Vehicle Description
As the roaring twenties gave way to the 1930s and the Great
Depression deepened, many luxury car manufacturers suddenly found
themselves fighting for survival. A notable exception was Cadillac,
which had the might of General Motors behind it, allowing them to
forge ahead with unrivaled confidence despite the ensuing economic
meltdown. For the 1930 model year, Cadillac unveiled an all-new
flagship model powered by a complex, expensive, and revolutionary
overhead-valve V16 engine. They followed that act with a
twelve-cylinder version of the same design, triggering a so-called
"multi-cylinder race" as other luxury manufacturers scrambled to
respond with twelve and sixteen-cylinder engines. While the
powerful and sophisticated V16 stole the headlines, Cadillac's
V8-powered Series 353 carried on as the marque's mainstay,
providing the bulk of sales throughout the decade. Introduced in
September 1929, the Series 353 featured an enlarged version of the
90-degree L-head V8 that first appeared in the Series 314 the
previous year. Named for its 353 cubic-inch displacement, the
Series 353 featured a host of improvements and refinements. The
beautiful, European-influenced styling was courtesy of GM's new Art
and Colour Section, led by the indomitable Harley Earl. The 353
also marked the arrival of Cadillac's new "Clashless" synchronized
3-speed manual gearbox, affording seamless shifting, and making the
Series 353 particularly popular with owner-drivers. The 353 was
Cadillac's bread-and-butter, though the massive catalog of
available body styles ensured exclusivity for buyers. Cadillac
offered seven styles from Fisher and an astonishing thirty-seven
different selections from Fleetwood. Looking at the sales charts,
the mid-price La Salle led the way with an annual tally of nearly
15,000 units, yet the Series 353 was close behind with sales of
more than 11,000 - which would be the high point for several years
to come. The Series 353's balance of power, refinement, and
performance helped Cadillac inch closer to Packard in their heated
battle for American luxury car supremacy. This 1930 Series 353 is a
lovely example of the breed, fitted from new with the handsome
Convertible Coupe body, style number 168 from Fisher's catalog.
Presented in a striking two-tone red livery with black-wall tires,
this Cadillac features a high-quality restoration that was
completed in 2006 and has been well maintained in the years since.
Factory build records confirm this is to be a genuine Fisher-built
Convertible Coupe, delivered new via Cadillac's leading west-coast
dealer, Don Lee, Inc. of Los Angeles - coincidentally where Harley
Earl got his start. It is believed this car spent a good portion of
its early life in the dry California climate, which undoubtedly
contributed to the survival of its original coachwork. A previous
owner purchased the car from a museum and treated it to an
extensive, nut and bolt restoration finished to a high standard,
and lovingly cared for it in the ensuing years. The bold two-tone
color scheme suits the car's sporting nature very well, with
metallic burgundy fenders and trim accenting the brighter red main
body. Paint quality is excellent, with deep reflections and
excellent fit and finish. The list of accessories is extensive,
including a radiator stone guard, dual Trippe lights, goddess
mascot, Cadillac-crest headlamps, dual side-mount spare wheels, and
a trunk rack. Gorgeous red-painted wheels with polished spokes
combine with the black-wall tires to give this 353 a decidedly
sporty and purposeful appearance. Chrome plating on the body
fittings is superb and indicative of the concours-quality
restoration. Cream beige leather upholstery covers the seats, door
cards, and rumble seat. The leather and taupe colored carpets are
in excellent order front and rear, with subtle creasing in the
driver's seat from light use, while the rumble seat area appears
virtually unused. The burl wood trim surrounding the door windows
and windscreen is excellent, displaying a slight mellowing of the
finish since the restoration. Original style instruments and
controls are set into a painted, body-color dash, and, like the
exterior, the quality of the plated interior parts is superb. The
convertible coupe offers the sporting character of the roadster for
top-down days, but with a roomier cockpit with the top up, and well
as the convenience and all-weather versatility of roll-up glass
side windows. The well-detailed, authentic presentation continues
to the engine compartment and undercarriage. The 353 cubic-inch
L-head V8 is the original engine per the build sheet,
strong-running presented with fine cosmetics. Occasional use since
the restoration resulted in some "baking-off" of the
porcelain-coated manifolds, yet the overall appearance remains neat
and tidy. It features the correct intake, oil bath air cleaner,
high-compression heads, and other accessories. The combination of
Cadillac's robust V8 engine, easy-shifting synchronized gearbox,
and powerful brakes makes the Series 353 a remarkably usable car,
even compared to its more expensive multi-cylinder brethren. With
its superb, gently matured restoration, this attractive example
combines the accessible performance with versatile, stylish Fisher
coachwork and is sure to provide its next keeper with many years of
enjoyment. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7531-1930-cadillac-model-353-convertible-coupe/
