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WW2 years

 

1930

Annheuser-Busch? [USA]

This most spectacular and unusual automobile was built by Anheuser Busch Inc in 1930 to promote their Bevo Beer, which was a near beer sold during prohibition. The Bevo Boats were used by A-B in parades and in promotions and it is believed that there were 8 such cars built, this being the only one still in existence. This fabulous car has been exquisitely restored and is completely roadworthy. The boat body is finished in red with white stripes and has a superbly fitted red leather interior. It has a host of unusual features including but not limited to: Woodlite headlights, Woodlite cowl lights, 2 large chrome anchors mounted to the bow, a life raft on each side, a propeller on the transom, Wig-Wag taillights with lanterns that swing from their mount, the front bumper ends are anchors, there is an Anheuser Busch eagle mounted on the front deck as well as a large cannon that sits on the cowl. Mounted to the rear fenders are 2 apparently functional Winchester Arms10 gauge cannons! The rear deck opens like an engine hatch for storage. This car is not only a most incredible part of American history, but is a very unique and well documented automobile that can be driven reliably and shown without competition.

    
[ Photos: Forum of the American Car Club de France, ACCF ]

 

Barker [on design by Van den Plas?] (UK)   Spied in old issues of Motor (UK) for October 4, 1934  (p.???) as well as October 8 and 16, 1935 (p.114 and 176), these interesting ads, presumably were offering the same second-hand car: [1] Limousine landaulet 1930 Cadillac, double-enclosed Van den Plas, leather, forward [facing] occasionals, £295. The first of these ads was placed by Alpe & Saunders [no relation of mine], Cadillac dealers at Providence Court, North Audley Street, London [opposite Selfridges]; [2] Cadillac V8, special Barker cabriolet body [designed by Van den Plas?] , dark blue, £200. The latter two, successive ads were placed by the Hon. A.E. Guinness (of "Guinness" beer fame). The address given was 17 Grosvenor Place, London, SW1. Among other cars owned by the "honorable" Mr. Guinness was a V-16 with a landaulet body by Van den Plas.

[ I would love to see a photo or two of the V8 with that Barker  body ]

 

Binder, Henri (France) superb town car

 

??Danske Karrosserie (Denmark)?? This special, custom semi-enclosed limousine is built on the 1930 Cadillac V-8 chassis; it was delivered to the royal Danish court in 1930 (?) by F. Bülow & Co, ApS and is believed to be the work of the named Danish coach-builder. The roof was especially raised to enable the then King of Denmark, Christian X, to wear a top hat inside the car.

[ Photo: Internet, courtesy F. Bulow & Co, ApS]

 

Fleetwood (???) (USA) special V8 fixed-top (???) Victoria with large, rear-mounted trunk, side mounted spares, wheel discs, decorative (???) landau bars; light-colored paint job with broad, dark-colored belt molding, flat windshield, sun-visor [have poor photo from ZTV collection taken at unidentified Salon showing]

Fleetwood (USA) Proposed style #4151 town car on V8 chassis; it is not known if any were built on that chassis; however, similar 7-passenger styles were mounted on the V-16 chassis, like styles #4225 and #4325

 

Fleetwood (USA) Proposed style #4161 town limousine with division, on V8 chassis; it is not known if any were built on that chassis; however, a single unit was effectively built on the V16 chassis

 

Fleetwood (USA) Proposed style #4164 town brougham on V8 chassis, with boot-toe or half-coach sill; it is not known if any were built on that chassis; however, six units were effectively built on the V16 chassis, three of which had French cane applied to the lower rear body; these were given Fleetwood style #4264B

 

Fleetwood (USA) Proposed style #4252 boat-tail roadster; I doubt it was ever built. What a shame!

 

Fleetwood (USA) Proposed style #4257 phaeton; again, I doubt it was ever built.

 

Fleetwood (USA) I am guessing that this car is Fleetwood landaulet style #3920-C. No production figure is currently available but I imagine it is very rare.

