The 1938 models were introduced in October 1937. Gone were the V-12 models but a new generation of V-16 was launched. Those models are covered in detail in these sections of the Database: V-16 production from 1938-1940 and V-16 survivors of the 1938-40 production run
I have classified the 1938 cars into the following groups (in ascending order of value): the series Sixty, Sixty Special, Sixty-Five, Seventy-Five (all V-8) and Ninety (V-16). Within each series, the cars are listed in order of their rarity, the most numerous coming first on the list.
Illustrations herein are from my private collection, except for those from the prestige Fleetwood catalog, loaned to me kindly by Z. Taylor Vinson of Alexandria, VA. Some more factory photos as well as surviving cars may be added later, space permitting.
Each car is identified by (a) the "Series" code, namely the first two digits, and (b) the "Style" code, that is the last two digits and - in some cases - a letter suffix. Some additional descriptions of these double-digit body styling codes may be found in The (New) Cadillac Database© section entitled "Styling".
The sales and merchandising catalogs published by the Cadillac company in 1938 were to set a new trend in magnificence that lasted until 1941; the 1942 prestige catalog was already diminishing in size and splendor.
Once again, factory artists were called on to make the new models look even sleeker than they really were. This method of advertising continued on up to 1970, when "artistic license" got so far out of control that a new law was passed requiring manufacturers to show actual photos of their cars in their advertising brochures.
The variety of models available makes it relatively difficult to pin-point an easy ID feature. The initial pictures below will give a general idea of the differences between one Series and another.
The sprawling Cadillac factory premises
on Clark Street, Detroit, in 1938
