Despite tough 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.
355-C Eight cylinder
In the 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.
I. D. DATA
Serial numbers were not used.
Engine numbers were stamped on crankcase near the water inlet on the right hand side.
Starting: 3000001.
Ending: 3002100.
Fisher 134" wheelbase
Job Number
Doors
Style
Seating
Price
Weight
33-8-155
2-door
Roadster
2/4
$2795
33-8-168
2-door
Convertible Coupe
2/4
$2845
4825 lb
33-8-178
2-door
Coupe
2/4
$2695
4855 lb
Fisher 140" wheelbase
Job Number
Doors
Style
Seating
Price
Weight
33-8-252
4-door
Sedan
5
$2995
5060 lb
33-8-256
4-door
Phaeton
5
$2895
4865 lb
33-8-259
4-door
Sedan
5
$2895
5000 lb
33-8-262
4-door
Sedan
7
$3045
5105 lb
33-8-263
4-door
Imperial Sedan
7
$3195
5140 lb
33-8-272
2-door
Coupe
5
$2895
4850 lb
33-8-273
4-door
All Weather Phaeton
5
$3395
5110 lb
Fleetwood 140" wheelbase
Style Number
Doors
Style
Seating
Price
Weight
5330-S
4-door
Sedan
5
$3295
5375-S
4-door
Sedan
7
$3445
5375
4-door
Limousine
7
$3645
NA
2-door
Coupe
5
5312
4-door
Transformable Town Cabriolet
5/7
$3995
-
5391
4-door
Transformable Limousine Brougham
7
$4145
5325
4-door
Transformable Town Cabriolet
7
$4145
-
5357
4-door
Transformable
7
$-
5381
2-door
Town Coupe
5
$-
5312-C
4-door
Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet
5/7
$-
5325-C
4-door
Collapsible Transformable Town Cabriolet
7
$-
5375-C
4-door
Collapsible Limousine
7
$-
5375-H4
Limousine with 4" extra headroom
7
$-
-
5330-FL
4-door
Imperial Cabriolet
5
$-
5375-FL
4-door
Imperial Cabriolet
7
$-
5364
4-door
Transformable Town Brougham
5
$-
-
5320
4-door
Transformable Town Cabriolet
7
ENGINE
Ninety degree L-Head.
Eight cylinders.
Cast iron on aluminum crankcase.
Bore & Stroke: 3-5/8 x 4-15/16 in.
Displacement: 353 cu. in.
Compression ratio: 5.40:1 (std); 5.70:1 (opt)
Brake horsepower: 115 @ 3000 rpm
SAE/Taxable horsepower: 36.45.
Main bearings: Three.
Valve lifters: Mechanical.
Carburetor: Cadillac-Johnson.
CHASSIS
Wheelbase: 134, 140 in. (Commercial chassis: 156 in.)
Overall Length: approx. 207-213 in.
Front Tread: 59-7/8 in.
Rear Tread: 61 in.
Tires: 7.00 x 17.
TECHNICAL
Selective, synchro transmission.
Speeds: 3 Forward l Reverse.
Controls: Left hand drive, Center control (Right hand drive optional).
Twin disc clutch.
Shaft drive
torque tube
3/4 floating rear axle
spiral bevel drive.
Overall ratio: 4.36:1, 4.60:1.
Mechanical brakes on four wheels with vacuum assist.
Despite tough 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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