Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: DrDre on December 05, 2022, 03:45:09 PM

Title: 1951 Cadillac Gearbox
Post by: DrDre on December 05, 2022, 03:45:09 PM
Hello,

I am new in this Forum, my name is Andreas and i am from Belgium and just buy my third Cadillac.

Here my first question:

I found a 51' Convertible in a barn here in Belgium and buy this Car and now i have see that are three pedals on the Car , that say it is a manual gearbox but i found no information over Cars from 1951 with a manual Gearbox.

Have some one information over that?

Thank you

Title: Re: 1951 Cadillac Gearbox
Post by: Chris Cummings on December 05, 2022, 05:10:15 PM
As late as 1953 you could order a Cadillac with a manual transmission.  Not many did in 1953.

Hope that helps.
Title: Re: 1951 Cadillac Gearbox
Post by: DrDre on December 06, 2022, 06:18:58 AM
Thank you
Title: Re: 1951 Cadillac Gearbox
Post by: Bob Schuman on December 06, 2022, 11:46:58 AM
A 51 convertible would be a Series 62 model. Starting with 1950 models, Hydra-Matic automatic transmission was standard in Series 60S and 62 Cadillacs, optional in series 61 and 75. In the 1951 models, the manual transmission was still standard in Series 75, and possibly Series 61. I say that because there is a conflict between some 1951 Cadillac documents whether or not the Series 61 cars were available with the manual transmission.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that into the early fifties it was possible to special order Cadillacs with a supposedly non-available feature, such as a manual transmission in a convertible, if the purchaser had the right "connections".
If you would care to provide the chassis and engine serial numbers for your car, that may allow a better answer to your question. The chassis number in on the top surface of the frame just a little behind the generator, and the engine number is stamped on the front of the right side engine block.
Title: Re: 1951 Cadillac Gearbox
Post by: Bob Hoffmann CLC#96 on December 06, 2022, 12:53:13 PM
Hi Andeas,
 I owned a car like that years ago. What color is your car? What color is your interior?
It might be the same car.
 Bob
Title: Re: 1951 Cadillac Gearbox
Post by: Jay Friedman on December 06, 2022, 04:27:11 PM
In '51 a manual transmission was still standard equipment on Series 61, Series 75 limousines and Series 86 hearses.  However, as Bob Schuman wrote, Cadillac would supply a manual transmission on Series 62 or 60 if special ordered.  The late Matt Larsen documented this on 19 or so '53 Cadillacs. I would think a 1951 Series 62 convertible for export to Belgium could be easily ordered with a manual transmission, since at the time there were would have been few cars with Hydra-matics in Europe and few mechanics who could work on them. 

Andreas, what information do you need on the car?  The people in on this forum can answer most any question you might have.
Title: Re: 1951 Cadillac Gearbox
Post by: DrDre on December 09, 2022, 05:37:11 PM
Hello,

Thank you for the answer.

The original Color is Corinth Blue and two tone blue interior but i'ts gone the car stan many years still in a Barn but came's from the USA , i found it in 2016 but the owner  don't sell it on this time. in 2021 he call me back and after talking and that i belive to restore the Car he sell it to me.
He i matching numbers and rust free only he must compleet restored, that is my work for the next Year's  :D .
Later i make a topic with the Frame off Restauration and have for shure many Questions. I see also the original stamps on the firewall. Only the rear seat is missing, later i send pictures but i am not a great hero in pictures place in a forum .

Bodynumber 1239
Frame and engine 516221023

Have some one information how much manual Convertibles are build in 51?
The Steer is that different with the Gauge?



Title: Re: 1951 Cadillac Gearbox
Post by: Jay Friedman on December 09, 2022, 06:44:53 PM
In 1951 Cadillac built 110,340 cars. The data available show that approximately 2% of these had a manual transmission or about 2,200 cars.  There is no data that I have seen which shows which model '51 had a manual transmission. Since Series 62, including convertibles, were equipped with Hydra-matic transmissions as standard equipment, very few convertibles would have been "special ordered" with a manual transmission. I would guess no more than 3 or 4 or 5.