MotorTrend has been awarding the Car of the Year since its inception, a tradition that has always stirred debate among readers. The controversy began with their third issue, which declared the 1949 Cadillac the inaugural winner. Unlike today’s rigorous testing and evaluation by a panel of editors and industry experts, the first award was decided by a single contributor who nominated the contenders, chose the winner, and wrote the piece. An editor’s note acknowledged the potential for controversy, stating, “His final choice may be subject to controversy, but definitely has merit.”
Seventy-five years later, with the clarity of hindsight, we reevaluate that decision. Was the 1949 Cadillac truly the best choice, or did it miss the mark by overlooking more advanced or aesthetically pleasing cars?
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The Case for the First Car of the Year
The man behind the first Car of the Year was John Bond, an engineer turned writer who would later become the publisher of Road & Track. Bond claimed to consider all models, focusing on engine, appearance, and handling characteristics. However, his brief and technical two-page article primarily focused on Cadillac’s new overhead-valve (OHV) V-8 engine.
Bond’s writing reflects a certain disdain for the late ’40s auto industry. Postwar America saw consumers eagerly buying cars at record-high prices, despite many being warmed-over prewar models. Bond criticized the trend of annual facelifts that offered the illusion of innovation without substantive change. A graduate of the GM Institute, he valued “engineering excellence,” a criterion still central to MotorTrend’s awards today.
From this perspective, the 1949 Cadillac was an obvious choice. The 331-cubic-inch (5.4-liter) OHV V-8 engine was smaller, lighter, more efficient, and more powerful than its predecessor. It featured a shorter stroke than bore, reducing friction and improving efficiency and durability. The pistons were designed to slip between the crankshaft counterweights, allowing for shorter connecting rods and a lower deck height, significantly reducing the engine’s weight by 220 pounds.
The OHV engine produced 160 gross horsepower, a 10-horsepower increase over the larger side-valve engine it replaced, and promised a 2-mpg fuel economy improvement. This combination of power and efficiency was showcased when a near-stock 1949 Cadillac competed in the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans, achieving a top speed of 120 mph and finishing 10th overall.
Engineers Jack Gordon, Ed Cole, and Harry Barr designed the V-8 with future enhancements in mind. Initially launching with a 7.5:1 compression ratio, the engine was capable of being pushed to 12.0:1. Post-war surplus high-octane aviation fuel led engineers to unlock an additional 110 horsepower from the V-8 by 1955, making it one of the most powerful engines of its time.
Was the ’49 Cadillac the Right Choice?
The 1949 Cadillac’s V-8 was undeniably significant. Bond accurately predicted it would initiate a shift towards OHV engines among American automakers. While the Cadillac’s body design wasn’t new for 1949, it featured Harley Earl’s “Futuramic Styling” from the previous year, with its P-38 Lightning-inspired design, pontoon front fenders, and the first appearance of modest tailfins, which were well-received by buyers.
Bond mentioned only two other serious contenders: the 1949 Ford, with its modern ladder frame and independent front suspension, and Oldsmobile, which also developed an OHV V-8. However, Bond dismissed them, praising the Cadillac’s superior power-to-weight ratio.
Had MotorTrend considered foreign cars eligible from the start, the Jaguar XK120 might have been a worthy competitor. Jaguar’s founder William Lyons focused on maximizing specific output, resulting in an engine more advanced than Cadillac’s V-8. The XK120’s dual-overhead camshaft inline-six matched Cadillac’s horsepower with a much smaller displacement. Its lightweight aluminum body enabled a top speed of over 120 mph, making it the fastest production car at the time.
The Jaguar XK120 was a complete package with its graceful design, sports-car handling, and efficient engine. In the same Le Mans race where the Cadillac finished 10th, the XK120 was in third place before a clutch failure forced its retirement in the 21st hour. Originally planned as a limited run, the XK120’s production extended to 12,000 units due to its popularity.
With its blend of beauty, performance, and engineering prowess, the Jaguar XK120 could easily have been MotorTrend’s first Car of the Year if imports were considered. However, given the domestic focus and the criteria of the time, the 1949 Cadillac remains a noteworthy choice for its pioneering V-8 engine and engineering achievements.
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