By necessity, the '46 Cadillac was a quickly thrown-together rehash of what Cadillac had offered in 1942, and only Series Sixty-Two four-door sedans were built at first. Cadillac ads made much of the fact that their "Battle-Proved" engines and transmissions were the only automotive components continually produced without interruption during the war, and improved along the way to boot. A major modification, however, was the adoption of a negative battery ground.

Styling changes were minimal, though noticeable. Rectangular parking lights resided on the upper portion of the slightly modified grille (with fewer vertical bars), and wraparound bumpers were adopted front and rear. The front of the hood and the decklid now sported the Cadillac crest nestled in a "V," which would become a long-standing trademark, so the Cadillac block lettering was moved to the front fenders.

Model offerings were pared to just 11 for 1946. Gone entirely were the Series Sixty-Three and Sixty-Seven, while the Sixty Special lost its division-window model, as well as the vertical chrome strips on the fenders. The latter were replaced by five hash marks on each C-pillar. Series Sixty-One and Sixty-Two continued with the coupe and sedan, and the later boasted the only convertible in the lineup as since 1941. The Series Seventy-Five, meanwhile, was pared to five models, down three, although five-, seven-, and nine-passenger models were still listed, as were the Imperial models with divider windows. Seventy-Fives traded the hood louver decorations and triple fender speedlines of '42 for an almost full-length chrome strip starting at the front of the hood, and gained stainless steel running boards. Cadillac block lettering was moved to the lower front fenders.

Strikes and materials shortages, particularly of sheet steel, were major industry-wide problems during the '46 production year. Thus, some Cadillacs went through the assembly lines with only brackets to hold temporary wooden bumpers -- the real ones had to be installed by dealers as they became available later.

Pressure on Cadillac to produce was intense. Even in 1947, there were still almost 100,000 unfilled orders for what one division sales manager, D. E. Ahrens, called "... one of the most sought-after, and most scarce items in the world today." People knew Cadillac's value and prestige, and that was what they wanted, but due to the early postwar difficulties only 29,214 customers got to drive a '46 Caddy home.

And those that managed to get one paid for the privilege, as the price-leader Sixty-One fastback now started at $2052, up a whopping 41.5 percent over 1942. The Business Imperial nine-passenger sedan, the most expensive 1946 offering, listed at $4346, up $1266, or 41.1 percent. Of course, pricing was a problem for all automakers in the inflationary days following the war.



In 1946 four models were offered: Series 61, Series 62, Series 60 Special Fleetwood, and Series 75 Fleetwood.

SERIES 61

All 1946 Cadillacs were a continuation of pre-war styling and engineering with the unpopular 63 and 67 Series being dropped. Features common to each series included:

• dual downdraft carburetors;
• torbend disc clutch;
• directional signals;
• knee action wheels;
• double ride stabilizers;
• permanently lubricated universals;
• ball bearing steering;
• mechanical fuel pump;
• oil bath air cleaner;
• intake silencer;
• automatic choke;
• Synchromesh transmission;
• sealed beam lighting;
• front coil springs;
• Super-Safe hydraulic brakes;
• wax lubricated rear springs;
• hypoid rear axle;
• slotted disc wheels;
• low pressure tires;
• large luggage compartments
• safety plate glass throughout.

Cadillac's lowest-priced Series 61 line was based on the General Motors' B-Body, also used on cars in the Buick 40, Olds 70 and Pontiac 26 and 28 series. Fastback styling characterized the two available body styles which saw a late production startup in May, 1946. Standard features included

• small hub caps;
• a wider, more massive grille;
• bullet-shaped front and rear fenders;
• skirted rear wheel openings
• chrome-plated rear fins.

The gas filler cap was located under the rear signal lamp.

I. D. NUMBERS

• Cadillac serial numbers matched the motor numbers and were used for all license, insurance and identification purposes.
• For 1946 they were located on the righthand side of the engine crankcase, just above the water pump, and on the right frame side member, behind the motor support.
• Numbers 5400001 to 5402975 appeared on Series 61 models.

Model Number	Body Style	Doors	Model	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
46-61	6107	2-door	Club Coupe	5	$2052	4145	800
46-61	6109	4-door	Sedan	5	2176	4225	2,200
46-61	-	-	Chassis only	-	-	-	1

ENGINE

• V-8 L-head.
• Cast iron block.
• Displacement: 346 cubic inches.
• Bore and stroke: 3-1/2 x 4-1/2 inches.
• Compression ratio: 7.25:1.
• Brake horsepower: 150 at 3400 rpm
• Three main bearings.
• Hydraulic valve lifters.
• Carburetor: Carter WCD two-barrel (models 595S or 595SA) or Stromberg AAV-26 two-barrel (models 380154 or 380871).