 

Fleetwood (USA) Factory service car on stretched Cadillac chassis

 

 

Fleetwood (USA) Custom all-weather phaeton with special, damascened hood

Fleetwood design #3980 with custom hood

 

Hibbard and Darrin (France and USA) custom La Salle sedan

 

Graber, Hermann (Wichtrach, Switzerland) convertible Victoria for 4-5 passengers, on V12 chassis

 

Hibbard & Darrin (France)  Stretched all-weather, drop-head convertible town car landaulet. I believe this rare car is one that was impounded by the German occupationary forces in Paris, during WW2, then taken as war loot from Paris to Berlin in the forties and ultimately finding its way back to the USA, long after hostilities in Europe had ended. Information about it and photos were supplied kindly by my friend and photographer, the late Gene Babow. I will need to go through all my files to find it. I believe it has been owned since the eighties by well-known collector Russ Head. According to my friend, Peter Ratcliff, from Melbourne, Australia, the car is currently in the collection of Phil Maloof, in Las Vegas. Latest: (2009/2010?) I notice the car has been sold by "The Auto Collections" (Imperial Palace, Las Vegas).

    
The H&D builder's plate (right) is mounted to the lower edge
of the hood panel, just ahead of the front door opening

    
The photos in the preceding two rows were supplied kindly by my friend, the late Gene Babow

This photo by Lucinda Lewis is from the book
Power behind the Wheel by Walter J. Boyne,
[ Stewart Tabori and Chang, New York, 1988 ]
loaned to my kindly by John Baynes, Heart of Dixie CLC

Earlier/later photo  ( provenance unknown) ? The car has disc wheels and  a light-colored top
(possibly coupienne, a fabric grained leather first used by Kellner at the 1928 Paris Salon)

 

Kellner, Georges & Sons Fils (then Kellner Frères) (Paris, France)  This car is the 195th engine/chassis combination built by Cadillac in 1930 [Series "353", VIN #500195] and dressed with French coachwork by Georges Kellner & Sons, Paris. It is a Special Cadillac 3-position double cabriolet it may be either a closed car, a town car, a town landaulet or an open touring car. It was built for Edmond Rothschild, a wealthy Parisian banker and wine grower in the S.W. of France. Classic car collector-vendor James C. Leake of Tulsa, OK, bought the car in 1970; he said it had spent most of its life in the vineyards of Château Rothschild.  He had a friend in the wine business who happened to visit the vineyards in the late sixties and who was able to negotiate the sale. The car was in good, original condition in 1970, with about 30K miles on the odometer. Mr. Leake said of the car in 1977 "It is not a landaulet; it is what I call a double cabriolet, that is a closed car, a Sedanca de Ville as well as an open tourer". I got to see the car in Tulsa, OK, in 1978, when Mr. Leake was restoring it. The Kellner car subsequently was exhibited in his private museum collection; it was shown there with Paris license tags #151UH75, from the late sixties, I believe (the original tags, from 1930-31, would have had the letters "RE" or "RF").  I saw the car later (1996) in the Imperial Palace  Museum collection where it had been since 1985;  I believe it was still there in 1999.  A friend of mine, the late Gene Babow, sent me photos of the car which he had taken in Vegas; at that time the car had the same wheel covers as appear to be currently [2001] on the car. Kruse offered the car for sale at auction in 1998, in Las Vegas [lot #173]; it sold there, in condition #3,   for a reported $76,000.  The catalog said it was the only Kellner-bodied Cadillac known to exist (a similar car was built on the V-16 chassis but the latter is not known to have survived).  Late Extra [June, 2001]: the Kellner V-8 double cabriolet is now in a private collection, the Chicago Vintage Motor Carriage.

    

    
Supplied kindly by Cadillac enthusiast Jean-Baptiste Dewever, in France, the above B&W photos were taken
in the late sixties in Dax, SW France; the young boy is wearing the typical French schoolboy's protective top coat

    
Paris to Deauville Rally - what year?

         
Photos in the above two rows were taken at the Imperial Palace
museum in Las Vegas, just after restoration had been completed

       
Interiuor shots, above two rows, were supplied kindly by the new owner in June 2001; note the canework
on the lower part of the inner door panels as well as the very fancy, individual rear seats and seat backs!

Benjamin Rothschild, grandson of the the original owner, is our former neighbor in Pregny-Chambesy, near Geneva;
he is a keen auto buff and I am sure he would love to have this car join his eclectic collection, in the Chateau de Pregny!

