Chrysler reduces the amount of wood in its frames
- Harry C. Stutz (1876-1930) dies
- Lionel M. Woolson (1888-1930) dies (Designer of the Packard Diesel Engine)
- Nash introduces a Twin-Ignition Eight
- Top model year production for 1930
