Cadillac is only now just starting to recover from years of being just another name, and the most recent additions to its range, the ATS and CTS are receiving constantly positive reviews. Even so, no matter how good a car they make by today’s standards, it will always pale in comparison to what the company was doing in the late 1920s to the 1930s.
Cars more like this 1931 V12 Convertible Coupe sporting custom coach-built bodywork hand-beaten by Fleetwood, which before being another name for middle-management to push about, was the Fleetwood Metal Body Company. Unlike many similar shops of the time, it was not a builder of horse-drawn carriages-turned coachbuilder, being in fact, founded in 1909 specifically to create bodies for automobiles.
Its 150 hp engine was considered light, despite displacing six liters divided among twelve cylinders, and it really was when compared to the even larger and heavier V16 units also common in its day. Apparently, the weight difference over the front axle made these smaller engined cars easier to handle and steer.
The RM Auctions page created for the car has a very detailed description of what this car’s history, as well as an estimated price for its October 11 auction date – $175,000 – $225,000.
By Andrei Nedelea
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