[ last update: 12.28.2007 ]

The (new) Cadillac Database©

Cadillac Styling

 

The Fisher
System of Styling Codes

 

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or go back to the Styling index page
or view a summary of Fleetwood styling codes

 

I have seen reference numbers for Fisher body styles as far back as 1915.  Fleetwood introduced its own coding system in the late twenties.

This section merely lists all known Fisher body identification numbers in simple, numerical order, by year, with a brief description of the body style and the year when it was built.

In the thirties, the Fisher styling codes sometimes were preceded by two other digits, separated or not by a hyphen. The first two numerals simply indicate the model year: "30" = 1930, "31" = 1931, "32" = 1932, etc. The final three or four digits identify the body style.  Some other sources of reference include one or two more digits placed between the year and the style number, to indicate the engine configuration: "8" = V-8 engine, "12" = V-12 engine and "16" = V-16 engine; for example, Fisher styling code "32-16-178" identifies the 2-passenger coupe on the V-16 chassis for 1932.

For some unique body styles on the V-16 chassis, Fisher occasionally used a numbering system similar to that used by Fleetwood [with "LX" prefixes or suffixes]. Some examples are given later in this section.

Here is a list of all Fisher body style identification numbers I have seen in various items of factory literature.  The majority are drawn from the Cadillac Distributors' Convention program of 30-31 July and 1-2 August 1928, wherein are described the new, 1929 cars. On the opening page of that program it is stated: in the following pages we will describe the new cars of the 341B and LaS 328 series as presented at the Distributors' Convention.  The program gives the general specifications of each car, including a detailed equipment list; the number assigned to each specification sheet corresponds to the number on the tag of each car; it was to be used for convenience in ordering any of the listed jobs. The program stated that duplicates of these cars will be available for September [1928] shipment.

Another source used to cross-reference the various body styles built was Cadillac's own Master Parts List (MPL), specifically the issue dated July 1, 1933. I used to believe that if a body style was listed there, them for sure it was built.  However, I have had to revise my judgment based on the number of styles listed in the MPL for the 1933 Series 452-C V-16 that we know for certain were NOT built.

That is one advantage of low production numbers; it is not too complicated to determine precisely which body was assigned to which chassis/engine combination

Highlighted in red, in the following tables:  Styles that were built on the sixteen-cylinder Cadillac chassis

1915

Style #

 Description and notes

583

 Limousine for 7 passengers

601

 Sedan (limousine?) for 7 passengers
602 Landaulet coupe for 3 passengers
715 Imperial sedan
901 Imperial [limousine with division] for 5 passengers

 

Some Fisher styling codes do not appear to respect a logical, numerical sequence;  I have no explanation for that apparent anomaly. As you proceed you will come across the following "misplaced" (?) codes in the tables for the years 1925 and up:

1149, 1150, 1151 [see V-63, 1923-24],  1154, 1155, 1156, 1163, 1164, 1164-B, 1165 [see 314, 1926], 1168, 1168-B, 1169 [see 303 La Salle], 1171, 1172, 1172-B, 1173, 1182, 1183, 1183-B, 1184 [see 341 1928], 1185, 1185-B, 1186 [see 328 La Salle]

 

1916

Style # Description and notes
1517

3-passenger Victoria

1518 5/7-passenger brougham
1519 7-passenger berline
1744 7-passenger limousine (1916)

 

1917

Style # Description and notes
2440

7-passenger imperial
2450 7-passenger limousine
2460 5/7-passenger brougham
2470 Touring coupelet
2620 7-passenger landaulet

 

1918-1919

Style # Description and notes
2680

6-passenger town limousine (1918)
2730 5/7-passenger brougham, type A (1918)
2740 7-passenger limousine, type A (1918)
2750 4-passenger convertible Victoria, type A (1918)
2760 7-passenger imperial (1918)
2770 7-passenger landaulet (1918)
2820

Limousine, type B (1918)
2830 8-passenger limousine (1919)
2840 6-passenger town landaulet (1918)
2910 7-passenger suburban, type A (1918)
3040

4-passenger Victoria coupe, metal back, rear quarter windows (1919)
3050 5-passenger sedan, metal back, rear quarter windows (1919)
3110 Limousine [for U.S. Government - army ?]
3140 7-passenger suburban, metal back, quarter windows, auxiliary seats (1919)
3140-P100 Imperial suburban (1919)
3210 7-passenger town car (limousine?), metal back, division, quarter windows, opera seats, fixed driver's roof (1919)