The Series 62 Cadillacs were based on the General Motors'C-Body, also used on the Cadillac 60S, Buick 50 and 70 and Oldsmobile 90 series. Notchback styling characterized the racy-looking cars in this line except for the Club Coupe, which had fastback styling. The Series 62 four-door sedan was the first Cadillac to enter production after WWII. Styling and technical features were similar to those seen on lower priced models, but on a longer chassis with slighly richer interior appointments.

I. D. NUMBERS

• Motor serial numbers 8400001 to 8418566 appeared on 1946 models.

Model Number	Body Style	Doors	Model	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
46-62	6207	2-door	Club Coupe	5	2284	4215	2,323
46-62	6267D	2-door	Convertible Coupe	5	2556	4475	1,342
46-62	6269	4-door	Sedan	5	2359	4295	14,900
46-62	-	-	Chassis only	-	-	-	1

ENGINE

• V-8 L-head.
• Cast iron block.
• Displacement: 346 cubic inches.
• Bore and stroke: 3-1/2 x 4-1/2 inches.
• Compression ratio: 7.25:1.
• Brake horsepower: 150 at 3400 rpm
• Three main bearings.
• Hydraulic valve lifters.
• Carburetor: Carter WCD two-barrel (models 595S or 595SA) or Stromberg AAV-26 two-barrel (models 380154 or 380871).

The Series 60 Special Fleetwood line included only one model, a four-door sedan also based on the corporate C-Body. However, each door was made two inches wider, amounting to an overall four inch extension over the standard Series 62 sedan. For easy identification, there were four slanting louvers on the rear roof pillar and a distinctive type of roof drip molding, which was separate for each door opening.

I. D. NUMBERS

• Motor serial number 6400001 to 6405679 appeared on 1946 models.

Model Number	Body Style	Doors	Model	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
46-60S	6069	4-door	Sedan	6	3099	4420	5,700

ENGINE

• V-8 L-head.
• Cast iron block.
• Displacement: 346 cubic inches.
• Bore and stroke: 3-1/2 x 4-1/2 inches.
• Compression ratio: 7.25:1.
• Brake horsepower: 150 at 3400 rpm
• Three main bearings.
• Hydraulic valve lifters.
• Carburetor: Carter WCD two-barrel (models 595S or 595SA) or Stromberg AAV-26 two-barrel (models 380154 or 380871).

Cadillac's Fleetwood Series 75 long-wheelbase line used totally distinctive bodies which were not shared with other General Motors' divisions. They were generally characterizd by a pre-war appearance and came in five different touring sedan configurations: with quarter windows; with auxiliary (jump) seats; business; Imperial 7-passenger and Imperial 9-passenger (the later two both having jump seats). Standard equipment included large wheel discs, fender skirts, hood, side and lower beltline moldings and stainless steel running boards.

I. D. NUMBERS

• Motor I.D. serial numbers 3400001 to 640579 appeared on 1946 models.

Model Number	Body Style	Doors	Model	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
46-75	7519	4-door	Sedan	5	4298	4860	150
46-75	7523	4-door	Sedan	7	4475	4905	225
46-75	7523L	-	Business Sedan	9	4153	4920	22
46-75	7533L	-	Imperial Business Sedan	9	4346	4925	17
46-75	7533	-	Imperial Sedan	7	4669	4925	221
46-75	-	-	Commercial Chassis	-	-	-	1,292

Note: Commercial chassis featured a 163 inch wheelbase.

ENGINE

• V-8 L-head.
• Cast iron block.
• Displacement: 346 cubic inches.
• Bore and stroke: 3-1/2 x 4-1/2 inches.
• Compression ratio: 7.25:1.
• Brake horsepower: 150 at 3400 rpm
• Three main bearings.
• Hydraulic valve lifters.
• Carburetor: Carter WCD two-barrel (models 595S or 595SA) or Stromberg AAV-26 two-barrel (models 380154 or 380871).

CHASSIS

Model	Wheelbase	Overall Length	Front Tread	Rear Tread	Tires
Series 61	126 inches	215 inches	59 inches	63 inches	7.00 x 15
Series 62	129 inches	220 inches	59 inches	63 inches	7.00 x 15
Series 60S	133 inches	224 inches	59 inches	63 inches	7.00 x 15
Series 75	136 inches	227 inches	59 inches	63 inches	7.50 x 16

POWER TRAIN OPTIONS

None available.

CONVENIENCE OPTIONS

• Hydra-Matic transmission ($176)
• Large wheel discs ($19)
• White sidewall disc
• Fog lights
• Safety spotlight
• And more.

HISTORICAL

• Division windows between front and rear seats were available on Fleetwood models for limousine use
• Commercial chassis were provided for makers of hearses and ambulances.
• A limited number of dual-cowl phaetons were also constructed on Cadillac chassis this year.
• The Classic Car Club of America recognizes all 1946 Series 75 models as classic cars.

NEXT: History of the 1947 Cadillac

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