 

Kellner, Alexis (Germany)  Note here the similarity between the French and German body styles; this car was built on a stretched 1930 Cadillac chassis for King Gustaf V of Sweden.

    
The photo on the right shows the royal chauffeur leaning against the car that is adorned with crowns on the headlights and grille for the Swedish king's stables
[ Photos:  Fred Summers, CLC ]

 

Nordberg (Sweden)  Special custom convertible coupe. The car is fitted with a leather converible top. Note the graceful curve of the rear fenders that blend well with the front ones.

Photo: © Osterman archives, Centre of Business History, Stockholm, Sweden - courtesy Jan Ströman

 

Nordberg (Sweden)  Special limousine with tall interior roof on V8 chassis

    
Photo: © Osterman archives, Centre of Business History, Stockholm, Sweden - courtesy Jan Ströman

 

Nordberg (Sweden)  Special town car landaulet on V16 chassis

    
Photo: © Osterman archives, Centre of Business History, Stockholm, Sweden - courtesy Jan Ströman

 

Nordberg (Sweden)  Special custom La Salle convertible coupe. This one was painted in three different colors, with a light-colored leather top to match. The upholstery was leather in a snakeskin pattern; the inner sides and roof liner were done in a striped fabric.

    
Photo: © Osterman archives, Centre of Business History, Stockholm, Sweden - courtesy Jan Ströman

 

Nordberg (Sweden)  Another special custom La Salle convertible coupe; the low licence number suggests a royal owner. Nordberg was commisoned to build this one by Prince Gustaf Adolf, the father of Sweden's current king, Carl XVI Gustaf. It was painted black throughout. Note the custom hood mascot; it depicts a horse with a flowing mane leaping over an invisible obstacle; it was designed by Maud von Rosen. The car was first displayed at Stockholm's exhibition of 1930.

Photo: © Osterman archives, Centre of Business History, Stockholm, Sweden - courtesy Jan Ströman

 

 

Saoutchik (France) Special V-12 with convertible Victoria body. Car has rear-hinged front doors, special door handles and louvered sill plates (photos Sch16 p.70, McC p.160 - say it was a V8 model). This car was shown by Ms. Jacqueline Francelle at the Bagatelle and La Cascade [Bois de  Boulogne] concours d'élégance on 9 and 24 June, 1932. Below are some rather poor digital images from France's business monthly La Carrosserie, and an original designer's drawing of this car, signed by the master himself, Jacques Saoutchik. He built also a couple of custom bodies on the 1930-31 Cadillac V16 chassis; these may be viewed in the V16 section of the database, under the appropriate year.

     
This is part of  the original Saoutchik designer's drawing;
his signature (right) may be seen to the right of the front wheel

[Unknown, Belgium?] Mildly customized convertible phaeton on V12 chassis; the body sill trim (i.e. the two chrome "spears" surrounding the running board light, as well as the latter) are missing;  this car was featured in a  period ad in Belgium's weekly "Le Patriote"

Image supplied by collector friend Davy Borghys of Belgium

 

[Unknown, Belgium?] Custom all-weather phaeton on V12 chassis, featured in ad from Belgian weekly "Le Patriote". No step light or decorative spears on lower body sill.

         
Image from collector friend Davy Borghys, Belgium

 

[Unknown, USA] Special Cadillac V8 convertible coupe, SSA 1978, p.14-19; also CC&CC, 3/1981, pp.34-39.

 

[Unknown, USA] Special LaSalle railroad inspection car.

 

[Unknown, USA] Special Cadillac (?) V8 (?) dual cowl convertible sedan. This car has  highly unusual bumpers and dual windshields. It may even turn out NOT to be a Cadillac.  Any experts out there ?l 

[ Photo:  "Illustration", a former French weekly magazine ]

 

[Unknown, USA] Special limousine for Denmark's king.

 

[Unknown, USA?]  Custom break-down truck on 1932 LaSalle coupe (?) chassis.

 

Van den Plas (Belgium and UK) a special Cadillac "Saloon Landaulette De Luxe", mounted on the V16 chassis; this car was painted powder blue with black roof and fenders; styling features included slender vertical windshield posts, a flat windshield, opening rear roof section behind the rear seat passengers, doors reaching down to partly cover the frame rails and "suicide" rear doors; the descriptive text states "As supplied to The Hon. A.E. Guinness" (head of the Guinness family of beer fame).  This car still survives and was last seen in the collection of James C. Leake, Tulsa, OK in the seventies; it was first shown at London's Earl's Court in 1930 together with a regular Fleetwood "Madame X" style 4175.

