Vehicle Description
If automobile companies in the 1930s were judged purely on their
confidence, Cadillac would stand leaps and bounds ahead of the
competition. When Lawrence P. Fisher took over the leadership of
Cadillac in 1925, Packard had surpassed GM's flagship to become
America's most popular luxury car. Under Fisher's guidance,
Cadillac swept back to the forefront of innovation, style, and
technical excellence. It was Fisher who hired Harley Earl away from
Don Lee Coachworks to lead GM styling, with the LaSalle companion
brand serving as his first task. As the 1930s approached, Cadillac
was bursting with confidence as they wrested back the number one
spot from Packard. Their secret weapon came in the form of one of
the most potent and exotic production engines of the era. Designed
by Owen Nacker and packing sixteen cylinders, overhead valves, 175
horsepower, and 452 cubic inches, the new flagship V16 engine was
an overnight sensation. Not only was the spec sheet impressive, but
it was also a work of mechanical art - and among the first
automobile engine designs to cross the stylist's desk before
production. Initially, sales of the Series 452 V16s were robust;
however, even Cadillac's buoyant attitude couldn't overcome the
economic effects of the Great Depression. Despite tapering sales,
Cadillac soldiered on in the "multi-cylinder race" with an equally
impressive twelve-cylinder follow-up to the V16 coming some nine
months later. The twelve was, for all intents and purposes, a V16
with four fewer cylinders. It shared the larger unit's architecture
and stunning, sleek style. At 135 horsepower, it remained
competitive with Packard and Lincoln. Officially known as the
Series 370 (for its displacement in cubic inches) the new V12
Cadillac was the sleeper of the range. It offered nearly all of the
refinement, prestige, and power of the V16, on the smaller and more
agile V8 chassis. It was available with a 140-inch or 143-inch
wheelbase, sharing many of the body styles with its larger sibling.
In its first year of production, the V12 outsold the V16 by a
substantial margin, yet by the end of 1937, Cadillac left room for
only one flagship engine and dropped the overhead valve V12 in
favor of a new L-head, wide-angle V16. This stunning 1931 Cadillac
Series 370 brilliantly captures the sporting character of the V12
with its evocative, original Phaeton coachwork on the 140-inch
wheelbase chassis. Restored in the late 1990s under the stewardship
of Mr. D. Richard Shonk of Ashton, Maryland, it is an exquisite
example and a recipient of numerous accolades from the CCCA,
Cadillac LaSalle Club, and AACA. With Mr. Shonk, the Cadillac won
consecutive AACA National First Prize and a Grand National First
Prize awards in 1997 and 1998. It tied for first prize at the 2002
Dearborn, Michigan Cadillac-LaSalle Club meet, earning senior badge
number 418. Other well-known collectors to count this Cadillac as
their own include Robert Perry, followed by Richard and Linda Kughn
in 2008. While part of the impressive Kughn collection, the
Cadillac continued to be shown, earning a CCCA Senior badge along
the way. Benefitting from expert care through the years, it remains
in outstanding condition, with signs of light maturation now
beginning to appear. Factory build records verify this as a genuine
Phaeton, retaining its original body, engine, steering gear, and
other components. The impressive array of awards speaks to the
quality of the restoration. The color combination of burgundy
fenders and top surfaces, with dove gray body sides, and a scarlet
red chassis makes a bold statement. Scarlet coach stripes tie the
color scheme together nicely, with an effect that is elegant yet
breathtaking. This particular body is style number 4760 from the
Fleetwood catalog. Similar in style to Fleetwood's Sport Phaeton,
it does without the latter's division window and rear compartment
instruments. It is believed that just 128 V12s received this
magnificent coachwork. This car carries many period-correct
accessories, including dual Pilot Ray spot lamps, Goddess mascot,
dual side-mount spare wheels with painted steel covers, folding
windscreen, and a color-keyed genuine Cadillac accessory trunk. A
small integrated trunk in the body houses the full set of matching
side curtains for the tan canvas top. The exquisite interior is a
particular highlight of this car. Oxblood red leather covers the
seats and door panels, complemented by matching high-quality
carpets. The driver's seat shows some slight creasing from moderate
use, which adds to the rich, inviting character of the cabin. As
with the sister V16 models, the instrument panel of the V12 is a
work of art on its own. Engine turned alloy panels flank a
centrally mounted gauge cluster, which is finely detailed in an
art-deco style. This car retains its correct original AC
instruments, Waltham clock, and factory switchgear. The
breathtaking presentation continues under the hood, with the
twelve-cylinder engine exquisitely detailed as original with black
porcelain enamel, chrome hardware, and meticulously finished
painted surfaces. For the Twelve and Sixteen, Cadillac designers
carefully routed plumbing and wiring away from the eye to show off
the impressive design, which period advertisements compared to a
work of art. The condition of the paint, chrome, and enamel on the
engine only underscores the remarkable quality of this restoration,
and the professional care it has received since. The undercarriage
shows signs of careful road use yet it remains extremely clean and
tidy. Multi-cylinder Cadillacs are elegant, highly collectible
symbols of Detroit's exuberant confidence of the 1930s. This car's
combination of the V12 engine and sporting open coachwork make it
an ideal candidate for the enthusiast to participate in road events
and tours. A fabulous motorcar in every respect, it is suitable for
continued enjoyment in CCCA, AACA, and CLC concours events, and
would be a welcome addition to virtually any collection of Classic
Era automobiles.
