Cars
February 9, 2012 3:46 PM
A rolling history project
David and Connie Hime's 1941 Cadillac has come a long way since it was sold new in Washington D.C. 70 years ago and David is dedicated to finding out as much as he can about the car's history, while preserving its originality.
The Wichita Eagle
David Hime
The Wichita Eagle
One of the owner's favorite aspects of this car is its long, gracefully sloping roof line, which emphasizes the car's imposing size.
The Wichita Eagle
One of the few changes in the car is the front seat upholstery, which was replaced with fabric from a similar car. Hime hopes to find the right material to perfectly match the immaculate rear seat.
The Wichita Eagle
The Cadillac's build sheet indicates it came with blackwall tires and red wheels, but there's no denying the Firestone wide whitewall bias-ply tires add a touch of class to the overall package.
The Wichita Eagle
The Cadillac crest is prominently featured on the sloping decklid and is in pristine condition.
The Wichita Eagle
Even the fender skirts carry iconic Cadillac badging; the '41 still had separate fenders and running boards, reflecting earlier styling.
The Wichita Eagle
One of the most striking changes in the '41 Cadillac was its massive egg crate grille, which carried over into later model years.
The Wichita Eagle
The interior of the '41 Cadillac shows only minimal wear, appropriate for a car built just before WWII. It was the first year for a fully automatic transmission in a Cadillac, but the Himes' car came equipped with the tried-and-true 3-speed manual gearbox.
The Wichita Eagle
If there was any question whether the pre-war Cadillac was a luxury car, a glance at the sumptuous back seat clears up any doubt. Passengers were treated to plush seating featuring center and side armrests, the latter equipped with rolltop ash trays.
The Wichita Eagle
Standard in all Cadillacs in 1941 was a 346 cubic inch flathead V-8 producting 150 horsepower. Note the dual-chambered oil bath air cleaner and the unusual location for the exhaust crossover pipe, on top of the engine.
The Wichita Eagle
The decorative vents along either sideof the long hood are functional, helping to vent engine heat to the outside.
The Wichita Eagle
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