 

Van den Plas (Belgium and UK) another special Cadillac "Saloon Landaulette De Luxe", mounted this time on the V8 chassis is currently (2010) owned by a British enthusiast, Peter Cornwell.  This is what he wrote about his car: Thanks for replying, I had seen the write up you mailed me and the pictures [of another custom job from Van den Plas]. The body is similar to that car but not the same. The doors on my car go down to the running boards. I have the original registration book and the colour is described as Brown de Ligne. You can see its not that colour now. The interior now is brown leather in the drivers compartment and brown cloth in the rear. I have a copy of the shipping note from Lendrum and Hartman who were the UK concessionaires. The car was shipped to England on 10-15-29 but was not registered until 29 Nov 1930 as GK 91. Must have taken some time to complete the body build. The original owner was a Jonas Wolfe from 30 to June 34, second owner was a John Edward Pearce who owned it here in England and moved it to Ireland with him until 1938 and then sold it to a Mary Farre in Ireland. No more info until it was sold at auction in England in 1981 by an S. Kavanagh to Les Cowgill. I bought the car last year from this man's widow. Because of this I am at a loss to find out what had been done on the car. She kept the number plate so I have had to reregister it. Actually she wanted an additional £10k for the plate which I didn't want to pay or had to pay! I am getting it back on to the road as I don't have old cars to look at, I like to use them. I think Database users will agree that this is one fine-looking automobile and illustrates perfectly what European coach-builders could do on classic American chassis in this era.  I'm sorry that space constraints have compelled me, as always, to crop the images and reduce the size of most of them.

 

    
Nothing "racy" about this Van den Plas design but obviously
made for the automobilist with a refined taste for luxury and elegrance

             
Magnificent, luxurious interior design and fitments

    
Interesting details of landaulet roof mechanism

 

1931

Drauz (Germany): [may not have been actually built - only have artist's representation] 6-7 passenger "Pullmann" convertible on Cadillac V16 chassis [as may be seen from the front hood doors mounted on a raised panel]; features include rear-opening, front "suicide" doors, rear doors hinged at "B" post, large quarter windows, twin side-mounted spares, curved coach sill, deep dip in rear body to house convertible top when open.

 

Drauz (Germany): [may not have been actually built - again I have only an artist's representation] 4-5 passenger "Coupe-Kabriolett" (town car, landaulet) on Cadillac V16 chassis [as may be seen again from the front hood doors mounted on a raised panel]; features include shorter body than above car but same door configuration and horizontal belt molding with deep dip to house folding landaulet top, no quarter windows, twin side-mounted spares, curved coach sill.

 

Duvivier (France)  special, cu

Farina (Italy)  special, custom boat-tail roadster for the Maharajah of Orccha.  More on this very special car, built for tiger shooting, may be found in the V16 section.

This photo was taken in July 1976, when the car was owned by Cadillac dealer
Dave Towell of Akron, OH; the personalized number plates bear his wife's initials

 

Fisher (USA)  specilly prepared La Salle roadster that served as Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500 race that year

 

Fleetwood (???) (USA) Special V12 "Golf Roadster"; mentioned SS 11-12/90, p.20, factory-built prototype, one of 2 made, 1st owner was Cadillac executive. Contact A. C. Corbit (303 722.7010) in Colorado.

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac limousine for 5 passengers on V-12 chassis, unique style #3128-LX (the numerical part of the job/style number may in fact translate as "1931, special order #28"). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac landaulet sedan for 5 passengers, unique style #3159-LX (again, the job/style number may translate as "1931, special order #59"). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac limousine-landaulet for 5 passengers, unique style #3244-LX (again, the job/style number may translate as "1932, special order #44"). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special La Salle town car for 5 passengers, unique style #4151. 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac all-weather phaeton for 5 passengers, unique style #4790. 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac town car for 7 passengers, style #4820 (only eight units were built). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac town car for 7 passengers, unique style #4825-C. 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac sedan for 5 passengers, unique style #4831-S. 

