Cadillac Series 341A Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton
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Car producer : |
Cadillac |
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Model: |
Series 341A Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton |
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Year: |
1928-1929 |
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Type: |
Phaeton |
Mechanically, Cadillac’s sound engineering continued to lead the industry. Displacement of the robust V-8 engine increased to 341 cubic inches, and the refinements for 1928 included offset cylinder blocks, side-by-side connecting rods, a horizontally mounted starter, a single exhaust system, an oil-level indicator and an engine-mounted oil filter. In addition, the new all-synchromesh three-speed transmission provided much smoother shifting, and the new double-action Delco hydraulic shock absorbers made for a smoother ride.
Cadillac advertised “Fifty body styles and types – Five hundred colour and upholstery combinations,” while the New York Automobile Salon catalog for 1928 boasted of “Colours from Nature’s Own Studio.” The strategy of allowing customers to individualize their production cars was well received, and soon Cadillac buyers were ordering their favourite colours and fabrics from the myriad of options available, with delivery possible in just three to seven weeks for Fisher-bodied models.
Cadillac celebrated record sales in 1929, marking the GM Division’s most successful year in its history to date. The new and improved series 341-B models entered production at the Clark Avenue, Detroit plant in August 1928, and while outwardly quite similar to the 341-A of 1928, many improvements provided a quantum leap forward in ease of operation, safety and reliability.
The 341-B Cadillac models of 1929 were immediately recognizable by their relocated parking lamps on the front fender crowns, along with the exclusive use of chrome-plated bright work. Shatterproof safety glass and reliable electric windshield wipers were standard safety features for 1929, along with new Duplex-mechanical brakes, which utilized internal brake shoes and required less pedal pressure than before. The new full-synchromesh manual transmission provided unprecedented driving ease, while Cadillac’s V-8 engine offered heightened longevity with its improved lubrication system.
