1949 Cadillac Facts, Figures, and Specifications
Five Fast Facts You May Not Know
1949 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
1. First Year for Famous OHV V-8
2. Hydra-Matic Drive Still Optional
3. Series 75 has 5 Different Models
4. Coupe DeVille Introduces Hardtop
5. Sales Almost Double to Over 92 Thousand
1949 Cadillac – The Modern OHV V-8 Arrives!
For 1949, Cadillac delivered its first OHV V-8. Bore and stroke were 3.8125″ x 3.625″ for an overall displacement of 331.1 CID. It weighed 200 pounds less than the old L-head V-8, and it was shorter and its overall height was lower. The Cadillac Series 62 Coupe de Ville (hardtop coupe) was introduced later this year.
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1949 Cadillac
| 1 Black | |
| 2 Triumph Blue | |
| 3 Dartmouth Green | |
| 4 Tyrolian Gray | |
| 5 Cypress Green | |
| 6 El Paso Beige | |
| 7 Horizon Blue | |
| 9 Madeira Maroon | |
| 10 French Gray | |
| 13 Kingswood Green | |
| 16 Lucerne Green | |
| 17 Corinth Blue | |
| 18 Avalon Gray | |
| 21 Chartreuse | |
| 22 Fiesta Ivory |
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1949 Cadillac Facts and Specifications
General Year Information – 1949 Cadillac Facts
The big news at Cadillac in 1949 was centered on engineering, with the release of a new overhead valve V-8 engine. This 331 CID engine produced 160 HP. Only minor appearance changes were seen. They included a more massive grille treatment with grooved extension panels housing the front parking lights and chevron slashes below the taillamps on the coupes. A larger luggage compartment lid was seen on all sedans except early production units. Standard equipment now included twin back-up lamps mounted on the deck lid latch panel.
The Cadillac Series 62 Coupe deVille was introduced late in the 1949 model year. Along with the Buick Roadmaster Riviera, and the Oldsmobile 98 Holiday, it was the first pillarless hardtop coupe ever produced. At $3,496, it was only a dollar less than the Series 62 convertible, and like the convertible, it came with power windows standard. It was luxuriously trimmed, with leather upholstery and chrome “bows” in the headliner to simulate the ribs of a convertible top
1949 Cadillac – Factoids
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The Cadillac Series 62 Coupe deVille hardtop was introduced late in the 1949 model year. It was an immediate hit. 2,150 were delivered in this abbreviated model year.
The big news at Cadillac in 1949 was centered on the release of a new overhead valve V-8 engine. The 331 CID engine produced 160 HP versus the 1948 L-Head’s 346 CID and 130 HP.
1949 Cadillac Facts – Models Offered
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Cadillac Series 61: Only minor appearance changes were seen. They included a more massive grille treatment with grooved extension panels housing the front parking lights and chevron slashes below the taillamps on Series 61 coupes. Once again, the cars in this line lacked front fender gravel shields and rocker panel moldings and had plainer interior trims. A larger luggage compartment lid was seen on all sedans, except very early production units. Standard equipment now included twin backup lamps mounted on the deck lid latch panel.
Models Available: 4-door Sedan and 2-door Club Coupe.
Series 62: The major difference between Series 61 and Series 62 models of similar body style was minor trim variations. The higher-priced series again had grooved, front fender stone shields and bright rocker panel moldings. Chevrons below the taillights were no longer seen. The convertible was an exclusive offering, as was a new pillarless two-door ‘convertible hardtop’ called the Coupe DeVille. A more DeLuxe interior was featured and power window lifts were standard on the convertible coupe and optional with other styles.
Models Available: 4-door Sedan, 2-door Club Coupe, Coupe DeVille and Convertible.
Series 60 Special: The 60 Special Fleetwood sedan, had four chrome slashes on the rear roof pillar, thinner rear fender stone guards with front and rear extensions and Cadillac scripts mounted high on the front fenders, above the crease line. The new grille design with parking lamp extensions was seen along with standard backup lamps. Hydraulic window lifts were also regular equipment on this car. A more conventional dashboard design appeared on all Cadillacs this year, featuring a horizontal speedometer.
Models Available: 4-door Sedan and 2-door Sport Coupe.
Series 75. To accommodate luxury-class buyers, the long-wheelbase Fleetwood models were carried over without any basic changes, except for revisions to the dashboard design which followed those on other models.
Models Available: 49-7519X 4-door Sedan 5 Passenger, 49-7523X 4-door Sedan 7 Passenger, 49-7523L 4-door Business Sedan 9 Passenger, 49-7533X 4-door Imperial Sedan 7 Passenger, and 49-7533L 4-door Business Imperial Sedan 9 Passenger.
