The Cadillac Series 61 was Cadillac’s mainstream model range, priced and equipped below the long limousines such as the Series 75. It was aimed at buyers who wanted a prestigious luxury car they drove themselves, while the longer cars were chauffeur-driven.
Cadillac Series 61 at a glance
| Maker | Cadillac, General Motors |
|---|---|
| Production | 1939, 1941-1951 |
| Not offered | 1940, when the Series 62 took its place |
| Platform | GM B platform |
| Wheelbase | 126 in (3,200 mm) |
| Engine | 346 cu in (5.7 L) L-head V8 |
| Power | 135 hp in 1939, 150 hp in 1941 |
| Bodies | club coupe, convertible, sedan |
| Price, 1939 | $1,695 for the two-passenger coupe |
| New for 1941 | Hydramatic automatic at $125 |
| Predecessor | LaSalle Series 50 |
| Successor | Superseded by the Series 62 range |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Series 61.
History of the Cadillac Series 61
The Series 61 combined the most popular features of the previous Series 60 and Series 65 and was priced at the level of Buick products. It was upgraded to the Series 62 in 1940 but returned for 1941, replacing the cancelled LaSalle Series 50. Production was suspended for the 1943-1945 model years because of the Second World War, and the series remained the junior line until 1951.
The 1939 car
The 1939 Fisher-bodied Series 61 used a 126-inch wheelbase and adopted the Torpedo appearance that all GM cars wore that year, with an extended, protruding nose to look more aerodynamic. The protruding centre grille and the functional side grilles were die-cast with slender bars, and single die-cast louvers sat behind each hood side panel. It came as a club coupe, convertible or sedan, with an optional manually retracting safety-glass centre divider on the sedan and a choice of running boards. All Series 61 and Sixty Special cars shared the 346 cu in L-head V8 of 135 hp. Prices were the most affordable in the Cadillac range: $1,695 for the two-passenger coupe, $1,805 for the Touring Sedan and $2,265 for the five-passenger Convertible Sedan.
1941 and after
For 1941 the Series 61 returned alongside the Series 62 and replaced the LaSalle in the Cadillac price structure. All 1941 Cadillacs used the same 346 cu in Monobloc V8, now with 150 hp, after the V16 of the Series 90 was cancelled. The most notable advance was the Hydramatic automatic transmission, a $125 option that brought the Deluxe Sedan to $1,535. The one-piece hood came down lower at the front and wrapped into the fenders, the grille was wide and vertical and bulged in the middle, headlights were built into the noses of the fenders, and rear fender skirts were standard. A sister model, the Series 63, was a sedan-only car for 1941 and 1942 with a notchback boot and more standard equipment.
Design and features
- Owner-driven luxury: the mainstream Cadillac for buyers who sat at the wheel themselves.
- Hydramatic option: automatic transmission from 1941 at $125.
- Torpedo styling: the streamlined GM look of 1939 with concealed door hinges.
- Shared V8: the same 346 cu in L-head engine as the Sixty Special.
Cadillac Series 61 versions
- Club coupe: the cheapest Cadillac of 1939 at $1,695.
- Touring Sedan: the four-door at $1,805.
- Convertible Sedan: the five-passenger open car at $2,265.
- Series 63 (1941-1942): a sedan-only relative with a notchback boot.
The Series 61 replaced the Series 60 and stood below the Series 62 that followed it, while the big Fleetwood cars were chauffeur-driven. More Cadillacs are in the Cadillac collection.
Sources
- Cadillac Series 61, English Wikipedia: position in range, 1939 and 1941 cars, prices
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