Lot 208: Cadillac 370-D V-12 Town Cabriolet

The Cadillac Town Cabrioletsor town carsof the 1930s reflected General Motors' Art & Colour chief Harley Earl's predilection for suave, yet sporty formal styling. Earl's appealing vision of streamline design emerged in full force on the distinctive 1934 Cadillac and that year's appearance was continued for 1935 with only minor changes. Reflecting their essentially carried-over condition, the 1935 Cadillac V-12s continued the Series 370-D designation used for their 1934 counterparts. The splendidly engineered and genuinely powerful Cadillac 45-degree V-12 engine of 1931-1937 was a 368cid unit, which developed 150 horsepower at 3600rpm for 1935. Its overhead valve design incorporated innovative hydraulic silencers on the rocker bushings; these contributed to the silky-smooth engine's exceptionally quiet performance. An independent front suspension was also featured. Several Fleetwood-bodied town car styles were offered on the 146-inch wheelbase V-12 chassis for 1935among them, two Town Cabriolet styles with closed rear quarters, and the Limousine Brougham, with large rear quarter windows. These opulent cars were the most expensive production Cadillac V-12s, with delivered prices for fully optioned cars such as the example offered here approaching $7,000. Among the 377 Cadillac V-12s built for 1935, only two are believed to have been Fleetwood Style 5712 Town Cabriolets, one of them being the car offered here. Existing factory documentation for this Town Cabriolet reveals it was ordered through the New York Branch in late 1934. Exceptionally well equipped, was a leather-back example, with its rear compartment roof covered in Landau leather. Additional options included dual-sidemounted spare tires, a $140 option that also included an intriguing swing-out dual-arm trunk rack at the rear. Painted metal covers for the spares, an additional $40 option, were also specified. The standard seventeen-inch wire wheels were concealed beneath Cadillac accessory wheel discscontributing to the car's ultra-modern appearance when new. A sculptured Cadillac goddess hood ornament added a final touch of elegance. Although ordered and built (per its Fleetwood body plate) as a Style 5712 five-passenger Town Cabriolet, the offered car is equipped with concealed folding jump seats, giving it a seven-passenger capacity. This seeming anomaly might have been covered in the Special Fleetwood body order #277 specifications referenced to, but not delineated, on the order form for 41-871or the variation could be the result of other circumstances lost to history. This exceeding rare, splendidly equipped and visually stunning twelve-cylinder Town Cabriolet evidences a high-quality restoration. It has been owned by several very prominent collectors and came to the vendor from a well-known Florida collection. It was shown in the 100 Years of Cadillac display at 2003 Amelia Island Concours, won a 2004 National Senior CCCA Grand Classic first place award and garnered a Best-In-Class award at the 2005 Palm Beach Concours. The Cadillac Town Cabriolet's is offered on a California certificate of title.