The calendar year 1929 is noted for more than just the Wall Street Crash that led to the Great Depression. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre occurred on February 14th. The Museum of Modern Art opened in New York City. The first Academy Awards were held. But the seller’s Town Sedan rolled off the assembly line, too, one of about 18,000 cars built that year with the Cadillac nameplate. This ’29 model is going to need a complete restoration but would be quite impressive when done. Located in Olympia, Washington, this Caddy is available here on craigslist for $10,000. Thanks for the heads up here, T.J.!
This 1929 Cadillac Town Sedan is compared by the seller to the one owned by famed gangster Al Capone, but old Al’s car was a 1928 model. His was unusual in that it was armor-plated so Al’s enemies would be less likely to rub him out when Eliot Ness and The Untouchables weren’t looking for him. Like the seller’s auto, it was powered by a 341 cubic inch V8 engine that produced 90 hp with a 3-speed manual transmission.
We’re told this Caddy is about 98% percent complete, including the huge hood ornament these cars wore. The body looks to be in decent shape although the running boards are rusty and will need replacing. Also, the roof skin appears to be missing. The paint is toast but that doesn’t matter if you’re planning to restore the vehicle. One of the selling points of this car is that it wears the desirable “Buffalo” wheels that are said to be worth $1,000 each.
The interior has passed its prime but enough should remain to get patterns made for new upholstery. We’re told there are a bunch of spare parts in the trunk to help with the project. The seller was thinking about going restomod with this car, turning it into a “Ratillac”, but other projects will prevent that from occurring. Maybe he’s on to something but making this into a clone of Al’s car sounds like a better idea.
Al Capone, eh? No bullet holes, come on. THE most celebrated gangster, thanks to Hollywood for that, but I think he was already doing time on a contempt charge in 1929. I can’t imagine anyone today restoring this, or any full classic, for that matter. They belong behind velvet ropes today, sadly.
In a sidebar on Al Capone. I lived in N.Wis. and was well known for gangsters to go there until the “heat” cooled down. When a car like this rolled into these little N. Wis. towns, it gained attention. Officials looked the other way as it brought in a lot of money. They didn’t care where it came from, being a world away from Chicago. A friends dad and uncle ran a fishing guide service in the 20’s when they were teenagers near Al’s hideout( Couderay, Wis). They said, more than once, they took Al and his cronies on fishing trips. Naturally, pictures weren’t allowed, but his dad never lied, and I believed him.
All the northern states were fair game during Prohibition. The East Butte of the Sweetgrass Hills was always referred to as “The Pipeline.” Ranchers out there became very wealthy, just providing a right-of-way through their spreads. The whiskey would come west to Medicine Hat on the train. Then at a place called “Seven Persons” or “Winnifred,” it would get off-loaded onto trucks for the trip down through the Pipeline. Places like Havre, MT and Lolo Hot Springs had their own whiskey barons who could actually keep guys like Capone at bay while quenching the thirsts of many westerners. I might add that the bootleggers had some good underground networks. Moose Jaw, SK, was honeycombed with tunnels for example. Anyway, the way the stories went, about four times a year, the region saw a noticeable increase in the number of fancy cars, as well as hard-looking guys in new suits. Any other time it was the ranchers out east who owned the exotic cars. Lots of money spent then it was back to normal for a few months. There’s still the odd souvenir found in a shed or a barn that confirms that…
Not much point putting it behind a velvet rope if you’re not going to restore it.
Aw hell, just find an old weathered rope…
The radiator looks like it has thermostat controlled flaps with a couple missing. Betcha those are hard to find. Maybe fabricate new ones?
The Town Sedans were some of the best-looking Cadillacs of that era. A restoration of this classic is doable – it seems pretty much all there, solid and straight, but it needs a lot. I think that at $10,000.00, or even half of that, it’s a pretty uneconomical proposition, but somebody with the necessary funds has got to rescue it from the hands of this sacrilegious rube whose vision was to “rat rod” it!
Well stated G. This could look elegant indeed.
Would love to see this chopped up into a Rat !
LOL – Such a funny fellow! 😄
Funny the reference to Capones car. IIRC i once a show that Capones car became the first Presidential armored limousine, I believe it was used by FDR as no other armored vehicles were available. I think it was a Modern Marvels that had an article on Presidential Limousines that featured going back to the earliest ones.
I would put this car into strong functional order and drive it as-is, doing as much as I could to not alter its appearance. I drive my 20’s truck all summer long. Why not a grand auto for special occasions ?
Makes me wonder where the car was 50 years ago. Stored in a barn? For how many decades? Still kinda all there, including the special wrench to undo the center locking wheels.
Needs to get out of the hands of the “Ratallic” maker and into those of a responsible party. Don’t tell me “its up to the owner to do what he wants”. After 90 years or so it becomes an artifact, not a Rat Rod.
What Bill said!
Days gone by
Love the old stuff. Got quasi-permission from my wife to get a pre-30’s car, preferably mostly restored with just cosmetic work to be done. Thinking of Pierce Arrows as I’m originally from Buffalo NY where they were made. Looking at old Hemmings magazines from 20+ years ago indicate that interest / prices on that vintage have plummeted. Good news for the lunatic fringe like me who likes that age of car.