This is a rare 1937 Cadillac Series 85 V-12 Fleetwood Town Car that
was stored for nearly 30 years before being recently
recommissioned. This would be an ideal example for local and
regional car shows and local touring. With further recommissioning
it could be used for CCCA CARavans and tours. This Cadillac was
ordered on April 14, 1937, through CM Car Division, GMS Corporation
in the Oshawa Branch in Ontario. It was specifically ordered with
Special Order (SO) paint and is only one of under 500 V-12
Cadillacs produced in 1937, the last year of the V-12. The build
sheet specifically states that this was a Series 85 (V-12) Formal
Sedan. We do not know whether this was built by Fleetwood as a Town
Car or if it was converted at a later date. By 1996, this Cadillac
was fully restored and sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction to its
last owner, Mr. Wearing, in Scottsdale. The Cadillac had
accumulated a mere 69,392 miles. The radiator tank was worn out
with no replacements available, and the Town Car was parked for the
next 28 years. In January 2023, we bought this Town Car and set off
on a recommissioning and freshening of the restoration. Our
objective was to make it a car that can be driven and enjoyed, but
really it is a No. 3 condition example. We invested $24,000 in its
recommissioning and it now has 69,491 miles. There were but 13 V-12
Town Cars made in 1937, making this very rare. The livery is very
stately and elegant in Banquet Green (Paint Code 56) with a formal
Black padded top and Black canvas over the chauffer's compartment.
The paint has excellent shine and luster, appearing black in the
shade and dark green in the sunlight. The chrome and stainless trim
are in very nice to excellent condition throughout. The wide white
walls and the chrome Cadillac wheel covers look just right. The
dual side mounts with Cadillac mirrors and the trunk rack complete
the look of beauty. This truly is a beautiful car to look at. The
interior has Black Leather and Vinyl up front for the chauffer and
tan upholstery for the passengers. The rear passengers enjoy
seating for up to five people because of the two occasional jump
seats that fold out from the division window. In the center of the
division is an art deco designed Fleetwood branded Jaeger clock.
The wood trim throughout the interior is beautiful. The workmanship
of the upholstery is not of Fleetwood quality, but it is
serviceable and presentable. The instruments all work, but the
clock and horns do not. There was also added an aftermarket
temperature gauge, although it reads the same as the original in
dash gauge. The engine compartment looks sharp with the impressive
V-12 engine showing. The correct original numbers matching 368 CID
overhead valve V-12 features a cast iron block with an aluminum
crankcase. The engine produces 150 hp with its dual Detroit
Lubricator carburetors. The three-speed transmission is
synchromesh, and the brakes are vacuum boosted, making the driving
experience very pleasant. We had to have a custom-made aluminum
radiator made for the Cadillac as we could not find a useable
radiator anywhere (which is the reason it sat for 28 years). For
more information and details, please call or text Harry Clark at
1.602.245.7200 or email us at
[email protected]. The
Cadillac is available for inspection at our showroom in Phoenix. We
are pleased to coordinate inspections, and we help coordinate
shipping worldwide. We also have financing partners if you are
interested in financing.