Fleetwood (USA) Special 3-position town car, all-weather phaeton, style #4850 (only two were built). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac imperial limousine for 8 passengers, unique style #4856-A. 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac town car for 5 passengers, style #4864 (only two were built). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac town brougham for 5 passengers, with boot-toe or half-coach design, unique style #4864-A). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac town brougham for 5 passengers, with boot-toe or half-coach design, with French cane applied to rear body, unique style #4864-B. 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac town car for 5 passengers, with quarter windows, style #4864-Q (I assume that only this one was built). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac so-called Sedanette, unique style #4882. 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac so-called Limousinette, unique style #4883, which I assume was the same as the above design but with a partition and division glass. 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac convertible coupe, unique style #3298-LX (here again, the job/style number may translate as "1932, special order #98"). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special Cadillac all-weather so-called Sport cabriolet [a convertible Victoria], unique style #4785. 

Fleetwood (USA) Special La Salle so-called Sedanette cabriolet, style #4681 (only nine units were built). 

Fleetwood (USA) Special La Salle so-called Sedanette, style #4682 (only four units were built). 

Fleetwood (USA) special V12 Seven-Passenger Limousine sold by Lendrum & Hartman, GM's British agent in London ; this car was done in red with a black roof, frame rails and fenders; the artist's drawing does not feature the V12 identifying molding and step light on the frame rails. Were these omitted only in the drawing?  If that is the case, then the car is simply a regular V-12 limousine for 7 passengers.

 

Fleetwood (USA) special V12 roadster, Indianapolis 500 pace car. Willard Rader was the first Cadillac test pilot to exceed the 100 mph barrier; this was in 1916. He drove a 1931 Cadillac V-12 as the official pace car of that year's "Sweepstakes Classic" on Memorial Day). The car was white with silver leaf striping; it had chrome wheels, spokes, hubs and fender bead; the upholstery was white leather. This was a slightly lowered stock model.

 

Gläser (Dresden, Germany): 5-passenger Victoria convertible, V8, RHD, side-mounted spares, 7.00x18" tires, high-compression heads, custom instrument panel off imperial sedan, rear-mounted trunk. Maco spotlights were mounted in Argentina. Bare chassis was shipped to Dresden April 24, 1931 and the completed car was shipped to Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 3, 1931 where it was delivered to its owner, Dr. Juan Latancio. Car was acquired in 1972 and fully restored over a period of five years by Gaines Adcock of Jan Jose, CA in 1972

[Photo: Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.  annual magazine]

 

Lancefield (U.K.) a special Cadillac Town Cabriolet De Luxe (a 5-pass. town car with forward facing opera seats), mounted on the V12 chassis; it was done in bright yellow with black being used for the roof, quarter panels and cycle fenders (the car had no running boards but had steps that were made to open with the doors); at least two units are reported to have been built:  one was delivered to Captain F.W. Hartman (CEO of Lendrum & Hartman, GM's British outlet in England), the other to a Major E. Howard; I believe that one of these was two cars was mounted on the V16 chassis [portfolio seen in the ZTV collection, Washington]. Although the hood door vents are mounted on a raised panel reminiscent of the V16 hood, the illustrated car is in fact mounted on the V12 chassis. The artist's drawing resembles a V16 "sports saloon" built that year by the London branch of Belgium's Carrosserie Van den Plas (see also section on custom cars built on the Vee-sixteen chassis), except that both doors are hinged at the center post ("B" pillar). The body is cream-colored with what appears to be a black leather roof covering and a narrow, horizontal belt molding running around the car. The doors extend down over the frame rails and are shaped in a graceful curve (coach sill). The front door is hinged at the forward, "A" pillar and the rear one at the "C" post ["suicide" rear doors]. Six wire wheels (side-mounted spares) are shown as standard fixtures. The text reads as follows: "This body is fitted with de Ville extension [removable curtain over the driving area] but it is otherwise designed as a Town Cabriolet with Fixed Head. (...) No running boards are fitted, steps being made to open with the doors. A distinguishing feature is the special type of wings fitted. Seating accommodation - The back seat is designed for two but can accommodate a third and two occasional seats are fitted, facing forward. The driving seat is very roomy and is designed specially for the comfort of the owner-driver. Colour scheme optional, and a choice of the very finest cloths and soft leathers. As supplied to Captain F.W. Hartman and Major E. Howard".. This description tends to confirm that two units were effectively built, although I have seen no photographic evidence to substantiate the second unit [designer's drawing, below]. Late extra [June, 2004]:  I got a telephone call from the grandson of this car's first owner, a wealthy Pakistani gentleman; the car survives in Pakistan and we shall certainly be hearing more about it

