Following General Motors' stylistic revolution that began in 1927 with the hiring of Harley Earl and his establishment of General Motors' "Art and Colour" Department, GM and Cadillac soon redefined automotive design with a break from classic formality to a new era driven by sleek, aircraft-inspired streamlined themes. Cadillac engineering also reached a high-water mark with the company's V-8 models joined by the V-16 for 1930 and the V-12 for 1931. A succession of careful mechanical improvements applied to the entire Cadillac range, though the mid-1930s provided uncanny refinement and an exceptional driving experience to match. For 1935 and 1936, Cadillac's beautifully packaged and finished overhead-valve V-12 engine displaced 368 cubic inches and developed 150 horsepower with outstanding torque, while innovative hydraulic silencers on the rocker bushings contributed to the exceptionally quiet performance of the silky-smooth Cadillac V-12.
For 1936, the Series 36-80 and 36-85 V-12 mo