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The (new) Cadillac Database^©

Photo Pages
Cadillac

1931

Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or go back to the Cadillac photo index page to pick another year

Unless otherwise specified all photos and illustrations are from Yann Saunders'
collection of Cadillac photos, advertisements and product catalogs,
reproduced courtesy of the Cadillac Motor Car Division and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club

 

The 1931 Cadillac models were introduced in August, 1930. One magazine advertisement of the time asserts that "the Cadillac complete line will consist of La Salle V-8, Cadillac V-8, Cadillac V-12, Cadillac V-16, ranging in price from $2,195 to $15,000 FOB, Detroit".  That is to say, potential Cadillac buyers were again confronted with a vast selection of body types and power plants.  There were twelve different offerings on the La Salle chassis (the Series 345-A), five of them by Fleetwood.  On the Cadillac V-8 chassis (the Series  355-A), there was a choice of six different models by Fisher and seven special custom styles by Fleetwood.  On the V-16 chassis, introduced in January 1930 and built through February, 1932 (the Series 452-452A), Fisher and Fleetwood together built more than eighty different styles including thirty one-of-a-kind creations (twelve of them by Fisher and nineteen more by Fleetwood).  Finally, the V-12 chassis (the Series 370-A), introduced last year in the Fall, offered ten styles  (six by Fisher and four by Fleetwood). 

Although this page deals principally with the V-8 models of 1931, you will also come across a couple of photos of V-12 and V-16 cars or styling features, thrown in for good measure.

Standard equipment this year included a new, chrome stone guard grille.  Again, on a curved stanchion mounted between the headlights, each Series carried its own, colored ID badge (below)

This crest was mounted top center of the radiator shell The "V8" badge (left) was mounted on a stanchion between the headlights

 

Other details

   

There were other, obvious differences between each Series, including the design of the engine hood, body sill and wheel caps.

Once again the easiest way to identify all 1931 Cadillac models is by the new hood side panels with their distinctive ventilator doors.  Additional clues to the V-8 include a new, plain body sill, styled like last Fall's V-12 sill but without the step light and decorative horizontal trim pieces.  On all Series there were also new, flat, single-bar bumpers and, of course, the new radiator grille badges (above).

 

Body sill styles for V-8, V-12 and V-16 Series      Left: V8 (plain sill); right: V12 (center step light flanked by single, chrome trim pieces)     Left and right:  V16s with Fleetwood style numbers starting with initial digits "41...", "43..." and "44..." Left (combined with a horizontal belt molding): cars with Fleetwood style numbers starting with initial digits "41..." and "44..." Right (combined with a raised, curved hood molding): cars with Fleetwood style numbers starting with initial digits "43..." [Note: this is a general rule, but there are some exceptions, e.g. style #4302 that has a horizontal belt molding]      Left: cars with Fleetwood style numbers starting with initial digits "42..." Left: cars with Fleetwood style numbers starting with initial digits "42...", with suffix "B" [only six of the latter were built and of these, only three had the French cane applied to the rear body]

 

Additional information on the 1931 Cadillac models and the related sales literature may be found  in The (New) Cadillac Database© sections entitled "Descriptions and Specifications of Cadillac Cars 1922 - 1931",  "Cadillac and La Salle Sales Literature 1930 - 1934"and "Dream Cars of 1930 - 1932".  Further recommended reading includes:

-  CLC International Membership Directory for 2007; p.40 includes a breakdown of body styles on the V-12 chassis for 1931 (inter alia); we owe this interesting  information to CLC member, Carl Steig, who also drew up the entire production statistics for all 16-cylinder Cadillacs published in this section of the Cadillac Database;

-  The "Standard Catalog of Cadillac, 1903-2000" edited by James T. Lenzke, © 2000, published by Krause Publications, Inc., 700 E. State Street, Iola, WI 54990 [ISBN #0-87341-925-1, Library of Congress #91-61301].

