1951 Cadillac Facts, Figures, and Specifications
Five Fast Facts You May Not Know
1951 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
1951 Cadillac Series 61 4-Door Sedan
1. OHV V-8 Continues Unchanged
2. Hydra-Matic Drive Standard Only In Series 60 and 62
3. Warning Lights Replace Some Gauges
4. Manual Transmssion Still Standard in Series 75
5. New Bumper "Bullets" Dominate Grille
1951 Cadillac – Refinement is the Message
A minor face lift and small trim variations were the only Cadillac styling changes for 1951. Larger, bullet shaped bumper guards were fitted. Inside, red warning lights replaced the gauges for voltage and oil pressure. The 331 CID V-8, introduced in 1949, was unchanged for 1951 Cadillacs.
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1951 Cadillac Facts –
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1951 Cadillac
| Argent Gray | |
| Black | |
| 2 Empress Blue | |
| 3 Exeter Green | |
| 4 Capri Green | |
| 5 Cadet Blue | |
| 6 Tuscon Beige | |
| 7 Corinth Blue | |
| 8 Savoy Gray | |
| 9 Bolero Maroon | |
| 10 Mist Gray | |
| 12 Chester Green | |
| 22 Fiesta Ivory |
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1951 Cadillac Facts and Specifications
General Year Information – 1951 Cadillac Facts
A minor face lift and small trim variations were the main Cadillac styling news in 1951. Miniature egg crate grilles were set into the outboard grille extension panels below the headlights. Larger, bullet shaped bumper guards were used, borrowing these bumper bullets from the 1951 GM Le Sabre show car. Inside, red warning “idiot” lamps replaced the gauges for secondary instruments – voltage and oil pressure. The same 331 CID V-8, introduced in 1949, was used for the 1951 Cadillacs, with minor revisions for the drive train.
Cadillac features list included handbrake, warning lamp, key start ignition, steering column cover, Delco-Remy generator, knee-action front suspension, directional signals, mechanical fuel pump, dual downdraft carburetor, slipper-type pistons, rubber engine mounts, oversize brakes, and “Super Cushion” tire, intake silencer, oil bath air cleaner, and automatic choke. On the dashboard, red warning “idiot lights” were used to monitor oil pressure and electrical charge rate instead of gauges.
Series 60 Special
1951 showed little change from 1950, apart from a new grille and bumper design. Despite a price jump to $4,060, the 4,155 lb (1,885 kg)-shipping-weight Sixty Special broke records for the second year in a row, as sales now hit 18,631.
Series 61
The smaller body was once again used on the 61s and again identified by the lack of chrome underscores. However a new medallion appeared on the rear roof pillar of the Series 61, above the upper belt line molding.
Series 62
Full-length chrome rocker panels set off the 1951 model, and the Coupe de Ville was now marked with noticeably-improved trim, including “Coupe de Ville” in script on the rear roof pillar. Sales were 81,844, or a record of over 74% of all Cadillacs sold. Popular Mechanics reported about 12-MPG at 45 mph.
Series 75
The minor face lift and small trim variations were the main styling news in 1951. Jump seats were used in both the seven-passenger sedan and Imperial limousine. Hydramatic automatic transmission was optional and hydraulic window lifts were standard. Business sedans were built in limited numbers on a special order basis.
Historical
The Series 61 line was discontinued in the middle of the year due to lagging sales.
1951 Cadillac – Factoids
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- New Bumper "Bullets" Dominate Grille
- Warning Lights Replace Some Gauges
- Manual Transmission Still Standard on the Series 75
Larger, bullet shaped style bumper guards were fitted this year and would become a signature for many years to come. The idea was taken from the LeSabre Show car of 1950.
Market research had indicated to GM that Cadillac owners were little concerned with studying gauge information on their smoothly operating vehicles, and that generator operation and oil pressure was seldom checked. Accordingly, these two gauges were changed to red waning gauges should an issue surface – setting the stage for what became the future “idiot lights”.
There was a prevailing concept in Cadillac that chauffeurs and owners of the Series 75 were more concerned about reliability and low service issues rather than the ease of use of the Hydra-Matic transmission. Thus, the automatic remained an option on the most expensive and luxurious line.
1951 Cadillac Facts – Models Offered
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Cadillac Series 61: The smaller body was again used on 61s and again identified by the lack of full-length chrome underscores. However, a new medallion now appeared on the rear roof pillar of these cars, above the upper belt line molding.
Models Available: 4-door Sedan and 2-door hardtop Club Coupe.
