Vehicle Description
Stunning restoration with about 10,000 miles since completed.
Show-winning interior and paint, restored chrome, rebuilt engine
and transmission. Turn-key Full Classic ready to show or tour.
Exceptional! The color combination is Pinehurst Green over Cavern
Green, and Cavern Green is so dark that it almost looks black. It's
just beautiful in person. We can find few notable flaws in the
paint, all four doors close with that solid sound, and the giant
clamshell hood swings open remarkably easily. The two-tone paint
job is quite lovely in person and is a correct choice for 1947
(although it is not this car's original combination). We have
extensive photos showing that this car was a complete, solid,
running, driving car when the restoration started, so no major
metal surgery was required and the result is a very tight car that
feels sturdy and tight going down the road. No patches in the floor
or trunk, 100% solid rockers, and no issues in the doors. We aren't
sure where this car spent its life, but it was well away from snow
and salt. The chrome was restored at the same time, and you can
imagine what an expensive proposition that might be on a car like
this. TheSomeone spent a lot of money to make this car look this
good. But the interior is really why this car is special. Just look
at it! Correct tan Bedford Cord with leather piping is
sophisticated and comfortable, offering an upscale look that isn't
over-wrought, just elegant. Custom carpets with matching bindings
were created at the same time, along with a taut wool headliner and
sun visors piped in more leather. All the woodgrained surfaces were
restored and the effect is very convincing, and the plastics are
reproductions, including the steering wheel, shift and turn signal
knobs, and brake handle. Everything works: gauges, clock, radio,
power antenna, and apparently even the windshield washers, although
we have not tested them. Twin under-seat heaters keep it nice and
warm inside on cool fall tours and that back seat is luxurious
enough that you expect to be called, 'Sir,' whenever you're back
there. Cadillacs are wonderful tour cars in part there's a huge
trunk in back, and this one features correct upholstery, a
full-sized spare, and jack assembly in its own custom leather
pouch. Cadillac's 346 cubic inch flathead V8 really needs no
introduction, and after the war I'd argue they perfected it.
Smooth, torquey, and utterly reliable, it's hard to come up with
any complaints. I've had several and I'm consistently amazed by
their ease of use. This one starts quickly and easily (although
like all Cadillacs, it cranks a little slowly) and it idles almost
imperceptibly. The engine bay is nicely detailed with correct
finishes and hardware throughout and there's a back-up electric
fuel pump for priming and a hidden electric cooling fan for warm
weather. Even the original wrapping on the exhaust down pipe was
duplicated to control underhood temperatures. There are, of course,
some minor signs of use, but it remains an engine bay you can be
proud of and mechanically, this car is so well sorted that we'd
trust it on almost any journey. The Hydra-Matic automatic
transmission was battle tested during the war and came out better
than ever. Shifts are notably smoother than in earlier Cadillacs
and the grinding going into reverse gear has been eliminated. On
the road it's unobtrusive and utterly invisible, as good as any
modern gearbox, making this a car that any driver of any skill
level can quickly master. But the real advantage of the Hydra-Matic
is the 3.36 gearset out back, allowing effortless 70 MPH cruising
without overdrive. It's almost not fair to drive a car like this on
tour because it's so modern in everything it does. Brakes are
effective, steering effort is modest, there's a newer exhaust
system, and it sits on steel wheels (painted in the previous
owner's trademark style with a red outer rim) with fresh 700R15
Diamondback (Yokohama) wide whitewall radials. Documentation
includes extensive maintenance and restoration receipts,
correspondence between owners dating back decades, and a large
collection of photos showing the car before, during, and after the
most recent restoration. It's pretty. It's comfortable. It's fast.
It's bulletproof reliable. If you could have just one car for
everything, there's a good argument to be made for a 1940s
Cadillac. Of course, this is a CCCA Full Classic, so it's welcome
at all of those events, and if my own experience is any indicator,
you'll look forward to long road trips more than most old car guys.
Look at the quality of this car, which shows in every way, and
you'll realize that few affordable cars like this are bigger
bargains. Call today! Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes
personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our
inventory prior to purchase.