1949 Cadillac Facts – Engines
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Cadillac V-8: Overhead valves. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 331 CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.8125″ x 3.625″.
Compression ratio: 7.5:1.
Horsepower: 160 @ 3800 RPM.
Torque: 312 ft. lbs. @ 1800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: (with ramps) Intake 283°, Exhaust 283°, Overlap 68°, Lift (Intake) 0.330″ (Exhaust) 0.330″.
Carburetor: Carter WCD 2-barrel 682S or (late) Carter 2-barrel WCD 622S.
1949 Cadillac Facts – Chassis Features
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- Wheelbase: Series 61 and 62 – 126.0″; Series 60 Special – 133.0″; Series 75 Fleetwood – 136.25″.
- Overall length: Series 61 and 62: 215.1; Series 60 Special: 226.9″; Series 75: 226.0″.
- Front tread: Series 75: 58.5, All Others: 59.0″.
- Rear tread: Series 75: 62.5″; All Others: 63.0″.
- Overall width: Series 61-62: 78.9″; Series 60S: 78.2″; Series 75: 78.3″.
- Overall Height: 61-62 & 60S: 67.4″; Series 75: 68.5″.
- Tires: Series 75 – 8.20 x 15, All Others: 8.00 x 15.
1949 Cadillac Facts – Powertrains
- Four Speed Hydramatic Transmission Ratios
- Optional – Series 61, 62 and 60: 1st – 3.819:1, 2nd – 2.634:1, 3rd – 1.450:1, 4th – 1:1, Reverse – 4.304:1
- Stall Speed: 1400 RPM.
- Three Speed Manual Transmission Ratios
- All Series: 1st – 2.39:1, 2nd – 1.53:1, 3rd – 1:1, Reverse – 2.39:1
- Rear Gear Standard Ratios
- 4-Speed AMT: All except Series 75 – 3.36:1; Series 75 – 3.77:1
- Manual transmission: All except Series 75 – 3.77:1; Series 75 – 4.27:1
1949 Cadillac Facts – Power Train Options
- Transmission:
- Three Speed Manual Transmission: Standard.
- 4-speed Hydra-matic Transmission: Optional All Series.
1949 Cadillac Facts – Significant Options
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- Chrome wire wheels.
- Door-Guards.
- Electric clock.
- Fold-down tissue dispenser.
- Handy mats.
- Handy spot lite.
- Heating and ventilation system.
- Hydra-Matic drive.
- Hydraulic window lifts available on Series 62 models – standard on Convertible & Coupe DeVille.
- License frames.
- Outside rear view mirror, left-hand
- Outside rear view mirror, right-hand
- Radio.
- Tinted E-Z-Eye glass.
- Tool kit.
- Windshield washer.
- White sidewall tires.
1949 Cadillac Downloads and Images
1949 Cadillac Facts – Related Document Downloads
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1949 Cadillac Prestige Brochure
1949 Cadillac V-8 Engine Introduction Brochure
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1949 Cadillac Facts – Related Images
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1949 Cadillac Series 60 4-door Sedan
The 1949 Cadillac Series 60 4-door Sedan was the special 4-door that sat on the longer 133-inch wheelbase, offering larger rear seating and a larger trunk. 11,399 were delivered among which was one special hardtop coupe.
1949 Cadillac Series 62 2-door Coupe deVille
The 1949 Cadillac Series 62 2-door Coupe deVille was an all ne approach to closed top motoring offering convertible-like looks and style. A late 1949 entry, it sold 2,150 units
1949 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
The 1949 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible was a sought-after cruiser. 8,000 were snapped up by customers.
1949 Cadillac Series 62 4-door Sedan
The1949 Cadillac Series 62 4-door Touring Sedan was the most popular Cadillac this year with 37,617 produced.
1949 Cadillac Series 62 2-door Club Coupe
The 1949 Cadillac Series 62 2-door Club Coupe was the upscale fastback coupe in 1949. 7,515 were delivered.
1949 Cadillac Series 75 4-door Sedan
The 1949 Cadillac Series 75 4-door Sedan came in 5 different iterations and a “commercial chassis” was available in 163-inch wheelbase. 3,363 were produced.
1949 Cadillac Series 61 4-door Sedan
The 1949 Cadillac Series 61 4-door Sedan was a less expensive alternative to the popular Series 62 version. 15,738 were bought.
1949 Cadillac Series 61 2-door Club Coupe
The 1949 Cadillac Series 61 2-door Club Coupe was the entry-level Cadillac this year. 6,409 found buyers.
