Vehicle Description
Serial No. 4085
Engine No. 21910
In 1905, Cadillac founder Henry M. Leland oversaw the construction
of a prototype example with a high, upright coupe body, similar to
that which would be seen on many electric cars of the next decade.
Dubbed "Osceola" for the Seminole chief whom Leland admired, it was
his regular transportation for years, and ever since has remained a
standard-bearer for the marque, shown by Cadillac at the 1933
Chicago World's Fair and later in various museums and auto shows.
More importantly, as an extremely early example of closed
coachwork, it was, of sorts, the original Cadillac concept car.
One of very few known extant, the car offered here is among the
earliest surviving examples of production closed coachwork on a
Cadillac chassis, following "Osceola" by but two seasons, and
exhibits a distinctive design flair with its two-tone paintwork and
tapered "tulip" tail. While it has long been attributed by past
owners as being a 1906 Model H, it is actually a 1907 Model M, with
the company's single-cylinder engine design on a 76-inch wheelbase
chassis. Not only is the engine by number correct for a Model M,
but it is recorded in Cadillac build records as having originally
been fitted to a coupe, indicating it is the original engine for
this automobile. A copy of this record remains in the file,
indicating that the coupe was originally delivered to the
wonderfully named Centaur Motor Company of Buffalo, New York.
The Cadillac was later owned by prominent Beverly Hills,
California, attorney and civic leader, Robert J. Gottlieb, who was
also an avid automobile enthusiast and the longtime "Classic
Comments" columnist for Motor Trend magazine. Mr. Gottlieb
undertook a cosmetic restoration of the coupe in the hands of noted
restorer Eric Rosenau, some correspondence and documentation of
which is included in the history file. Afterward, it remained in
the Gottlieb collection until the autumn of 2004, when it and Mr.
Gottlieb's 1913 Pierce-Arrow were both acquired for the Gateway
Automobile Museum.
Since acquisition for the museum in 2004, the car has been
occasionally shown, including at the Amelia Island Concours
d'Elegance in 2010. It remains in near-perfect overall condition,
with the maroon and black lacquer paint still shining on the wooden
bodywork, and the red chassis and wheels as a wonderful accent. The
windshield and rear window both slide down for ventilation,
railroad carriage-style, while the curved glass side windows are
removable. Within is finished in maroon leather, with pull curtains
to all windows and bud vases as elegant accents.
One of the most significant surviving early Cadillacs, this is a
must for any passionate devotee of the Standard of the World.
Addendum & Administrative Notes
Please note that this lot is titled by its engine number as Model
Year 1906.
Collection Guarantee Disclosure
Please note that as part of a larger collection to be offered at
live and online auctions, the Consignor of the Gateway Collection
has been guaranteed a minimum price for certain cars, including
this Lot, by Broad Arrow. Depending on the final Hammer Price
obtained for those Lots, Broad Arrow may benefit financially.