3260

 Imperial sedan (1919) [number used again for Series 314]

 

1920-21

Style # Description and notes
4000

4-passenger Victoria coupe
4010 5-passenger sedan
4020

7-passenger suburban, metal back, auxiliary seats
4030 7-passenger limousine
4040 7-passenger town brougham [town car]
4050

7-passenger imperial limousine
4120 7-passenger sedan [suburban?], metal back, auxiliary seats
4130

4-passenger Victoria coupe [Fleetwood used again in 1930]
4140 5-passenger sedan
4150 7-passenger limousine
4160 7-passenger town brougham
4170 7-passenger imperial limousine
4270 5-passenger sedan
4290 4-passenger Victoria coupe
4300 7-passenger sedan [suburban?], metal back, auxiliary seats
4350 7-passenger imperial limousine
4360 7-passenger limousine

 

1922-23

Style #

 Description and notes
[none] 7-passenger open touring car
4400 7-passenger sedan [suburban?], metal back, quarter windows, auxiliary seats
4410

7-passenger sedan [suburban?], metal back, quarter windows, auxiliary seats
4420 4-passenger Victoria coupe, metal back, quarter windows, luggage compartment type deck
4430(1)

4-passenger Victoria
4430(2) 5-passenger sedan, metal back, quarter windows
4440 4-passenger coupe, metal back, quarter windows, luggage compartment type deck
4450

7-passenger town car [limousine?], metal back, division, quarter windows, auxiliary seats, fixed driver's roof
4460 7-passenger imperial sedan [limousine?], metal back, division, quarter windows, auxiliary seats
4470

2-passenger coupe, metal back, quarter windows, luggage compartment type deck
4480 7-passenger town brougham [not on 1933 listing ???]
4630 4-passenger coupe, metal back, quarter windows, luggage compartment type deck
5030

7-passenger sedan [suburban?], metal back, quarter windows, auxiliary seats
5040 5-passenger sedan, metal back, rear windows
5050 5-passenger coupe, metal back, quarter windows, luggage compartment type deck
5060 7-passenger town car [limousine?], metal back, division, quarter windows, auxiliary seats, fixed driver's roof
5070 7-passenger imperial sedan [limousine?], metal back, division, quarter windows, auxiliary seats
5080 2-passenger coupe, metal back, quarter windows, luggage compartment type deck
5090 4-passenger Victoria
5160 5-passenger landaulet sedan

 

1924

Style #

 Description and notes
[none] 4-passenger phaeton [Type 63-A]
[none] 2-passenger roadster [Type 63-A]
[none] 7-passenger open touring car [Type 63-A]
[none] Custom-built imperial sedan [Type 63-B]
5260

7-passenger suburban
5270 5-passenger sedan
5280 5-passenger coupe
5290 5-passenger landau sedan
5300 7-passenger limousine
5310 7-passenger imperial suburban
5370

7-passenger town brougham
5380 2-passenger coupe
5460 5-passenger imperial
5470 7-passenger sedan
5490 4-passenger Victoria

 

1925

Style #

 Description and notes
1149

[out of numerical sequence] 7-passenger touring car (1925)
1150 [out of numerical sequence] 5-passenger phaeton
1151 [out of numerical sequence] 2-passenger roadster
5680

7-passenger sedan

5690 4-passenger Victoria
5700 5-passenger landau sedan
5710 2-passenger coupe
5720 7-passenger suburban
5730 7-passenger imperial suburban
5740 5-passenger coupe
5750 5-passenger sedan
5760 7-passenger limousine
5770 7-passenger town brougham
6010 5-passenger coach
6030 7-passenger imperial
6150 5-passenger sedan

 

1926

Style #

 Description and notes
1154

[out of numerical sequence] 7-passenger touring car
1155 [out of numerical sequence] 4-passenger sport phaeton
1156 [out of numerical sequence] 2-passenger roadster
1163 [out of numerical sequence] 7-passenger touring car
1164 [out of numerical sequence] 5-passenger sport phaeton
1164-B [out of numerical sequence] [id.] with folding tonneau windshield
1165 [out of numerical sequence] 2-passenger roadster
6400

5-passenger brougham
6410 7-passenger sedan
6420

5-passenger sedan
6430 2-passenger coupe
6440 7-passenger imperial
6450

7-passenger suburban

6460

5-passenger coupe
6470 5-passenger sedan
6480 7-passenger imperial suburban
6490 4-passenger Victoria