     
(Left) The Lancefield car, with cycle fenders, hidden step plates and center-closing doors
(Right) a similar sport sedan by Van den Plas  on the V16 chassis, with center-hinged doors
and  RHD; in the latter car the step plates are visible, even with the doors closed; in my
opinion, the car  on the right is largely derived from the designer's drawing on the left
[ B&W Photo:  Sixteen Cylinder Motor Cars, by Roy Schneider ]

 

Mulliner, H.J. & Co., Ltd., (U.K.) a special Cadillac Four Seater Semi-Sports Saloon (a close-coupled sedan, or town sedan with a fitted trunk in body colors), mounted on the V12 chassis; engine hood, roof, quarter panels and trunk lid were cream colored, the body medium blue and the fenders black; the design featured the V16 hood with the vent doors mounted on a raised panel; it had fender mounted spares and all wheels sported full wheel discs decorated with concentric rings; the front doors opened forward (hinged at the "A" post) and the rear ones were of the "suicide" type (hinged at the "C" post); the Cadillac "coach sill" was used, as were the standard 1928-1930 Cadillac-type two-bar bumpers; a large, separate trunk reminiscent of the trunk feature on the standard Cadillac town sedan and close-coupled sedan styles was mounted at the rear, the lid closing level with the belt line and being the same color as the upper body. The rear seat was mounted directly over the rear axle. It was described thus: The Body is built on the panelled Weymann principle designed to give the minimum of weight and absolute silence. It is primarily designed for four people and for fast touring. Two small occasional seats can be fitted, although this is not recommended, except for very occasional use. The body is built on the low side and is of the very finest finish throughout. Colour scheme optional, and a choice of the very finest cloths and soft leathers. I have seen no photographic evidence to suggest that this car was ever built.

 

Murphy (USA) Special Cadillac V8 roadster, Series 355, engine # 81055. Car was advertised for sale on the Web, 10/97 ($75,000!!!), alloy body, one of, fully restored, with pilot rays, dual side mount mirrors, travel trunk, maroon body and fender, silver body panel, 6 wire wheel, red maroon leather interior, wood dash, clock, 33k miles, #2 Condition. For more information, send e-mail to: car1087@kars.com. This photo is also online.

 

[Unknown - USA?]  I believe this is a car I photographed at a J.C. Leake auction, in Tulsa (OK), back in 1978.  I came across it again in a specialized auto magazine in 2009.  It is owned by Mr. & Mrs, Jack Smith, a couple from Garden City, Kansas. Mr. Smith says the car is not painted gold but rather is layered with 23.75-carat gold foil. He spent three years creating his "Golden Oldie" which is valued at half a million dollars. The outside door handles are sterling silver and the interior ones are 24-carat gold. The gearshift knob is platinum, set with 18 rare gems. It is believed to have belonged at one time to entertainer, Liberace. It sold at a Kruse auction in 1975 for $100,000, according to  this account by the company of the auctions it has conducted since the 70s. Late Extra (11/2012) The car turned up for sale on eBay; the description read: The car is said to have been owned by Liberace. However it is on the web page and states that Liberace owned the car. We have contacted the Liberace foundation and they state that they are not aware of this car, but Liberace had many cars they are not aware of. We have also contacted the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas who do not have a record of all Liberace’s cars. The car was in a German Museum for 12 years and displayed as Liberace’s car then sold when the Museum closed. It was then brought to the UK and as spent  around 14 years in store (storage?). Since June 2011 the cars as (sic) been fully repaired and extensive restoration on the engine also had the gold leaf repaired (sic) ... 23.5 Carat Gold Leaf,  Mink over carpet,  7 diamonds in each wheel,  Ruby in mascot,  Engine restored,  Gold leaf repaired,  Mot [UK certificate of conformity] (balid) till May 2013, Spent 12 years in museum.

