[ last update: 11.22.2012 ]

The (new) Cadillac Database^©

Photo Pages
Cadillac

1940

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

1940 was the last year for the side-mounted spare wheels.   Bill Mitchell's 1938 Cadillac Sixty Special, with its concealed spare wheel in the trunk, had set a new trend in the industry. In addition, to make Cadillacs more affordable and hence increase sales volume, the company gradually drifted away from the custom body era, although many top-of-the range Fleetwood models still retained the exclusive look of the custom made car.

The Series 61  disappeared, giving way to a new, more refined Series 62 line,  A mid-range limousine line was added (the Series 72) for those who wanted the spaciousness of the Series 75 cars without their costly pizzazz. It was short-lived; it was replaced in 1941 with the Series 67 family limousine. 

You will find the illustrations below less exciting than those I have shown for 1939 and 1941; that is because I have been unable, as yet, to get a reasonably priced copy of the lush, spiral-bound, Fleetwood catalog for 1940.   Perhaps a kind enthusiast out there might be willing to color copy or scan for the Database, the fabulous artist's drawings from that catalog, of which a couple of color illustrations are shown below (the others being B&W).

Basic body shapes and interior trim remained unchanged from the 1939 models.  The notable trim differences are on the sides of the hood, the front radiator grille with its multiple horizontal bars and  cat-walk grilles on either side, carried over from 1939 in a slightly modified design.

The easiest way to distinguish a 1940 Cadillac from the rest is by the front clip and tail-light combination. The front clip was used on all series and models; for whatever reason, however, the fender mounted tail-light design  was NOT used on the Series 72 cars;  the latter used a unique design, where the tail-lights protruded from the rear body sides, half-way between belt-line and bumper (see photos, below).

The LaSalle, now in its final year, retained the old-style tear-drop tail-lights.  The front grille and lateral cat-walk grilles also are distinctive, despite a general resemblance with the 1939 style.

 

 

Tail-lights too are unmistakable; there are two different designs (below), the more common of which (upper image) was carried through to 1941 and 1942.

 

 

The 1940 models are classified, in ascending order of value, as   the Series 62, the Series Sixty Special, the Series 72 and the Series 75.  That is the order I have chosen to follow in this photo presentation.

Additional information on the 1940 models and the related sales literature may be found  in The (New) Cadillac Database© sections entitled "Descriptions and Specifications of Cadillac Cars 1938 - 1945",  "Cadillac and La Salle Sales Literature 1940 - 1945", "Dream Cars, 1940 - 1942", the "La Salle for 1940",  and "Sixteen Cylinder Cars for 1938-1940".

Further recommended reading includes:

(a) 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];

(b) "Cadillacs of the Forties" by my long-time friend Roy A. Schneider, © 1976, 1988 and 1999, published by Cadillac Motorbooks, P.O. Box 7, Temple City, CA 91780  [ISBN #0-917104-05-6, Library of Congress #76-7120].

Cars are listed in each Series, in ascending order of their rarity, rather than in ascending order of their list price at the time.

 

Typical Cadillac dealership show room in 1940

 

The Series 62
[129" wheel base]

 

Details

Easy to drive, even for a lady

One bare Series 62 chassis may have gone to an independent coach builder.

 

The Series Sixty-Special
[127" wheel base]

The Series 72
[138" wheel base]