1940 Cadillac Fleetwood was one of the most elegant and expensive cars produced by Cadillac in the day, and its coachwork by Fleetwood featured some of the most beautiful design elements available on any car at the time.
It’s now an incredibly rare classic car, but one that can still be admired today through these 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood pictures.
The Cadillac Fleetwood automobile first entered production in the year 1927, and by the year 1940, it had become even more sleek and elegant than before.
A new V-12 engine was included as well as some other improvements that made this car one of the most expensive and most elegant cars of its time.
The Cadillac Fleetwood was in production until 1942 when it was succeeded by the Cadillac Series 62.
Introduction
Since it was first introduced in 1902, Cadillac has been one of America’s most prestigious automobile brands, this reputation wasn’t won easily.
It took a lot of trial and error to come up with a design that would attract wealthy buyers while retaining a reputation for high-quality workmanship. 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood features coachwork by Fleetwood is one example:
When it was new, many reviewers called it the best car that money can buy. But there were others who thought its high price made it prohibitively expensive for most consumers.
By today’s standards, our 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood seems almost understated – but luxury cars were more subdued when new. If you want to learn more about how 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood changed over time, read on to find out.
History
Cadillac Fleetwood has historically been the epitome of luxury, and the 1940 model was no exception. It featured many amenities that helped it stand out from other cars of its time, like push-button start and power brakes.
This car was an important part of Cadillac’s history because it marked their first full-size model with a V8 engine as standard, which would be the foundation of their luxury brand in the coming years.
But let’s take a closer look at the 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood, so you can better understand why it’s such an important car today.
The well-appointed and luxurious 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood was one of the finest and most advanced cars in history.
Introduced to Americans by General Motors, or GM, in 1929, it quickly became a favorite among consumers due to its comfort, speed, and versatility.
The car did not serve as a military vehicle during World War II since it was discontinued before hostilities began, but it did return for post-war models for several years.
In total production, more than 1 million Cadillacs were sold in two separate periods over a span of 16 years.
Read also: 10 List Classic Cars from the 1940s: Classic and Timeless Design
Production, and Model Variations
Caddyshack-era 1980s Cadillacs will always have a special place in classic American culture, but that doesn’t mean they should be exalted to legendary status.
Yes, they are fun cars to drive, but they are also horrible experiences, churning through gas like there’s no tomorrow while leaking all kinds of fluid onto your driveway.
By far, Caddyshack is one of my favorite movies, but even I would rather own a 1975 or 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood than engage in an oil change every other day.
There were also plenty of other cool cars during that time period: Jaguars and BMWs come to mind.
Advertising
The 1940 Cadillac was produced in four series, Fleetwood Series 70, Fleetwood Series 75, Series 90 V16 limousine, and Series 91 V16 town car.
All these models are referred to as Fleetwood. It included all Cadillacs sold between 1940 and 1942. During that period, 37,034 were built.
They became popular after World War II for conversion into armored cars for high-ranking military officers including General Douglas MacArthur who used one during his reign as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Japan after WWII.
Awards
This Cadillac won multiple awards, including Most Beautiful Street Car, at its first major car show. (Y’know, I don’t really care.) What is important to know is that it was named after company founder Henry M. Leland and was an instant hit when it first rolled out onto American roads in 1904.
One thing that many people fail to realize is that Fleetwood actually created a number of bodies for various makes and models, not just Cadillacs.
For example, they were well known for their work on Packard’s cars as well as their own prestigious luxury car line; ‘Fleetwood’ was in fact originally meant to be both a car body as well as a name brand.
How Much is a 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood Worth?
While there were many different car manufacturers in 1940, perhaps the most iconic was the Cadillac Fleetwood by Cadillac, or simply Cadillac as the brand is commonly known today.
Although it’s no longer in production today, you can still find these classics if you know where to look, including on eBay and Craigslist. But how much exactly does one of these 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood cars cost?
At launch, which was held at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel on April 12th, 1940, customers could purchase one of these automobiles for $5200.
Why the 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood is the Most Desirable Model?
When Cadillac introduced its new 1940 model, the Fleetwood, it was met with almost universal praise from both critics and customers alike.
In fact, this particular year has become one of the most highly sought-after models to ever be produced by Cadillac – and that’s because the 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood came equipped with a number of upgrades that made it significantly more desirable than the previous years’ models had been.
With that in mind, here are just three reasons why you should invest in a 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood rather than another model from the same year.
Background
The 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood was a very special car. As a custom-ordered vehicle that debuted in 1939, it had many exclusive options and designs, including beautiful houndstooth upholstery and seat belts in every seat.
1940 was also one of the most streamlined models of its time. At just over 12 feet long, it was one of Caddy’s longest cars ever built at that point.
By modern standards, it would be considered medium-sized or even small (measuring almost 20 inches shorter than today’s Escalade).
But when compared to other 1930s luxury cars, there really was nothing like it on the road.
The Advantages of 1940
The 1940 model was a top pick for many different reasons. First, it featured a number of upgrades from prior years.
The most notable include larger rear-view mirrors, new seats in all vehicles, and updated transmissions that kept cars moving on hilly roads. But perhaps what made it such a popular model was its beautiful design features.
Automobiles at that time had large grills and big edges around doors and windshields; they were often referred to as boats on wheels.
The models immediately following the war tended to be smaller and much sleeker than previous models, making them attractive to those who were looking for an older model but wanted something sleeker than some of their predecessors had been.
Maintenance
We’re big fans of classic cars, but we know most owners don’t have much experience maintaining them.
There are a few steps you can take, however, to keep your classic in excellent condition for years and decades to come.
Aside from regular washing and waxing – which should be done on a weekly basis – keep up with other maintenance tasks like an oil change (we recommend changing oil every 6 months), tire rotation, and valve repair/replacement.
All of these tasks are fairly simple, don’t cost very much money at all, and will help extend your car’s life by years.
Performance
Under regular circumstances, each of these individual parts would be worth $500-700. When considering that it is a completely restored Cadillac, worth a little more than $5,000 altogether.
And as you can see from our pictures, we have spared no expense in making sure that every single part of every single car was carefully and lovingly restored to its former glory.
Our team had one goal in mind when we began working on these cars: To make them perfect again. Not just enough to get by – but truly perfect again.
Artistic Licence
The 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood is a fan favorite for fans of history. This model was constructed in honor of industry pioneer Henry M. Leland.
And he was so thrilled with the custom design that he reportedly proclaimed There’s nothing like it on Earth. If you’re a fan of taking risks, there are few options out there as exciting as our precious fleet.
From its eye-catching sloping trunk to its side exhaust pipes, no other vehicle could express your personality better while turning heads everywhere you go. Put down your penny and take home what may be your best investment yet!
