Cadillac Models & History 1932
Threeprimary models were available for 1932:
355-B (8-CYLINDER)
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1932 Cadillac
The Cadillac Series 355-B is representative of changes for 1932 that other models made.
BODIES
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1932 Cadillac
- The bodies were longer and lower with an entirely restyled front assembly.
- The roof line was lowered one to 76mm.
- The longer hood had six ports.
- The new front styling included a flat grill built into the radiator shell, headlight, streamlined bullet shaped side lights, and elimination of the fender tie-bar and monogram bar.
- The trumpets of the dual horns projected through the headlight stanchions.
- The headlight lenses were 241mm each in diameter.
- The dual tail lights matched the headlights.
- The Super-safe lighting featured three-filament bulbs and four control positions for degree and angle of illumination.
- The front license plate was mounted on the bumper.
- The running boards curved to match the sweep of the front fenders and blended into the rear fenders.
- The tail of the rear fenders was blended into the fuel tank valance.
- The trunk on the Town Coupe, Town Sedan, and five passenger Convertible Coupe was integral with the body.
- The driver’s vision was increased by 30 percent, as a result of elimination of the outside visor and construction of the 12 degree sloping windshield and corner posts.
- A large ventilator was in the top of the cowl, but none in the sides of the cowl.
- All separate body moldings were eliminated.
- The three spoke steering wheel afforded easy view of instrument cluster in front of the driver.
- The right side of the panel was occupied by a “locker.”
I. D. DATA
- There were no serial numbers used for the Series 355-B Cadillac.
- Engine numbers were stamped on the crankcase near the water inlet on the right hand side.
- Starting 1200001. Ending 1202700
STYLE
| Fisher 134″ wheelbase | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job number | Doors | Style | Seating | Price | Weight |
| 32-8-155 | 2-door | Roadster | 2/4 | $2895 | 2107 kg |
| 32-8-178 | 2-door | Coupe | 2/4 | $2795 | 2139 kg |
| 32-8-168 | 2-door | Convertible Coupe | 2/4 | $2945 | 2125 kg |
| 32-8-159 | 4-door | Standard Sedan | 5 | $2895 | 2220 kg |
STYLE
| Fisher 140″ wheelbase | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job number | Doors | Style | Seating | Price | Weight |
| 32-8-256 | 4-door | Standard Phaeton | 5 | $2995 | 2136 kg |
| 32-8-280 | 4-door | Special Phaeton | 5 | $3095 | 2159 kg |
| 32-8-273 | 4-door | All Weather Phaeton | 5 | $2495 | 2305 kg |
| 32-8-279 | 4-door | Sport Phaeton | 5 | $3245 | 2182 kg |
| 32-8-272 | 2-door | Coupe | 5 | $2995 | 2143 kg |
| 32-8-259 | 4-door | Special Sedan | 5 | $3045 | 2257 kg |
| 32-8-252 | 4-door | Town Sedan | 5 | $3095 | 2264 kg |
| 32-8-262 | 4-door | Sedan | 7 | $3145 | 2323 kg |
| 32-8-263 | 4-door | Imperial Sedan | 7 | $3295 | 2341 kg |
STYLE
| Fleetwood 140″ wheelbase | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style number | Doors | Style | Seating | Price | Weight |
| 4930-S | 4-door | Sedan | 5 | $3395 | 2257 kg |
| 4975-S | 4-door | Sedan | 7 | $3545 | 2323 kg |
| 4975 | 4-door | Limousine | 7 | $3745 | 2341 kg |
| 4981 | 2-door | Town Coupe | 5 | $3395 | 2234 kg |
| 4912 | 4-door | Town Cabriolet | 5/7 | $4095 | 2268 kg |
| 4991 | 4-door | Limousine Brougham | 7 | $4245 | 2318 kg |
| 4925 | 4-door | Town Cabriolet | 7 | $4245 | 2318 kg |
| 4975-H4 | 4-door | Limousine | 7 | ||
| 4985 | 2-door | Convertible Coupe | 5 | ||
ENGINE
| Type | Ninety degree L-head |
| Cylinders | Eight cylinders |
| Crankcase | Cast Iron on Aluminum crankcase |
| Bore & Stroke | 85.7 x 125.4 |
| Displacement | 5.793 Liters |
| Compression ratio | 5.38:1 std; 5.70:1, 5.20:1 optional |
| Brake horsepower | 115 @ 3000 rpm |
| SAE Taxable horsepower | 36.45 |
| Main bearings | three |
| Valve lifters | Mechanical |
| Carburetor | Cadillac/Johnson |
- Twenty-one percent increase in power achieved mostly from new manifold design plus carburetor revisions.
- Intake manifold redesigned to give equal length path to each cylinder.
- Location of inlet and exhaust valves interchanged on middle cylinders of each block, placing inlet valves side by side at the center so that one leg of the inlet manifold can service both middle cylinders.
