Harry's Thoughts
THE ESSENTIALS
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 sales@classicpromenade.com. 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.
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