 

1926-27

Style #

 Description and notes
6670

7-passenger suburban
6670L 7-passenger suburban [leather top]
6680 5-passenger coupe
6680L 5-passenger coupe [leather roof]
6690 5-passenger sedan
6690L 5-passenger sedan [leather roof]
6700 7-passenger imperial suburban
6700L 7-passenger imperial suburban [leather roof]

 

1927 Series 314

Style #

 Description and notes
1163

[out of numerical sequence] 7-passenger touring car

1164 [out of numerical sequence] 4-passenger phaeton
1164-B [out of numerical sequence] 4-passenger sport phaeton
1165 [out of numerical sequence] 2/4-passenger roadster
6670 7-passenger Suburban
6680 5-passenger coupe
6690 5-passenger sedan
6970

5-passenger brougham
6980 2-passenger coupe
6990 5-passenger sedan
7000 2-passenger sport coupe
7010 7-passenger imperial
7020 2/4-passenger convertible coupe
7030 5-passenger Victoria
7040 5-passenger sport sedan
7050 7-passenger sedan

 

1927 Series 303 La Salle

Style #

 Description and notes
1168 [out of numerical sequence] 5-passenger phaeton
ls27pha.jpg (10627 bytes)
1168-B [out of numerical sequence] [id.] with folding tonneau windshield
ls27spph.jpg (7767 bytes)
1169 [out of numerical sequence] 2-passenger roadster, with rumble seat
ls27rds.jpg (12418 bytes)

 

1928 Series 341-A

Style #

 Description and notes
1171

[out of numerical sequence] 7-passenger touring car, with auxiliary seats
1172 [out of numerical sequence] 5-passenger phaeton
1172-B [out of numerical sequence] 4-passenger sport phaeton, with folding tonneau windshield
1173 [out of numerical sequence] 2-passenger roadster, with rumble seat
7920

2/4-passenger coupe
7930 7-passenger sedan
7940 7-passenger imperial
7940L 7-passenger imperial [leather top]
7950 5-passenger sedan
7960 5-passenger town sedan
7960L 5-passenger town sedan [leather top]
7970 5-passenger coupe
7980 2/4-passenger convertible coupe
7990 5-passenger imperial
7990L 5-passenger imperial [leather top]

 

1929-1935
[ Fisher started a new sequence of numbers with the 1929 models]

Style #

 Description and notes
1 Touring car (1929)
101 Standard phaeton (1929)
102 Standard phaeton (1929)
151 Sport phaeton (1929)
152 town sedan (3 were mounted on the 1930-1931 V-16 chassis)
155 roadster; 1932 V-8 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-155] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-155] according to MPL; (some say only three units were made and all were mounted on the V-16 chassis for 1932)
158

2-passenger coupe (again, 3 were mounted on the 1930-1931 V-16 chassis, [see McC, p.137 for further details])
159 5-passenger sedan, 4074 LaSalles in 1934; 1932 V-8 shown in MPL; (5 were mounted on the 1930-31 V-16 chassis and 56 more on the 1932 V-16 chassis)1
162 7-passenger sedan (1930-31) with 143" wheel base chassis
163 7-passenger imperial (1930-31, V-8 and V-12)
168 2-passenger convertible coupe; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; 600 on 1934 La Salle; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-168] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-168] according to MPL; (17 were mounted on the 1930-31 V-16 chassis, and 14 on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
178 2-passenger Coupe; 786 on 1934 La Salle; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-178] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-178] according to MPL;  (16 were mounted on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
179 ??? >>>>>
182 5-passenger sedan with blank rear quarters (658 units listed in the MPL for the 1934 La Salle)
201 2-passe\nger roadster (1929)
202 2-passenger roadster (1929)
209

5-passenger sedan; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-209] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-209] according to MPL; (some say all 29 units built on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
212 7-passenger sedan; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-212] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-212] according to MPL; (some say all 47 units built on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
213 7-passenger limousine; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-213] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-213] according to MPL; (some say all 49 units built on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
222 5-passenger town coupe; one on 1933 LaSalle V-8; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-222] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-222] according to MPL; (some say all 24 units built on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
225 5-passenger town car; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-225] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-225] according to MPL; (some say all 4 units built on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
226 7-passenger limousine brougham; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-226] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-226] according to MPL; (some say all 7 units built on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
227 7-passenger town car;; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-227] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-227]; (2 of these were built on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
252 5-passenger town sedan (3138 La Salles; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; plus at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-252] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-252]; 2 units on the 1932 V-16 chassis)
256

