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/
