56 à 60 Avenue Louis-Roche – GENNEVILLIERS (Seine)
MARQUE CADILLAC
TYPE 4962
CHASSIS NO 496250485
MOTEUR NO 496250485
N. DE CYLINDRES 8 96,84 X 92,07
ALESAGE ET COURSE
POID TOTAL MAXI 2339 KG.
EN CHARGE
Gennevilliers, the site of the GM headquarters in France in 1949, is a northwestern suburb of Paris in the Department of the Seine (named after the river which divides Paris into Left and Right Banks). Those of us not knowing much French should be able to easily figure out most of the rest of the information on the name plate down through “N. DE CYLINDRES”. The number 8 to the right of this phrase denotes, of course, the eight cylinders in the Cadillac motor.
The meaning of “Alésage et Course”, however, is not so readily apparent; in fact, these words mean bore and stroke. Commas in French numerals are the equivalent of decimal points in the English-speaking world, so “96,84 X 92,07” is the equivalent in millimeters of the familiar 3-13/16 inches x 3-5/8 inches bore and stroke dimensions of the ‘49 Cadillac motor. “Poids Total Maxi En Charge” means Maximum Total Weight When Loaded, presumably with fuel and passengers. 2,339 kilograms is the equivalent of 5,145 pounds, a full load for a 6207, since without fuel or passengers 1949 club coupes weigh not much more than 4,000 pounds or about 1,800 kilos.
You may be wondering why the car’s bore, stroke and weight would be important enough to merit inclusion on Carlos’ car’s French ID plate. I’m fairly certain this information was used by the French authorities as a basis to calculate the annual tax on the car. Compared to most French and other European motors, the ’49 Cadillac and its motor are large indeed, so it was assumed its fuel consumption would be much more than the typical Renault, Peugeot or Citroen. Since France imports all its petroleum products, the French government’s theory must be that higher taxes on heavy vehicles with large motors such as a ’49 Cadillac would discourage their sales and lead to lower overall fuel consumption.
The 331 cubic inch ’49 Cadillac motor’s displacement is the equivalent of 5,424 cubic centimeters. At the same time, a 1949 Peugeot 203’s motor was 1,290 cc. or 79 cubic inches, a ’49 Renault Juva’s motor was 1,000 cc. or 62 cubic inches and the diminutive 2-cylinder Citroen 2CV’s motor was only 374 cc. or 23 cubic inches, less than 1/10th the size of the 331, so the French government does have a point. Nonetheless, the car’s original owner in France thought the extra cost in price, fuel and road tax was worth paying for the power, prestige and luxury of a Cadillac 6207. And in 2012 so does Carlos and every other member of the Forty Niners.