- Exhaust manifold placed on top of the intake manifold, with single exhaust pipe to the rear.
- Air filter added to intake muffler.
- External tuning chamber on tail pipe.
- Mechanical fuel pump replaces vacuum tank fuel feed.
- Separate vacuum pump for wipers.
- Oil filter mounted along left side of crankcase.
- Increased capacity from battery and air cooled generator.
- Manual advance on distributor eliminated.
- Six point engine suspension (four corners of engine plus dual mount at rear of transmission).
- Fan mounted closer to radiator.
- Close fitting fan shroud adjustable and must be moved up or down on radiator as fan assembly is moved for adjustment of belt tension.
- Radiator of full-bodied-fin construction.
- Thermostat controlled shutters retained.
CHASSIS
| Wheelbase | 3404mm or 3556mm (3962mm Commercial Chassis) |
| Overall length | 5258mm, 5410mm |
| Front Tread | 1521mm |
| Rear Tread | 1549mm |
| Tires | 7.00 x 17 |
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1932 Cadillac Roadster
- Frame redesigned using more box construction and no front or rear tubular cross member.
- Brake drums cast Molybdenum.
- “Cardan” shaft replaced by cable control for front brakes.
- “Full Range Ride control” by driver adjustment of shock absorber valves.
- V-threaded spring shackle pins to control side play.
- Wire wheels standard, with optional full chrome covers to simulate disc wheels.
- Optional demountable wood wheels fit same hubs as wire wheels.
DRIVETRAIN
| Transmission | Selective synchro transmission |
| Speeds | 3 forward, 1 reverse |
| Controls | Left-hand drive, center controls (right-hand drive optional) |
| Clutch | Twin disc clutch — selective vacuum-activation |
| Drive | Shaft drive |
| — | Torque tube |
| Axle | 3/4 floating rear axle |
| Drive | spiral bevel drive |
| Overall ratio | 4.36:1, 4.60:1 |
| Brakes | Mechanical brakes on four wheels |
| Drums | 381mm brake drums |
| Wheels | Wire wheels (std), demountable wood (opt) |
| Wheel size | 17 in. drop center |
- “Triple-Silent Synchro-Mesh” transmission by use of a constant-mesh helical gears with ground and lapped tooth profile for all forward gears.
- Rear axle redesigned to be lighter and stronger, through the use of improved heat treatment.
- Final drive ratios changed, but smaller tires give same net effect.
- “Controlled Free Wheeling” used — vacuum assist on clutch, controlled by foot button. Depressing button releases clutch, releasing button or depressing accelerator re-engages clutch.
OPTIONS
HISTORICAL NOTES
1932 Cadillac Notes
- The 1932 models were introduced January, 1932
- Model year production of V-8: 2693
- Model year production of V-12: 1709
- Model year production ov V-16: 296
- The president and general manager was Lawrence P. Fisher
- Ernest W. Seaholm was chief engineer
- J. C. Chick was general sales manager
1932 Automotive Notes
- Industry production dropped another million to 1,186,185 cars and 245,284 trucks
- Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. was president of GM
- Lammot du Pont was chairman of the board at GM
- Ford introduces its 221-cid V-8(3.6 litre)
- V-12 engines popular among upper level models: Auburn, Cadillac, Franklin, Lincoln, Packard, Pierce-Arrow
- Studebaker introduces the Rockne
- Hudson launches the Essex Terraplane
- vacuum-actuated clutches appear on Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, and LaSalle
- Most makes feature free-wheeling
- Inside sunvisors become more popular than outside sunvisors
- Automatic chokes appear on Oldsmobile and Packard
- Fred Duesenberg (1876-1932) dies
- Alexander Winton dies (a pioneer automaker with many innovative automobile patents)
- Ray A. Graham (1887-1932) dies (with brothers Joseph and Robert known for the Graham-Paige cars)
- Hugh Chalmers dies (founded Chalmers Motor Car Company)
- This is last year for the L-29 Cord
- Nash introduces the Ambassador Eight
- William S. Knudsen is general manager of Pontiac
- Top model year production for 1932
Chevrolet313,404
Ford210,824
Plymouth83,910
Buick56,790
Series 5028,403
Series 6014,241
Series 805,892
Series 908,266
Pontiac45,340
Essex32,285
Nash30,834
Willys27,800
Dodge27,555
Chrysler25,699
Studebaker25,618
DeSoto24,896
Rockne22,715
Oldsmobile18,846
Packard16,613
Reo15,716
Graham12,967
Auburn11,646
Hupmobile10,476
Hudson7,777
Cadillac4,698
355B Eight2,693
370B Twelve1,709
452B Sixteen296
American Austin (wb 75 in.)3,846
Lincoln3,749
LaSalle3,386
Pierce-Arrow2,234
Franklin1,900
