FOR SALE: Restored 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 Imperial Limousine

[CadillacDave&George]

My dad and his twin brother (Dave & George) grew up on an upscale farm in Warrenton, VA.  Their father was the farm manager, and every now and then the owners would visit from France.  When Dave & George were kids, they used to watch the owner's chauffer drive up the long driveway to the farm's mansion in a 1941 Cadillac Limousine.  This started their dream... to buy one, and have it restored.  In the 1980's they found a fine specimen, and after saving money for years, they commenced on the journey to have it put back "as new" - no expense spared, no time limit, no cut corners.  So it was placed in the hands of WW Motor Cars in Broadway, VA in 1999, and just recently came out of restoration the Summer of 2016.  Only 757 of these rare Cadillacs were built and were ceremoniously dubbed the "Cadillac of the Cadillacs".  This car was entered into the Father's Day Antique Auto Show in Warrenton and won Best Car In Show (among many other awards) against hundreds of great classic vehicles from all genres.  Furthermore a full story was written about the twins and their love for this Limousine.  They were often ask, why a 1941?  They went on to explain that in their minds (and lots of others) 1941 brought out the best characteristics in the Cadillac brand: the lines, the engines, the flying lady, as well as the electric window separating the driver and passenger cabins, and other appointments.  Dave & George had them all: Coupes, Convertibles, Limos, Sedans - and they were ALL 1941!

 

Unfortunately in their late 70's, the twins developed Alzheimers and lost their drivers licenses.  They were never able to drive it, but have been driven in it as a passenger several times over the last few years so they could resonate with their accomplishment.  This was one of few joys these two had that they shared for decades, which also included a love for Family, WW2 Airplanes, Electronics and a good days+ work ethic!  We have 100+ pictures of the car being restored, and receipts of over $140,000.  Again - no expense was spared - even the running boards were restored over 4 years by a fellow in Canada, who is the last of his kind doing this specialized restoration work.  He is known as the Running Board Man, and is still at it in his 80's!  Everything on this car was researched and put back to the original colors, fabric, metal etc.  It is available for cruising in for the serious buyers.  The car has been kept in a climate controlled Warehouse in Fauquier County, VA.  This Cadillac Limo is offered at the starting price of $109,000.00 obo. More pics to come - I just need to drive out to Fauquier and take some more.  If interested, please email John @ MoparFordChevy@gmail.com

 

For additional details on this car as it was manufactured by Cadillac, see below...

 

Cadillac’s flagship Series 75 had a long and distinguished history. Cadillac’s full sized V8 cars spanning six decades were the Series 70 and Series 75 models. For 1941, the Series 75 was available as a sedan, Imperial Touring sedan, and a formal sedan body. There were a variety of body configurations from which to select and all wore Fleetwood nomenclature. Fleetwood was the in-house coach-crafter for Cadillac.

The Fleetwood Metal Body Company dates back to the early 1900s. The Company was formed in the UK then branched here in the USA in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania in 1905. Lawrence (Larry) Fisher of Fisher Body was so impressed with Fleetwood’s craftsmanship, that Cadillac purchased it in 1925 moving the sales and design offices to Detroit, Michigan near the Fisher Body plant.

The all-new 1941 Cadillacs genuinely established the brand as America’s ultimate automobile status symbol. All models featured the “torpedo” bodyshell that originated with the first Series Sixty-Special. It became more modern with its headlamps mounted inward rather than on the tops of the front fenders. It sported a horizontal egg-crate grille that many auto makers imitated. The shoulders were squared off with trailing edges.  Available options for the Fleetwood Series 75 Touring Imperial sedan included: fender skirts, driving lights, mirrors, windshield washer, back-up lamps, radios, and the GM Hydra-Matic transmission. Hydra-Matic was the world’s first fully automatic transmission.

The Cadillac Series 75 was the long wheelbase limousine. The 1941 model #41-7533 Touring Imperial 7-passenger sedan rode on a 136” wheelbase. It was 226.1” in length. It was powered by Cadillac’s 346 CID 7.0 litre “L-Head” 8 cylinder engine. It had a cast iron block and head, three main bearings, and hydraulic lifters. A Stromberg AAV-26, Carter WDO506s carburetor was used. This engine produced 150 bhp @ 3,400 rpm. It had a selective synchro manual 3-speed column shift transmission. The rear was fitted with a Hotchkiss semi-floating axle with hypoid gears. Power hydraulic braking at all four wheels was standard. $3,295 went a long way in 1941.  That was the base price of the Series 75 Touring Imperial. Only 757 of these were built.

The 1941 Fleetwood Series 75 Touring Imperial was a hand-crafted limousine built in the Cadillac tradition. The Series 75 was the marque’s flagship V8. In 1941 the short wheelbase Series 70 was replaced by the Series 62 and the long wheelbase Series 75 was integrated into the Fleetwood family. This was a most brilliant motor car for its day, and it, with others like it built the “Standard of the World” reputation in years to come for the Cadillac brand. This magnificent sedan is a highly sought collectible today as only 757 Touring Imperials were built. The Fleetwood Series 75 was the “Cadillac of Cadillacs.”

[Restorer32]

Would be a great wedding car.

[mercer09]

List it with Barret Jackson.....................

[Matt Harwood]

As the owner of a 1941 General Motors limousine, I can speak to the driving manners, which are AWESOME. Yes, the front seat is a little compact, but in my '41 Buick Limited the seat is at least a little adjustable. At 5'10" I have found that it gets A LOT more comfortable if I sit on a 4-inch cushion, which I had made in matching black leather. Not only do you sit higher, but it frees up some leg room and makes it easier to move your legs on the pedals. Maybe it looks a little silly to be sitting on a cushion in a giant limousine, but it made a BIG improvement in driving comfort--so much so that I don't even think about it anymore. I will eventually have an upholstery shop make me a custom seat that raises the lower seat cushion 4 or 5 inches and shortens the backrest by a similar amount--original look but the higher seating position for comfort.

 

I've also had a '47 Cadillac limousine and will state that with the Hydra-Matic it was plenty peppy and would cruise effortlessly at 60 MPH. Big, powerful brakes, too. The '41 is unquestionably more handsome in every way.

 

 

Don't discount the big limousines--they are fantastic tour cars and obviously the '41 Cadillac is an extremely popular car. It's hard to make a good case for the car's value, but then again, you're buying the restoration at a deep discount and getting the car for free. The interior alone was probably $30,000. My only advice would be to reinstall the skirts. Ordinarily I'm not a fan of skirts, but I think they work rather well on the big cars and they're a valuable addition to the car.

 

Count me in as a lover of the big, heavy cruisers like this.

[CadillacDave&George]

Reduced $89,000

[Walt G]

Matt you stated this very well. I do not own a car of this body type, but for some years had the pleasure of being behind the wheel of a 1940 Cadillac Formal sedan that was owned by a friend.  That car was an unrestored, low miles original car. My longest trip behind the wheel was about 40 years ago when I drove it home to western long island from Austin Clark's L.I. Auto Museum in Southampton ,NY which was 70-80 miles east  and we had visited . These Cadillacs are an amazing drive/ride, as are the big Buicks as Matt states.