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