Series 62: Series 62 models had full-length chrome underscores on the rocker panels, rear fender skirts and lower rear quarters. The sedan had a conventional backlight and featured rear ventipanes. “Coupe DeVille” in script was placed on the rear roof pillar of this model which, like the convertible, was an exclusive Series 62 offering. This script clearly distinguished the more luxurious DeVille from the plainer Club Coupe, a distinction not emphasized in 1950. Hydra-Matic drive was regular equipment on all models (with a new type indicator) and power windows were standard on the Convertible and Coupe DeVille
Models Available: 4-door Sedan, 4-door Export Sedan, 2-door Coupe, Coupe DeVille, and Convertible.
Series 60 Special: The 60 Special Fleetwood sedan was updated to conform with the minor changes in other models. Eight vertical chrome louvers on the forward edge of the rear fenders continued as the identifier of this car. To note, all 1951 Cadillacs with full wheel discs featured a new type design lacking the popular Sombrero look. Hydra-Matic and power windows were standard on Sixty Specials.
Models Available: 4-door Sedan only.
Series 75. The Series 75 Fleetwood models are also restyled to conform to the minor changes seen in other lines. Jump seats were used in both the seven-passenger sedan and Imperial limousine. Hydra-Matic drive was optional, but hydraulic window lifts were standard. Business sedans were built in limited numbers on a special order basis.
Models Available: 7523X 4-door Sedan 8 passenger, 7533X 4-door Imperial Sedan 8 passenger, 7523L and 4-door Business Sedan 8 passenger. A “Series 86” commercial chassis with 157 inch wheelbase was available on special order.
1951 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 302°, Exhaust 292°, Overlap 73°, Lift (Intake) 0.327″ (Exhaust) 0.327″.
Carburetor: Carter 2-barrel WCD 845S.
1951 Cadillac Facts – Chassis Features
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- Wheelbase: Series 61- 122.0″; 62 – 126.0″; Series 60 Special – 130.0″; Series 75 Fleetwood – 146.75″.
- Overall length: Series 61 – 211.5″; Series 62 4-door – 215.5″, Series 62 Coupes and Convertible – 220.5″; Series 60 Special: 224.5″; Series 75: 236.25″.
- Overall width: 80.125″.
- Overall height: Series 61 – 61.6875″, Series 62 4-door – 62.6875″, Series 62 2-door 60.9375″, Series 62 Convertible – 60.125″; Series 60S – 62.6875″; Series 75: 64.0625″.
- Front tread: 59.0″.
- Rear tread: 63.0″.
- Tires: Series 75 – 8.20 x 15; All Others: 8.00 x 15.
1951 Cadillac Facts – Powertrains
- Four Speed Hydramatic Transmission Ratios
- 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
- 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 – 3.36:1; Series 75 – 4.27:1
1951 Cadillac Facts – Power Train Options
- Transmission:
- Three Speed Manual Transmission: Standard on Series 61 and Series 75.
- 4-speed Hydra-matic Transmission: Standard on Series 62, 60S; Optional Series 61 and 75.
1951 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, Standard Series 62 and 60S
- Hydraulic window lifts available Series 61 & 62 models – standard on Series 62 Convertible & Coupe DeVille as well as Series 60S & 75.
- License plate 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.
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1951 Cadillac Series 75 4-door Sedan
The 1951 Cadillac Series 75 4-door Sedan was the extended wheelbase luxury sedan sitting on a 146 inch chassis. 5,165 were built in various configurations, of these and including 2,960 “commercial chassis” on a 157 inch wheelbase.
1951 Cadillac Series 60 Special
The 1951 Cadillac Series 60 Special split the difference between the Series 75 and the Series 62 4-door Sedans. It featured an ultra luxurious interior a stretched 130 inch wheelbase and a huge trunk. A solid 18,631 were sold this year.
1951 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible
The 1951 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible was the only drop top in the line. 6,117 found happy customers.
1951 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe De Ville
The 1951 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe De Ville was the most luxurious coupe in the line trimmed very much like a convertible. 10,241 were delivered.
1951 Cadillac Series 62 4-door Sedan
The 1951 Cadillac Series 62 4-door Sedan was, by far, the most popular Cadillac this year with 54,596 delivered. Additionally, another 765 “Export Sedans” were produced for foreign markets.
1951 Cadillac Series 62 2-door Coupe
The 1951 Cadillac Series 62 2-door Coupe was the less expensive Series 62 2-door, trimmed like a Series 62 4-door sedan and costing $600 less than the Coupe De Ville. 10,132 were sold.
1951 Cadillac Series 61 4-door Sedan
The 1951 Cadillac Series 61 4-door Sedan was the short wheelbase 4-door. it was reasonably priced at $2,917, sitting in the Oldsmobile price range, but only 2,300 buyers chose it. It would not reappear in 1952.
1951 Cadillac Series 61 2-door Coupe
The 1951 Cadillac Series 61 2-door Coupe was also the “economy” 2-door this year sitting on the 122″ chassis and costing only $2,810 base price. Its popularity was waning in a growing economy with only 2,400 delivered. It would not return in 1952.
