1954 Cadillac - GM Heritage Center

down" acceleration when the accelerator
is put to the floor board,
because advantage is taken of a
lower gear ratio. It is the range best
suited for ascending and descending
steep grades where traffic signs call
for shifting into lower gears because
the transmission will not "hunt"
between third and fourth going up a
hill and more engine braking is provided
in going downhill.
The control lever may be moved at will between these two
positions when traveling at any car speed. By providing the
most efficient transmission ratio for any requirement,
coupled with the brilliant new 230-horsepower engine,
Cadillac provides sparkling performance with greater
flexibility in traffic than ever before.
A step-down shift from 4th to 3rd gear can be made by
depressing the accelerator pedal completely for passing or
for extra bursts of speed at car speeds of less than 75 miles
per hour. The step-down shift from 3rd to 2nd can be made
at any car speed below 20 miles per hour. Thus, valuable
emergency acceleration is provided in the 12 to 20 miles per
hour speed range.
For extremely steep grades, where speeds below 40 miles per
hour are desirable, the gear selector lever can be placed in
the Lo position where maximum engine braking is available.
CADILLAC'S LOW REAR AXLE RATIO
Because of the ideal combination of Cadillac's 230-horsepower
engine coupled with high-performance Hydra-Matic
transmission, a lower rear axle ratio can be used than on
most competitive cars. Cadillac's low 3.07 to 1 axle means
that the rear wheels make one complete revolution to only
slightly over three revolutions of the engine. Slower engine
speeds mean quieter engine operation, less fuel and oil consumption
and less wear on engine parts. A 3.36 to 1 axle
is optional at no extra cost, and is provided as standard on
cars equipped with the Cadillac Air Conditioner.
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