    

 

[Unknown, USA] 7-passenger sedan converted for railroad track inspection (see SS 4/92, pp.6-7)

[Unknown, USA] V-16 roadster with a multiple array of switches and gauges including remote control starting ...and even operation!

 

[Unknown, USA] Who says Cadillac invented the tail-fin in 1948? This custom job on Cadillac chassis was photographed in the late thirties and already features the caudal appendages that made post-WW2 Cadillacs so famous!

    
[ Photos: The Huff report ]

 

 [Unknown, USA] 1931 railroad inspection car built/converted for the President of Union Pacific Railroad.

[ image CCI ]

 

[Unknown, USA] 1931 2-pass coupe "hot-red" conversion.  I'm not too keen to include these "hot rods" and "low-riders" in the Database but one has to admire the   effort that goes into their creation

.    
Left:  A factory original car
Right: the hot-rod conversion

 

[Unknown, USA(?)] 1931 convertible coupe on V12 chassis; a tribite to Greta Garbo's similar looking Duesenberg.

[ Image: Internet, 2010 - courtesy  Philippe Hulet de Limal, Belgium ]

 

Van den Plas (Belgium and U.K.) Enclosed Seven-Passenger Limousine De Luxe, mounted on the V8 chassis; this car was done in red with black roof, frame rails and fenders;  at least two were built: one for a   Mrs. F. Jenkins, he otherfor  the Hon. C.C. Tchaperoff, Esq.  Ivan C. C. Tchaperoff, M.A., M.D., D.M.R.E. (Camb.), was Assistant Radiologist and Radium Registrar at St. Thomas's Hospital, London.  Tthis custom model is illustrated in a portfolio of models offered for sale in the UK in 1931.  It features a Madame X-type windshield and large quarter windows; six wheels are fitted (fender mounted spares); both front and rear doors are of the "suicide" type (hinged at the rear); a folding trunk rack is fitted.

 

Van den Plas (Belgium and UK)  I spied in an old issue of Motor (UK) for October 6, 1936 (p.122), this interesting ad for this used car:   1931 (Nov.) 12-cylinder Cadillac, 7-seater enclosed drive Vanden Plas limousine landaulet, leather throughout, cost over £1300; exceptional condition: £175. The ad was placed by George Newman & Co. of 369 Euston Road, London.

[ I would love to see a photo ! ]

 

1930-31  (V16) Fisher bodies, click here

 

1930-31  (V16) Fleetwood bodies, click here

 

1932

 

Fleetwood (USA) Custom formal limousine-landaulet on V12 chassis. Position of lower extremities of landau bars (below the belt line) suggests that this car had a functional landau roof.  It has also custom wheel discs; these became popular in 1933 as they avoided the difficult chore of cleaning wire-spoke wheels. Photos appear to have been taken atop the GM building in downtown Detroit, in 1932.

    
Despite the rake of the windshield and the chrome windshield
and window framing, this car does not qualify as a Madame X

 

Fleetwood (USA) Custom convertible Victoria on V12 chassis (possible a modified town coupe).

Fleetwood style #5085

 

Kellner & Gygax (Biel/Bienne, Switzerland) convertible Victoria on V16 chassis.  The artist's view, below, was supplied kindly by Harry Wohlgroth, a Swiss friend. Harry found the illustration in the annual Swiss Automobil Revue for 1932.  As no bare chassis were shipped to independent coach builders in 1932, this body may have been built in 1932 on the 1930-31 chassis (it is possibly also a conversion on one of the six European Tour cars). Any complementary information or photos of this Swiss creation would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Unknown, USA] (USA), special custom Victoria, convertible for five passengers; from the narrow diameter wire wheels and the wide sidemounts this car may well be fitted with a modern drive train. It could well be made by "Peerless" [USA] in 1985. That company made a replica of a  1932 Cadillac Victoria [color photo, below], mounted on a 1977 Ford Chassis, powered by a Ford 351 Modified Engine 400 CI..etc. N.B. If 10 or more CLC members write to say this "replica" has no place in the club's Cadillac Database, I shall gladly remove it.

