1940 Cadillac headlight styling.

[Guest shadowledge]

I've always wondered why the 1940 Cadillac continued with free-standing headlights while the rest of GM, even LaSalle, had headlights faired into the fenders. Anyone have an answer or opinion?

[West Peterson]

Good question.

I'd like to know why LaSalle went from free-standing headlights in 1937, to sitting on top of the fender in 1938, then back to free-standing in 1939, that completely into the fender in 1940. Did John Kerry work for LaSalle styling during that time period?

[Guest shadowledge]

I did come across something in CA Vol. I No. 6 that Cadillac executives were afraid that in a fender-bender the headlight would get out of whack if it was in the fender.

Dick Browne

[Guest RayG]

Hmmm, interestingly enough, the Manheimgold website shows much higher values for the 1940 Cadillac Model 60S as opposed to those of the '38, '39 and '41 Cadillac 60S models. My assumption was that this might be due in part to fact the '40 was the last year of this model that had its headlights positioned on either side of the upright grill.

Ray

[Guest Douglas Houston]

In the thirties, styling was becoming more streamlined. The 1936 Lincoln Zephyr was the first car to have the daring style that pulled design trends toward the future as we see it today.

One of the issues, and a hot one too, was headlight in the fenders. For futuristic styling, it was the thing to do. The Zephyr and Cord did it in 1936. Harley Earl wanted to integrate headlights with a passioin, but Alfred Sloan wouldn't allow it. As already mentioned, he felt that collision damage, when repaired, would never get the headlight aiming right. Lots of styling proposals had headlights in fenders, but the order stood. Ford leapfrogged GM on several issues, and the integrated lights was one of them. Because of that, somehow, Sloan's policy was softened, and integrated lights began to appear on GM cars in 1940, with all of the GM line except Cadillac. In '41, all of the GM cars had fender mounted headlights, moved outward in the front fenders. And, there never was a problem with headlight aiming in collision repairs!

[CBoz]

When did Pierce Arrow first put the headlights in the fenders? I know it was way, way before the Zephyr existed. I recall reading somewhere that is was actually an option, but many buyers went with it because it was so distinctive.

[Guest Douglas Houston]

Pierce had the "trumpet" headlights before the twenties. While they did offer conventional headlights as an option, I seem to recall that the conventional lights were the option.

[keiser31]

The Chrysler Airflow was way before the Zephyr, also. They started designing it in 1932 and selling them in 1933.

[Earl B.]

The Pierce-Arrow started the lights in the fenders in 1914....B

[CBoz]

Oh, I don't know if the Airflow was "way" before the Zephyr, but it *was* long enough so Lincoln knew what *not* to do