For this graphic presentation of the new, V-8 models for 1931 I have divided them, again, into two groups, below:  (a) the entry-level cars with nonetheless excellent coachwork by Fisher and (b) the more luxurious models with special custom bodies by Fleetwood.
___________________________________
¹   By "different" models I mean those assigned a distinctive or individual job or style number by Fisher or Fleetwood

 

Bodies by Fisher
[6 styles]

The B&W images, below, are from a 1931 product catalog.   There are also numerous factory photos provided kindly by Cadillac Public Relations Department and by the Cadillac Styling Archives.  They are listed in ascending order of their list price.

 

Style #31-162, sedan for 7 passengers          The sedan for seven passengers, on V-8 chassis, cost $2,945 [ of these, 1093 were built on the V-12 chassis; the latter cost $4195 each ] Survivor photos [2nd row]: © 1978, Yann Saunders, courtesy of the owner, Dick Sunderland

 

Style #31-163, imperial [limousine] for 7 passengers The limousine for seven passengers, on V-8 chassis, cost $3,095 [ 600 units were built on the V-12 chassis, each one costing $4345 ]

 

Style #31-172, coupe for 5 passengers    The coupe on V-8 chassis for five passengers cost $2,795 [ 314 units were built on the V-12 chassis; the latter cost $3895 each ]

 

Bodies by Fleetwood
on 12-cylinder chassis
[ 32 individial body styles - only 7 basic ones listed in the catalog ]

They are listed here in ascending order of rarity and numerical order of body styles;
the unique styles are listed in numerical order alone, at the end of this section

Styles #4535 and #4735, convertible coupe, for 5 passengers (with rumble seat) [ unless otherwise stated, photos and illustrations show the more numerous V-8 model ]      The convertible coupe for two passengers, on V-8 chassis, style #4535, cost $2,945      Photos of V8 survivors: (left) courtesy of Katie Robbins; (center and right) Internet photo, 2001          362 units were built on the V-12 chassis, style #4735; they cost $4045 each [ image?] This one participated in 1931 in a Concours d'Elégance at the "Cascade" restaurant in Paris' Bois de Boulogne

 

Styles #4580 and #4780, convertible sedan for 5 passengers (all-weather phaeton / AWP) [ unless otherwise stated, photos and illustrations show the more numerous V-8 model ]               The all-weather phaeton for five passengers, style #4580, cost $3,795              A survivor, member of the Classic car Club of America (CCCA) Factory publicity shot of the V-12 all-weather phaeton      Here's the same body style but mounted on a V-12 chassis; 169 were built (style #4780); these cost $4895 each  The olive-green survivor was restored in the 70s [Photo:  Internet, 2014]

 

Style #4560 and #4760, phaeton for 5 passengers (on 140" wheel base) [ unless otherwise stated, photos and illustrations show the more numerous V-8 model ]      The phaeton for 4-5 passengers, style #4560,   cost $2,945 [ of these, 128 were built on the V-12 chassis, style #4760 ]                 This fine survivor (V-8 model) was found on the Internet             ...and here are a few more                            Another lovely survivor, offered for sale at auction in June 2012     ...and in V-12 configuration               I believe this one (and the one above, center) is in the Keyaerts Cadillac museum in Langeais, France; it was acquired  in 1988 from the Imperial Palace Hotel automobile collection   in Las Vegas by a Belgian industrialist, the late Robert Keyaerts, at the annual auction on April 23 and 34 April; the car is reported to have been owned first by screen star, James Cagney Another exquisite survivor [Photo: CCCA ]         [above 2 rows] Two/threeV-12 survivors; these cost $4045 each              [ Photo Cadillac GN, Savannah, 2008 ] Same car as above? [ Poor copy of period ad ]

 

Style #4502 and #4702, roadster for 2 passengers (with rumble seat) [ unless otherwise stated, photos and illustrations show the more numerous V-8 model ]      The roadster for 2 passengers, style #4502,  cost $2,845 This "little red roadster" was photographed in Switzerland in the 80s      Lovely survivor for sale at auction, circa 2011                     Survivor photos: (left) courtesy of Katie Robbins, (center) courtesy of the late Gene Babow, (right) Internet photo, 2000 ... and one in the USA   ...and in V-12 configuration          91 such roadsters [style #4702]  were built on a V-12 chassis, like these three survivors; they cpost $3945               Above three rows: Hyman Classic Cars.

