Beautiful restoration in original colors. Strong-running V8 engine, smooth synchromesh transmission. Relatively rare body style with handsome rear-mounted spare. Build sheet included!
Monsoon Gray is indeed this car’s original color. In fact, it is fully restored exactly the way it was when it was new, complete with black trim and scarlet red pinstripes and wheels. Quality is impressive, even after several years. The paint has a deep shine, the masking between the colors is crisp, and the pinstripes are sharp, all befitting a Cadillac of this stature. There’s simply not an angle from which this car doesn’t look good. And as a Cadillac, the doors close with genuine authority, a pleasing kerchunk that feels permanent and secure. Individual doors on the hood can be opened to cool the engine with an additional door on each side of the cowl to cool the interior. Of course, there’s plenty of chrome and it remains in first-rate shape throughout. The split rear bumper seems to cradle the rear-mounted spare and gives it a very polished look.
The lovely gray Bedford cord interior is expertly tailored and looks very correct for 1931. The fabrics and stitching, complete with wide piping around the cushions, is how it was originally done and there’s fresh stuffing underneath so it feels firm and comfortable behind the wheel. Plush carpets feel upscale and help control noise and heat and the simple door panels are trimmed with refinished wood garnish moldings. Looking closely you’ll see that the lever for the headlight control on the hub of the wheel has broken off, a very common problem, as your shirt sleeve tends to snag on it (I know I’ve almost broken mine several times just getting out of the car). The handsome instrument panel is more upscale-looking than in previous years where the gauges were just scattered across an expanse of painted steel, and the ornate background is in good original condition. Factory gauges have slender pointers and Art-Deco numbering and they all work save for the temperature gauge. Rear seat passengers have plenty of room despite the close-coupled body style and there are small ashtrays and lighters in nooks by the armrests. A larger center arm rest folds down and there is a silk shade for the rear window. Somebody spent a lot of money here.
With 5.5:1 compression (the ‘HC’ seen on the heads stands for ‘high compression’) and a full roller camshaft, the 353 cubic inch V8 makes about 100 horsepower and perhaps 250 pounds of torque. Thanks to clever gearing, however, it never feels lethargic and you’ll love the way it effortlessly idles in high gear and accelerates cleanly from a walking pace. Experts will note that there’s a LaSalle intake manifold cover, a common replacement when originals crack, but otherwise it’s quite correct. The original vacuum tank is on the firewall, but it has been bypassed in favor of an electric fuel pump hidden down on the frame rail and as such, the engine seems immune to vapor lock, even with today’s fuels. The exhaust manifolds have been treated with a high-temperature coating that is surely more durable than the original porcelain, although it is not correct. It starts quickly and easily with a little choke and there’s a robust V8 burble from the exhaust pipe out back that sounds great.
Cadillac invented synchromesh transmissions and introduced it in 1929, so the three-speed manual gearbox in this 1931 is as easy to use as your modern daily driver. There’s enough torque on tap that most shifting is superfluous, and I’ve always loved the way these cars are content to motor around in high gear without complaint thanks to 4.91 gears (as specified on the build sheet). The chassis is clean but not as highly detailed as the rest of the car—it has been toured and driven, after all. Brakes are still mechanical but driven within its limits, they have no problem keeping things under control. Steering is, of course, heavy at low speeds but lightens up as speeds increase and it tracks well even over broken pavement. The ride is luxury car smooth thanks to that massive wheelbase, although the tires are a little stiff and replacements might be a good idea if you plan to drive it extensively. The current 6.70-18 Firestone wide whites look appropriate and the beautiful Scarlet Red wheels are in excellent condition.
This is a fantastic opportunity to own a high-quality Full Classic Cadillac in a rare, desirable body style. It is well documented and someone clearly invested a great deal of money in the restoration. Due to long storage, it may need a few upgrades (tires, in particular) but we have serviced the car and it does run and drive quite well. This car defines what the Classic Era was all about and it never fails to draw a crowd wherever it goes. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
