Cadillac 370A 252 Town Sedan by Fisher
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Car producer : |
Cadillac |
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Model: |
370A 252 Town Sedan by Fisher |
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Year: |
1930-1936 |
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Type: |
Sedan |
The Cadillac Series 370-A (a twelve cylinder) was similar to the 1930-31 V-16. Except some bodies were built by Fisher, but all body interiors were built by Fleetwood. The coach sill was modified with a single moulding on the splash shield. The battery was mounted in the right front fender. The hood was 100mm shorter than the V-16 and 127mm longer than the V-8. The instrument panel was similar to the V-8 panel. The headlights were 25mm smaller in diameter than the V-16 headlights. The dual rear lights were ball shaped like the V-8. The dual horns were slightly smaller than on the V-16.
The frame had divergent side rails like the Series 355. The rear springs were mounted under the frame rails. The front tread was the same as the V-8. The brakes had a vacuum assist which was operated only from the left manifold. The brake drums were 381mm. The sedans had two wheelbase sizes: 3556mm and 3632mm; but the semi-commercial unit had a 3861mm wheelbase.
The Model 370A V-12 was introduced in October 1930. The Cadillac V-12 had a shorter wheelbase than the Cadillac V-16, with a choice of 134-, 140- and 143-inch wheelbases, compared to the V-16's 148 in (3,759 mm), but it offered bodies by Fisher and Fleetwood; three different engine configurations; and the more moderately priced LaSalle as part of its lineup. V-12’s, like the bigger V-16’s, were cataloged in a choice of 12 Fisher-bodied models as well as 10 semi-custom Fleetwood-bodied models. Cadillac produced a total of 5,733 V-12’s for the model year.
It was difficult to tell a Cadillac V-12 from a Cadillac V-16 unless you were close enough to read the figure "12" mounted on the headlight tie bar, but the hood was four inches (102 mm) shorter, and the headlights and horns smaller than a V-16's. More significantly, the V-12 cost about $2,000 less for each bodystyle, starting at $3,795. Thanks to its lower price, it immediately outsold the Cadillac V-16 with 5,733 sold in the 1931 model year, versus a mere 363 for the V-16.
The engine had dual intake silencers which were slightly smaller than the single unit on the V-8 and were positioned at the rear where the V-16 vacuum tanks were mounted. The carburettors were similar to the V-16, but they were reversed so that the air inlet was at the rear. A single vacuum tank was mounted on the centre of the dash where the V-16 oil filter was mounted. The oil filter was mounted on the left side of the crankcase. The bore was 3mm larger than the V-16. The rear centre main (number 3) takes the thrust. The exhaust manifolds had two sections rather than three. The spark plug wires came out the top of the distributor cap rather than the rear.