 

Style #4555S and #4755S, sedan for 5 passengers [ leather roof covering no quarter windows ] [ no pics ] 41 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

Style #4575 and #4775, imperial (limousine) for 7 passengers   39 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931 Artist's views are from period ad [ Source: Z. Taylor Vinson collection ]

 

Style #4530S and #4730S, sedan for 5 passengers 31 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931   Style #4630, limousine for 5 passengers Production numbers unknown

 

Style #4575S and #4775S, sedan for 7 passengers [ no pics ] 28 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

Style #4555 and #4755, imperial (limousine) for 5 passengers [ leather roof covering no quarter windows ] [ no pics ] 18 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

Style #4530 and #4730, imperial (limousine) for 5 passengers 14 units like this one were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931 This one was used as a police car!

 

Style #4591 and #4791, town car for 7 passengers [ no leather roof covering, full quarter windows ] [ image] 14 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

Style #4512 and #4712, town car for 5 passengers [ leather roof covering, no quarter windows ] [ no pics ] 12 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

Style #4525 and #4725, town car for 7 passengers [ leather roof covering, no quarter windows ] [ no pics ] 12 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

Style #4512 and #4712, town car for 5 passengers [ leather roof covering, no quarter windows ] [ no pics ] 12 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

Style #4520 and #4720, town car for 7 passengers [ leather roof covering, non quarter windows ] [ no pics ] 8 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

Style #4550 and #4750, imperial (limousine) for 7 passengers [ leather roof covering (?), designated as a "transformable cabriolet" ] [ no pics ] 2 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

Style #4564 and #4764, town car for 5 passengers [ also known as a razor-edged Brougham ] [ no pics ] 2 units were built on the V-12 chassis in 1931

 

 

Bodies by Fleetwood
[ Unique body styles ]

Style #4585 and #4785, convertible coupe, "Victoria" for 5 passengers     Chrome-plated hood vents were a popular option in 1930-32

 

Style #4590 and #4790, special all-weather phaeton (Sport Phaeton)

 

Style #4525C, #4825 and #4825C, town car for 7 passengers (with or without landaulet roof) [ leather roof covering, no quarter windows ]

 

Style #4556A and #4856A, imperial (limousine) for 8 passengers [ no pics ]

 

Style #4564A and #4864A, town car for 5 passengers (boot toe sill ?) [ also known as a razor-edged Brougham ] [ no pics ]

 

 

Style #4582 and #4882, sedan for 7 passengers [ special, light-colored leather  roof covering, designated a "Sedanette" ] [ no pics ]

 

Style #4583 and #4883, imperial (limousine) for 7 passengers [ special, light-colored leather  roof covering, designated a "Limousette" ] [ no pics ]

 

 

Custom Jobs by Fleetwood
[ Unique body styles ]

 

Bodies by Fleetwood
[ "Mystery" body style - included in Master Parts Books ]

Style #4550, touring car for 7 passengers [ designated as a " full collapsible cabriolet" ] This is the version on the V8 chassis   Style #4750, touring car for 7 passengers [ designated as a " full collapsible cabriolet" ]

 

Style #4564Q and #4864Q, town car for 5 passengers (with quarter windows) [ also known as a razor-edged Brougham ] [ no pics ]

 

[ no photo ] The sedan for seven passengers, style #4503

 

 

[ no factory photo available ] The limousine for seven passengers, style #31-263, cost $3,095 [ of these, 96 were built on the V-12 chassis] For sale in 2005, this survivor is powered by the V-12 engine; the ad asserts that it is #166 of an alleged 211 units built ???

 

The town car for seven passengers, style #4550 [cost not listed]

 

Poor magazine print of  custom job by Lancefield of England [ The general line is similar to Fleetwood style #4155 on the V16 chassis ]

 

Details

 

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or go back to the Cadillac photo index page to pick another year

 

© 1996, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.
[ Background image:  front clip of the new, V-8 models (the V-12 and V-16 wore a different badge) ]