De Luxe [standard] 5-passenger phaeton; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-256] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-256];one built and mounted on 1932 V-16; possibly another on 1932 La Salle chassis
258 2-passenger Coupe (1931)
259 5-passenger Sedan (1931); 4731 La Salles were built  in 1930; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL;   at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-259] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-259]; there was also a factory demonstration model and 1 built on the 1932 V-16 chassis - it was possibly a "custom" style #212)2
262 Listed as 7-pass La Salle sedan (1502 units in 1930); 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL;  at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-262] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-262]; it was also a unique De Luxe [standard] 5-passenger phaeton on the 1932 V-16 chassis)3
263 7-passenger imperial sedan (1930-31); 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL; at least one on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-263] and at least one on 1933 V-12 [33-12-263]
268 2-passenger convertible coupe (1930 La Salle - 1400 units)
272 5-passenger coupe (1400 La Salles built 1930, at least one built on V-12 chassis in 1931, another on the V-16 chassis in 1932), another on V-8 in 1933 [33-8-272] and one on V-12 [33-12-272]; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL;
273 All-Weather phaeton (13 on 1932 V-16) (16 in all, of which at least one on V-8 chassis [33-8-273] and at least one on the V-12 [33-12-273]); 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL;
279 5-passenger sport phaeton with dual cowl; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL;  (2 built, both on 1932 V-16)
280 5-passenger special phaeton; 1932 V-8 and V-12 shown in MPL;  (3 on 1932 V-16)
301 2-passenger convertible coupe (1929)
302 2-passenger convertible coupe (1929)
351 2-passenger Coupe (1929)
401

5-passenger Coupe (1929)
402 5-passenger Coupe (1929)
501 5-pass, Town Sedan (1929)
502 5-passenger Town Sedan (1929)
601 5-passenger Sedan (1929)
602

5-passenger Sedan (1929)
652 5-passenger La Salle Town Sedan (1931-33)
658 2-passenger La Salle 2-passenger coupe (1931)
659

5-passenger LaSalle Sedan (1931-33)
662 7-passenger La Salle sedan (1931-32)
663 7-passenger LaSalle Imperial (1931-33)
668 2-passenger La Salle convertible Coupe (1931-33)
671 5-passenger convertible sedan (listed in the MPL for the 1934-35 Cadillac V-8)
672 5-passenger La Salle town coupe (1931-33)
678 2-passenger sport coupe (listed in the MPL for the 1933 LaSalle and 1934-35 Cadillac V-8)
701 7-passenger Sedan (1929)
702 7-passenger Sedan (1929)
709 5-passenger sedan (listed in the MPL for the 1934-35 Cadillac V-8)
718 2-passenger convertible coupe (listed in the MPL for the 1934-35 Cadillac V-8)
721 5-passenger convertible sedan (listed in the MPL for the 1934-35 Cadillac V-8)
722 5-passenger town coupe (listed in the MPL for the 1934-35 Cadillac V-8)
728 2-passenger sport coupe (listed in the MPL for the 1934-35 Cadillac V-8)
901 7-passenger Imperial (1929)
1102

convertible Touring car (1929)
1151 convertible Touring car (1929)
1182

7-passenger touring car, with auxiliary seats (1929)
1183

5-passenger phaeton (1929) [saw body #29 in Denver, CO, August 2001]
1183-B 5-passenger sport phaeton, with folding tonneau windshield (1929)
1184 2-passenger roadster, with rumble seat (1929)
1185 5-passenger phaeton (La Salle, Series 328, 1929)
1185-B [id] with folding tonneau windshield [sport phaeton] (La Salle Series 328, 1929)
1186 2-passenger roadster (La Salle Series 328,1929)
1201 roadster (1929)
1301 convertible Coupe (1929)
1351

2-passenger Coupe (1929)
1401 5-passenger Coupe (1929)
1601 5-passenger Sedan (1929)
1651 5-passenger Family Sedan (1929)
1701 7-passenger Sedan (1929)
1801 5-passenger convertible Landau, with folding rear quarters (1929) [factory photo available]
1901 5-passenger Imperial [1929)
8530

