Vehicle Description
At the height of the Classic Era in the late 1920s, Cadillac had
been long established as one of America's most technically creative
automobile manufacturers. Since its inception in 1902 (from the
remains of The Henry Ford Company, and guided by Henry M. Leland)
Cadillac has led the way with American innovation. The electric
self-starter, safety glass, electric lamps, the all-steel roof
(where previous cars had fabric roof sections), the synchromesh
transmission, the dual-plane crankshaft V8 and even the V16 engine
were all Cadillac firsts. Cadillac jockeyed for for top honors in
the American market (as well as a handful of fickle overseas
buyers) with the likes of Packard, Pierce-Arrow and others, buoyed
by customers who remained loyal for their exceptional build
quality, elegant style and robust performance. 1929 saw Cadillac
get a light facelift over the 1928 models, with a few tweaks made
to the front end sheetmetal by a new hire to GM's Art & Color
department named Harley Earl; a man who would go on to be one of
the most influential stylists in history and put GM at the top of
the game in the world of design. Styling aside, the most
significant changes for '29 lay beneath the bodywork. The 341 cubic
inch, 95 horsepower V8 was mated to an all-new "clashless"
synchromesh gearbox, freeing drivers from the need to double clutch
when changing gears and elevating Cadillac to the top of the luxury
car market with this new-found ease of operation. The new gearbox
allowed the car to be driven smoothly and deliver quiet, effortless
performance. 1929 also saw the introduction of safety glass, yet
another industry first. Braking and road holding were also
excellent thanks to the powerful four-wheel mechanical brakes and
Delco dual-action shock absorbers which were fitted for the first
time. As typical for the era, a wide variety of standard catalog
bodies by Fisher and Fleetwood were available, though customers
could elect to have a chassis delivered to a coachbuilder of
choice, with such famous design houses as Kellner, Murphy and
Hibbard & Darrin having put their mark on Cadillac chassis, as well
as a handful of somewhat less famous coachbuilders the world over.
This striking 1929 Cadillac 341B wears unusual, one-off "Safari
Roadster" coachwork supplied by Henry Kruse of Chelsea, London.
Little is known about this particular coachbuilder or the earliest
origins of this Cadillac, but it has been suggested this car was
used as a game hunting car in India; the main clues being the
fascinating cut-down, double-opening doors that may have been used
for a hunter to lean out and sight a rifle. The very sporty and
evocative body style also features a windscreen that both hinges
open and folds flat, and a unique rounded tail with a large boot,
in place of a traditional rumble seat. It is finished in a handsome
combination of silver on the main body with black fenders, black
top surfaces, and eye-catching red accents on the chassis, inside
of the wings, and red coach stripes to tie it all together. It is
comprehensively accessorized with dual sidemount spares topped with
mirrors, dual Trippe-Light driving lamps on lovely chrome brackets,
a radiator stone guard, a trunk rack, and the classic "Herald"
radiator mascot. The wheels feature subtle silver painted hubs with
polished spokes and trim rings and are wrapped in sporty black-wall
Firestone tires. Overall quality is very good, with an older but
high-standard restoration still showing in attractive order. The
paint quality is quite good with consistent body and panel fitment,
good quality chrome plating and detailing. The two-place cockpit is
trimmed in rich red leather to complement the chassis and body
accents, and is presented in very good condition, showing only
slight age and signs of use since restoration. The unique split
doors open fully for easier ingress, or the smaller doors can be
opened independently, presumably for a hunter in India to be able
to lean out with his rifle without falling completely out of the
car. A full folding top is trimmed in black canvas and piped in
red, with matching side curtains included. Original instruments
adorn the sporty and simple black lacquered dash panel. The 341
cubic-inch V8 engine presents in very good condition, benefitting
from a recent cosmetic freshening. Porcelain black heads and
cylinders sit atop a cast-finish crankcase as original. The
detailing is very good quality and appropriate for a car that would
be best enjoyed on the road, though not out of place in a mid-level
show. Previous owners have fully enjoyed this car, as it has
participated in 5 Glidden Tours and is known among Cadillac LaSalle
club stalwarts. It benefits from recent sorting by Brian Joseph of
Classic & Exotic Service in Michigan and remains in outstanding
mechanical order, ready for use and a joy to drive. This very
special and unusual Cadillac is a beautiful machine with an
intriguing past, and an excellent choice for CCCA CARavan Touring,
Cadillac LaSalle Club and AACA events. Rare and exciting coachwork,
an evocative color scheme and a well-preserved, quality restoration
make this example a true standout among Full Classic Cadillacs.