Cadillac Series 61 Classic Cars for Sale

The Cadillac Series 61 was a luxury automobile featuring beautifully curved lines manufactured in 1939, 1941, 1942 and 1946-1951.

The first generation of Cadillac Series 61

Cadillac is one of the oldest luxury automobile companies in the world and is a division of General Motors (Michigan, US). Designed by Harley Earl, the original Fisher-bodied Cadillac Series 61 model was a truly outstanding vehicle manufactured in 1939 as a 2-door or 4-door club coupe or sedan and had an FR (front-engine/rear-wheel-drive) layout, 3,200 mm wheelbase, the famed L-head V8 engine with 135 hp and a kerb weight of just under 2000 kg. Only 1023 1939 coupes were produced; these classic cars currently retail from $30,000-80,000.

Subsequent Generations of the Cadillac Series 61

By 1941 the second generation of Cadillac Series 61s boasted 150 hp and fashioned a fastback design. The third generation Cadillac Series 61 models were issued from 1942-1947. One of the most famous post-war body styling features of the Cadillac Series 61 included tailfins inspired by a popular fighter plane. These housed the tail light and made the car look lower. Cadillacs would feature tailfins for the next thirty years. Other third generation features included chrome headlamp rims, larger bumper bar curved around the fenders and an egg crate grille. The famous Cadillac crest was positioned centrally just above the radiator grille and the redesigned dashboard fashioned a 'rainbow style' leather grained panel of instruments. The 1947 model had sombrero style wheel covers, five blade horizontal grilles rather than the six blades used in 1946, and a winged trunk ornament.

The fourth generation of Cadillac Series 61 models (1948-1951) had a C-body in 1948-1949, then this was replaced by the B-body in 1950. The 1948 models had a shorter wheelbase than the previous generation. Engines used included the Monobloc V8 (interesting fact - this engine was also used in WWII tanks) and the OHV V8. In 1949 the focus was on improved engineering rather than changes to the Cadillac Series 61's appearance an improved overhead valve V8 engine was incorporated generating power of 160 hp. Longer sleeker lines were introduced along with a more prominent hood and an even larger egg crate grille. This generation also had round parking lights, one-piece windshields and longer rear fenders. The last Cadillac Series 61 models were manufactured in 1951 and superseded by the Cadillac Series 62, 65, Calais and DeVille models.