7-passenger sedan (1929 La Salle)
8540

7-passenger imperial sedan (1929 La Salle)
8550

5-passenger sedan (1929 La Salle)
8555

5-passenger family sedan (1929 La Salle)
8570

5-passenger coupe (1929 La Salle)
8580

2-passenger convertible coupe (1929 La Salle)
8590

2-passenger coupe (1929 La Salle)
8600

5-passenger convertible landau cabriolet (1929 La Salle)
8605

5-passenger imperial landau cabriolet (1929 La Salle)
8610

5-passenger town sedan (1929 La Salle)
8615

5-passenger imperial town sedan (1929 La Salle)
8620

7-passenger sedan (1929) [the car shown below appears to have been made into a more desirable convertible style - the original sedan body is #3516]

29vic3.jpg (5820 bytes)    29vic6.jpg (5036 bytes)    29vic5.jpg (7686 bytes)

 
8630 7-passenger imperial (1929)
8640 5-passenger sedan (1929)
8650 5-passenger imperial (1929)
8660 5-passenger town sedan (1929)
8670 5-passenger coupe (1929)
8680 2/4-passenger convertible coupe (1929)
8690 2/4-passenger coupe (1929)

1  Three "customized" style 159 bodies may also have been built on the V-16 chassis
2  The body number of this car is shown in factory records as No. 31, although only one was built. A study of factory records carried out in the early Seventies by Carl L. Steig revealed that the numerical sequence for Fisher style 212, of which 47 units were built, is broken at No. 30.  I am forced to deduce, therefore, that unique Fisher style 259, which was used to demonstrate the V-16, is in fact the "missing" style 212 sedan.
3  Again, although only one was built, this car carries No. 57 in factory records. Again Carl Steig's research turned up a broken sequence for Fisher style 159. Although these bodies are numbers from 1 to 60, only 56 are recorded as having been built. As no other Fisher body used on the V-16 chassis exceeded 49 units of production, I assume that unique Fisher style 262 is in fact a modified style 159; its body number (57) shows that at least 57 units were built (and not 56). My guess is that the three missing style 159 bodies (Nos 58, 59 and 60) were the Fisher "specials": 2901LX, 2951LX and 30X.
4  Photo: McC p. 138
5 I would be interested to hear from anyone with knowledge of these "X" and "LX" cars or about GM's own livery service in the twenties and thirties

Note: on Fisher open body styles, the driver's seat was non-adjustable.

 

Special Custom Fisher Styles
[with "X" or "LX" in the job/style numbers]
[assumed to have been built in 1929-1930]

Before proceeding, I would refer you to the page summarizing the 1933 Cadillac V-16 production.  There you will find some notes regarding the mysterious "X" and "LX" prefixes and suffixes used by both Fisher and Fleetwood to indentify some special, custom jobs that may have been on the books for in-house big-wigs even before production actually got under way in December of 1929.

We hope these "X" and "LX" cars will spark some interest in this aspect of Fisher/Fleetwood job numbering and that some of you with access to factory archives can shed more light on this interesting topic.

 

