Cadillac History 1933

Despitetough times, Cadillac fielded an extensively revamped lineup of V-8s, V-12s, and V-16s for 1933. Most notably, the boxy look of the Twenties began to give way to the streamlined look of the Thirties. Featured were fully skirted, flowing fenders and a graceful “windsplit” veed grille, which boasted a painted shell that blended in smoothly with the bodywork.

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1933 Cadillac V-16 Victoria Cabriolet

Inthe mid twenties, Cadillac broke with functional body design and began a period of “stylish functional.”

• The 1933 “C” cars ushered in the period of styling/streamlining for its own sake.
• A face lift, simple in execution but startling in effect, transformed the “B” cars and started the concept of selling cars on the basis of styling features and selling replacement cars on the basis of changes in style.
• Bumpers were sectioned, with plain ends and a three-bar center.
• The grill was made Vee-shaped and blended into the painted (chrome optional) radiator shell.
• The radiator filler cap disappeared under the hood on the right side (same side as the oil level gauge).
• The fender tie-bar, after a year’s absence, was sectioned and the center section hidden behind the grill.
• Six horizontal doors replaced the vertical hood doors.
• Skirts (valences) were added to front and rear fenders.
• The most significant change in body detail was the introduction of no-draft Individually Controlled Ventilation (I.C.V.) or pivoting vent windows in the front doors and rear quarter or rear door windows.
• In early production, the front door window had to be lowered to disengage the channel at its front edge from the vent window to allow the vent window to pivot.
• In later production, the sealing channel was attached to the door frame rather than the window glass so that the vent window could be operated independently of the window glass.
• Windshield and rear quarter windows were made stationary.
• Absence of windshield operating mechanism on closed cars allowed room to conceal wiper motor behind the headboard.
• The cowl ventilator was baffled and drained in such a way as to be rainproof.
• Chassis changes were few and of minor nature.
• Controlled free wheeling was discontinued.
• Vacuum assist was added to the V-8 brake system.
• Changes in shock absorber valves extended the range of the ride control system.
• At engine unit number 30-3607; the dual point, four lobe distributer was replaced by a single point, eight lobe unit.