    
Described as a replica of a '32 convertible Victoria, this one looks more like a Deusy
[ Photos:  Cadillac Club International - owner Jack Beal ]

 

1932 (V16) click here

Fisher (USA), style 32-155 2-passenger Roadster on 143" wheel base V16 chassis [3 units]

Fisher (USA), style 32-252 Special 5-passenger Town sedan on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [2 units]

Fisher (USA), style 32-256 5-passenger Standard phaeton on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fisher (USA), style 32-259 Special 5-passenger Sedan (factory demo. model) on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fisher (USA), style 32-262, 7-passenger Sedan (factory test car) on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fisher (USA), style 32-272, Special 5-passenger Coupe on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fisher (USA), style 32-273, all-weather phaeton on 149" wheel base V16 chassis.  I have included this car (although 13 were built) because I have a full description of one specially-built unit out of that number; this was Fleetwood job #4271. The upper and lower body panels were painted Clio dark brown with Clio light brown fenders, chassis and moldings; the door saddle was Ariane light beige, as were also the wheels, the striping on the body and the inner fender bead; trim and upholstery was done in brown leather with Lackawanna French Finish #0-24; the top was Haartz #CV14. This car had six wire wheels with metal tire covers and metal cover mirrors.  With the heron hood ornament, tool kit, tire chains and license frames, the bill ran up from $5,195 to $5,655.75.

Fisher (USA), style 32-279, 5-passenger Sport phaeton on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [2 units]

Fisher (USA), style 32-280, 5-passenger Special phaeton on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [3 units]; I have a full description of one of these, on record as Fleetwood job #4151.  The body was painted  Crescendo green with Opalescence [metallic light gray?] fenders and chassis with silver leaf striping, including the fender bead; this was a six-wheel job [wire wheels] with metal tire covers, cover-mounted mirrors and a trunk rack in the rear; it had a Jonarts top #5410 and the interior was trimmed in matching Jonarts leather.  With the heron hood ornament, tool kit, tire chains and license frames, the bill ran up from $4,795 to $5,521.75.

Fleetwood (USA), style 32-226 7-passenger Limousine brougham on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [7 units]

Fleetwood (USA), style 32-227, 7-passenger Town car on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [2 units]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5125C, 7-passenger Town car on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5125Q, as above but with quarter windows and fixed rear quarters [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5129, 5-passenger Limousine on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5130FL, 5-passenger Formal Limousine on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [2 units]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5131, 5-passenger "Madame X" Limousine on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [5 units]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5131S, 5-passenger "Madame X" Sedan on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [2 units]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5140B, 5-passenger Limousine with cloth roof covering on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5155, 5-passenger "Madame X" Limousine on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [4 units]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5155C, 5-passenger "Madame X" Limousine with folding rear quarters on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5156C, 5-passenger Limousine, no opera seats, flat windshield, leather roof covering on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5165, special 7-passenger "Madame X" Limousine on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5175FL, 5-passenger Formal Limousine on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5175H4, as above but with interior roof height increased by 4" [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), style 5177 an 8-passenger Imp. on special stretched 165" wheel base V16 chassis, commissioned for the wealthy Annenberg family [Moses Annenberg?]; car featured a full-length roof rack and pull-down silk shades on all rear windows [photo McC, p.169] [1 only]  I believe Moses Annenberg made his fortune in publishing (Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily Racing Form). His son,Walter, took the reins at age 32 and added Seventeen and  TV Guide. He sold Triangle Publications to Rupert Murdoch for $3 billion in 1988. Walter's widow,   Leonore, donates to education and arts causes.

Fleetwood (USA), style 5185, 5-passenger Convertible Victoria on 149" wheel base V16 chassis [1 only]

Fleetwood (USA), Special Cadillac V16 Sedan Landaulette offered for sale at auction, in USA, in Nineties. Poor photo from Old Cars Weekly classifieds shows uncommon 1932 body style with wire wheels and rather flat running boards. My guess is that it is a later conversion from a standard Fleetwood limousine style. Who can give me more information about this car ???

[Unknown, UK] (???) Special Cadillac V16 Town car [collection of the late C.W. Hampton, U.K.]

   

 

[Unknown, USA] This custom job on the 1932 Cadillac V8 chassis, photographed in the sixties, has many features of the 1933 models, including its hood lovers and skirted rear fenders. The grille, however, is unmistakably from 1932.

    
[ Photos: The Huff Report ]

 

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WW2 years