2901LX EXCEPTION: This number was used for a unique Fisher-built 7-passenger sedan on the 1930-31 V-16 chassis.  In my opinion the initial digits "29" probably indicate the year when the body was first commissioned or recorded (i.e.1929). The last two digits "01", suggest that this may be the first custom job, either for 1929 or for the new V-16. "X"s have always been used by Cadillac, in conjunction with a numerical code, to denote custom job or prototype. My guess (founded on years of research anmd the flawless (?) logic of  Fleetwood) is that the "L" stood for either "leather" (indicating  a leather covered roof) or "livery" (indicating that the car was for GM's own livery service or for one of  its prominent officials). Larry Fisher, Cadillac chief at the time, was known to personally inspect all "customs" and "specials" prior to delivery, e.g. style 3159LX, mentioned below
.LX2905 EXCEPTION: This was a 5-passenger special town sedan mounted on the V-16 chassis. It was built for a GM executive. The final digits "05" suggest to me that it was the fifth special body ordered from Fisher in 1929 (the official order number in Fisher records is 7877). Details about this special car are included in an article entitled The mysterious and elusive Madam X by Australia's Maurice Hendry, an authority on the Cadillac; the story appeared in Car Collector in June 1981. Presumably this car was ordered before the next one,  below [LX2913] although the body was mounted on a later V-16 chassis (#702388) and completed in July 1930. This car had many Madame X   features such as chrome window reveals and a flat, 18°-slanting windshield. Two-tone gray in color, the moldings, fenders and chassis were painted Desert Sand. Striping and wheels were Tokio Ivory (white). The car was delivered to the executive garage in July 1930 for the private use of  C.H. Clise, a top-notch GM official.
LX2913 EXCEPTION: custom 5-passenger coupe. This code again bears the same explanation as above.  Cadillac historian Maurice Hendry describes this car as a special 2-door, 5-passenger coupe also with lots of  Madame X   features.  In addition it had chrome wire wheels, including the two side-mounted spares. The body was mounted on a V-16 chassis (#702117 of the June 1930 production run); the Fisher body order number was 7878. The fact that it was built for one De Witt Page would seen to belie my theory about a car for GM livery service, unless Mr. Page was a GM VIP or the car was placed at his disposal for another reason. Trimmed in plain Wiese upholstery piped with silver leather, the car featured a radio and a spotlight. The color was two-tone green with silver leaf striping, the chassis being the same color as the fenders. It was shipped on June 21, 1930, to Tabor Cadillac in Hartford, CT.  The suffix "X" has always designated  custom jobs.
2951LX EXCEPTION: custom 7-passenger sedan on V-16 chassis [1929?]  Code 2951LX bears the same explanation as above. This was another unique Fisher 7-passenger sedan on the 1930-31 V-16 chassis. As above, I think that in this case too, the initial digits merely signalled the year as 1929. Final digits "51" suggest the 51st custom job (for 1959?). Again, the suffix "L" may be an indication of a leather roof or a car intended for GM livery service.  The "X" suffix here is an indication of a custom job. This car did not have the Madame X  features.
30X EXCEPTION: custom 7-passenger sedan (test car) [1930?]  This car was a standard Fisher 7-passenger sedan mounted for test and demonstration purposes on the V-16 chassis4;  the o.a. length was 211" (= 536cms.), o.a. width: 74¾" (= 190cms.).  That body style featured side cowl ventilators, a cord-type robe rail, adjustable foot rail, vanity set with upholstery inset, folding arm rest in the center of the rear seat back, dome lights with a toggle switch in both front and rear compartments (which also lighted when the doors were opened), assist cords, ¼-windows, curtains on the back light (rear window) and the ¼-windows, full lowering glass division, a telephone to chauffeur, Fisher "VV" windshield, a leather trimmed front compartment, flush- fitting broad auxiliary seats in the separate rear compartment folding flat against the partition when not in use.
3951LX EXCEPTION:  In this case, the initial digits "39" do NOT point to the year. Fleetwood used these digits identify custom styles built on Cadillac's 140" wheel base chassis for 1930 (e.g. 3920, 3925, 3960, 3975, 3991). Of course there are exceptions; two bodies meant for the 140" and 143" chassis with V-8 or V-12 engine were fitted onto the 148" V-16 chassis for 1930 (these were styles 3981 and 3991). Job 3951LX was a custom body for the V-12 chassis that Fisher delivered to Don Lee for famous screen comic, Joe E. Brown. Probably it was the 51st special body ordered from Fisher and built in 1931.  The body was a landau sedan style with folding rear quarters.  It was painted black and had a black leather top. In my opinion it was probably very similar in appearance to V-16 style 4375C.  The car  was mounted on a 143" chassis, #1001002. Records show that GM's Art & Color section were to furnish parts for the folding back (landau roof). After the job was mounted it was inspected by Larry Fisher himself.  This particular car was shipped to Don Lee, Inc. in Los Angeles.

 

Whereas Fleetwood artisans seem to have kept a pretty good photographic record of all the cars bodied by them, on the other hand Fisher appear to have made no official factory photos of  four of the above "special custom" creations. A regrettable omission, in my opinion.  But all is not lost, special cars like these have a habit of  turning up unexpectedly at current auctions!

 

Equivalent Fleetwood Codes in 1932
[for specific Fisher codes]

The styles listed below follow the Fisher body numbering system but they are strictly
standard Fleetwood bodies built on the 149" wheel base (= 378cms) V-16 chassis for 1932

5130S

5175S

5175

5181

5112

5191

5125
= Fisher #32-16-209 5-passenger sedan

= Fisher #32-16-212 7-passenger sedan

= Fisher #32-16-213 7-passenger imperial sedan

= Fisher #32-26-222 5-passenger town coupe

= Fisher #32-16-225 5-passenger town car

= Fisher #32-16-226 7-passenger Limousine brougham

= Fisher #32-16-227 7-passenger town car

 

Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or go back to the Styling index page
or view a summary of Fleetwood styling codes

 

© 1996, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.
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