1953 Cadillac Fact Sheet

1953 Cadillac Facts, Figures, and Specifications

The 1953 Cadillac Eldorado was a custom-built convertible  powered by the same engine that powered all other Cadillacs. That would change in 1955.

 

 

1953 Cadillac Features
Refinement versus Change

Cleaning up the car’s styling was featured in 1953, however late in the production year the lim­ited-edition Eldorado luxury convertible was added .

1953 Cadillac Resources

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1953 Cadillac Facts –
Body Paint Color Codes

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1953 Cadillac

  1 Black
  2 Cobalt Blue
  3 Forest Green
  4 Emerald Green
  5 Tunis Blue
  6 Phoenix Beige
  7 Pastoral Blue
  8 Norman Gray
  9 Burgundy Maroon
  10 Court Gray
  12 Crystal Green
  13 Gloss Green
  22 Artisan Ocher
  27 Alpine White
  28 Azure Blue
  29 Aztec Red

1953 Cadillac – What’s It Worth?

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1953 Cadillac Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1953 Cadillac Facts

Changes seen in 1953 Cadillacs included a redesigned grille with heavier integral bumper and bumper guards, the repositioning of parking lamps directly under the headlights, chrome ‘eyebrow’ type headlamp doors and one-piece rear windows without division bars. Wheel discs were fashioned in an attractive new dished design. Standard equipment included all items featured the year before.

Late in the production year the limited-edition Eldorado luxury convertible was added to this model range. A full assort¬ment of DeLuxe accessories, including wire wheels, were standard on this specialty car which introduced the wraparound windshield for production models.

On August 12, a fire at the Hydra-Matic transmission factory in Livonia, Mich. broke out and would bring a damaging halt to production within a week. It was September 8 before Cadillacs began leaving the factory again. Total production jumped from 90,259 to 109,119, of which 532 were the new Eldorado.

1953 Cadillac – Factoids

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The Cadillac LeMans show car convertible was displayed this year and would heavily influence styling of the 1954 Eldorado. It has a special 270 horsepower V-8 with dual four-barrel carburetion and a fiberglass body – an engine that would debut in 1955.

 

After GM’s Hydra-Matic plant in Livonia, Michigan burned to the ground on August 12, 1953, about 28,000 Cadillacs were built with Buick’s Dyna-flow transmission.

1953 Cadillac Facts – Models Offered

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Cadillac Series 62: Series 62 models were identified by non-louvered rear fenders, the use of thin bright metal on the bottom rear of the cars only and the decoration of both hood and deck lid with Cadillac crests and V-shaped ornaments. As was the practice since 1951, Series 62 sedan bodies measured five inches less than the other styles. “Coupe DeVille” in script was placed on the roof pillar of the luxury hardtop model.

Standard equipment included self-winding clocks, dual-range Hydra-Matic drive, improved directional signal indicators, glare-proof mirrors, and all other features seen the year before. Hydraulic window lifts remained as regular equipment on convertibles and Coupe De Villes. Once again,  four-barrel carburetion was featured.

Series 60 Special: The Series 60 wide door model was defined by eight vertical louvers on the lower rear fenders directly behind the fender break line of the wide-door sedan. The Series 60 model was distinguished by exclusive extra-wide full-length chrome and a Fleetwood insignia on the rear deck lid.

Standard equipment included self-winding clocks, dual-range Hydra-Matic drive, improved directional signal indicators, glare-proof mirrors, and hydraulic window lifts. Once again,  four-barrel carburetion was featured.

 

Series 75 Fleetwood. Styling facelifts on the cars in the 75 Fleetwood line conformed to those seen on the other models. Standard equipment mirrored the Series 60. Regular production models included the Imperial eight-passenger limousine with glass partition or eight-passenger sedan, both with jump seats.

Eldorado Model 6267SX: The Cadillac Eldorado was a custom-built version of the Series 62 Convertible. while some of the components of the donor car were retained, the body was hand built and included a chopped windshield and cutaway doors. Upholstery was specific to the car and not done by hand. With a $7,750 base pric tag, it was designed to compete with luxury cars from the world over.

1953 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: 8.25:1.
Horsepower: 210 @ 4150 RPM.
Torque: 330 ft. lbs. @ 2700 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 269°, Exhaust 270°, Overlap 49°, Lift (Intake) 0.365″ (Exhaust) 0.365″.
Carburetor: Carter WCFB 2005S or Rochester 4CG 7006963 with AC, 7006962 without AC.

1953 Cadillac Facts – Chassis Features

    • Wheelbase: Series 62 – 126.0″; Series 60 Special – 130.0″; Series 75 Fleetwood – 146.75″.
    • Overall length: Series 62 Sedan: 215.8″; All Other Series 62: 220.8″; Series 60 Special: 224.8″; Series 75: 236.5.
    • Front tread: All: 59.15″,
    • Rear tread: Series 75: 63.16″; All Others: 63.10″, .
    • Overall width: All except Series 60S: 80.1″ Series 60S: 80.6″.
    • Tires: Series 75 – 8.20 x 15, All Others: 8.00 x 15.

1953 Cadillac Facts – Powertrains

  • Four Speed Hydramatic Transmission Ratios
    • All: 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
    • Series 75: 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 – 3.07:1
    • Manual transmission: Series 75 – 3.77:1

1953 Cadillac Facts – Power Train Options

  • Transmission:
    • Dual Range 4-speed Hydra-matic Transmission: Series 62, Series 60S, standard, optional Series 75..
    • Three Speed Manual Transmission: Standard Series 75; not available on all other Series.
  • Transmission Ratios:
    • Dual Range Hydra-matic: 1st: 3.89:1, 2nd: 2.634:1, 3rd: 1.450:1, 4th: 1.00:1,  Reverse: 4.304:1
    • Three Speed Manual: 1st: 2.39:1, 2nd: 1.53:1, 3rd: 1.00:1, Reverse: 4.304:1
  • Rear Axle:
    • Series 62 and Series 60S: 3.07:1
    • Series 75: 3.77:1, except where Dual Range Hydra-matic fitted: 3.07:1

1953 Cadillac Facts –
Significant Options

    • Autronic Eye Automatic headlamp beam control ($53).
    • Chrome wire wheels ($325).
    • Dor-Gards.
    • Electric clock.
    • Fold-down tissue dispenser.
    • Handy mats.
    • Handy spot.
    • Heating and ventilation system ($199).
    • Hydra-Matic drive on Series 75 ($186).
    • Hydraulic window lifts Series 62 models except Convertible & Coupe DeVille.
    • Instrument panel, safety padded.
    • License frames.
    • Outside rear view mirror, left-hand remote control
    • Outside rear view mirror, right-hand
    • Power Brakes Standard
    • Power steering ($177).
    • Radio, remote control, signal-seeking with preselector and antenna ($214). White sidewall tires x5 ($48 exchange).
    • Radio, signal-seeking with preselector and antenna ($132).
    • Tinted E-Z-Eye glass ($46).
    • Tool kit.
    • Windshield washer.

1953 Cadillac Downloads and Images

1953 Cadillac Facts –
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Downloads

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1953 Cadillac Foldout Brochure

1953 Cadillac Eldorado Brochure

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1953 Cadillac AMA Specifications Sheets

1953 Cadillac Production Figures

1953 Cadillac Facts –
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