For Sale 1933 Cadillac 355C Town Sedan SOLD

Matt Harwood · December 3, 2015

*SOLD*

Exquisite.

There's no other word to describe this elegant and sophisticated Cadillac Town Sedan. Although it's only four years newer than my 1929 Cadillac and uses essentially the same engine, it feels like a totally different car; such is the product of the unprecedented improvements that all cars received in the early 1930s. The silky smooth yet firm feeling of everything this Cadillac does is incredibly appealing. Even more remarkable is that it is an older restoration dating back to perhaps the 1980s and the interior is almost entirely original. Better still, it's a CCCA Senior winner, a CLC Senior winner, and has been displayed twice at Pebble Beach, taking third in its class each time (yeah, third place isn't a big deal--except it's friggin' PEBBLE BEACH). According to the build sheet that accompanies the car, it's refinished in a pretty close approximation of its original Rhapsody Green with Billiard Green wheels and pinstripes. We gave it a quick polish, but it needed nothing else to look this spectacular and I assure you that it's every but this nice in person. If the restoration is 30 years old, it's simply remarkable that it still looks this good. The finish is deep and lustrous and there's perhaps on tiny half-inch crack in the finish on one of the fenders, but I'll bet you can't find it even if the car was right in front of you. The chrome has been refinished more recently, since we have a pretty detailed maintenance record, so it's all excellent. The grille is probably original and I'm pretty sure it was a satin finish, not brightly chromed, so it's a little mottled today but certainly not in need of refinishing--this car's just so nice, I gotta pick a nit somewhere. It also carries a correct gold-plated goddess hood ornament and grille emblem, both of which were specified when it was new (they were typically reserved for the V16 cars).

As I mentioned, the interior is almost entirely original. The last owner informs me that some areas were replaced, but he can't point out which ones and the matching is dead-on. The carpets are newer, but the headliner, the sun visors, the door panels, and the back seat side panels are unquestionably original. Detailing is simply gorgeous, particularly the woodwork around the window frames and on the dashboard, and yes, that's real wood, not a painted facsimile. How it survived intact and undamaged all these years, I can't imagine. The gauges are beautifully ornate round dials ahead of the driver and they all work, including the small gauge to the left of the steering wheel that indicates the suspension's firmness setting. You'll also note a factory-installed AM radio with speaker and noise suppressor under the hood. I haven't tried it and I don't know if I'm going to, but all the parts are there and given the quality of the rest of the car, I wouldn't be surprised to find it fully operational. There are switches for the Pilot Rays and an electric fuel pump discreetly hidden under the dash and an accessory heater (fully operational) has been tucked under the dash, a 2007 addition noted in the service records. The Town Sedan body style also includes an integral trunk plus a trunk rack, so it's ideally suited to long-distance touring in comfort.

Cadillac's flathead V8 measured 353 cubic inches (not 355 as the nomenclature would suggest) and put out 115 horsepower in 1933. It feels like more and it's unbelievably silky. The one in my car is smooth but this one is other-worldly. It's not totally vibration-free, but what you do feel feels expensive. The engine is wonderfully detailed in black porcelain, including the heads and manifolds, and that pipe coming out the top is actually the exhaust pipe running up and over the carburetor. A few chrome pieces, some aluminum castings, and lots of stainless, chrome, and copper fittings make it look machine-like but beautiful, ostensibly to match the works of art that were the Cadillac V12 and V16 engines. Cadillac invented Synchromesh, so it is of course included on the 3-speed manual transmission, which shifts effortlessly. It was originally equipped with 4.75 gears according to the build sheet, but in 2007 it was outfitted with a set of 3.90 gears which really make a difference. It's a little lethargic off the line and you need to work the clutch a bit, but it's comfortable at 55 MPH and beyond. Brakes are mechanical but powerful and the suspension is supple and sophisticated where mine feels like a heavy-duty truck. There's just the right whisper of V8 burble from the tailpipe, but at idle, you may not even notice it's running.

I'm very impressed with this car. In only four years, they exponentially improved every aspect of the motorcar and I've long maintained that the 1932-1935 period is the sweet spot where the cars still feel like old cars but have sophistication and performance to make them a joy to drive even today. This one is nicely documented, beautifully preserved, and ready to show or tour. I'll vouch for the V8's bulletproof reliability, too. We're asking $79,900 and while some may scoff that it's not a V12, please come see and drive it before you decide. Besides, if this were a Packard or even a 90-Series Buick club sedan, that price would be a bargain. Thank you for looking!