By the 1930s, Cadillac was firmly established as the leading luxury automobile in the U.S. The cars were redesigned for 1936, and the Fleetwood Series 75 Touring Sedan (5 passenger) was at the top of the heap (except for limos). This solid example has been sitting for the past 10 years in Nampa, Idaho, and looks like a solid restoration candidate. It’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $10,000.
These machines were at the pinnacle of their game in terms of 1930s technology. The L-head V8 engine displaced 346 cubic inches (the seller says 356 in this car), paired with a 3-speed manual transmission, and had an independent front suspension and a “live” rear axle. The drum brakes were hydraulically operated. Doors were now hinged at the front, thus opening at the back like automobiles of today. No more than 2,000 of the Series 70 and 75 Fleetwoods are thought to have been produced.
This weather-worn sedan has 59,000 miles on the odometer. The paint decodes as Beaver Brown Iridescent, which is probably past the point of being buffed out. Rust doesn’t appear to be an issue, and none is mentioned. At a minimum, the old car is going to need a new battery and have the fuel system cleansed before any attempt can be made to fire it up.
It’s been at least a decade since this car last ran. The interior seems okay, but dirty. And I like the folding full-width footrest for the rear seat passengers. After 90 years, there can’t be many of these Fleetwoods left, making it a very rare find today. Imagine how stately it would look when restored!
Nice write-up on a fascinating car, Russ! This one squeals with opportunity.
Not certain but it looks like the rear doors still hinge at the rear, which is totes preferrable.
My ’48 Cadillac hearse had this engine in it and to this day it was the smoothest engine I’ve ever driven.
I had a 1946 Caddy Series 62 and it was so smooth that one day at my classic car club morning a fellow took a coin and balanced it on the inlet manifold. The motor turned over so slowly that we could count the revs of the label on the fan belt !
So, think this car came from Idaho? Not bloody likely, got California all over it. I read, Idaho in the 30s was not a happy place. Riddled with effects of the depression, a Caddy limo was a rare sight. I say, some Hollywood mogul had to split, and hello Idaho. Does anyone know what that “city, pass, drive, park” thing on the speedo was? I read, this was on the lower end new, at about $3200, but some went as high as $7grand,, a hefty post-depression sum only an actor could afford. Remember a 1936 Ford cost about $600. Imagine who could have ridden in this, Marlene Dietrich maybe? Like the other 30s Caddy, sadly I just don’t see any interest in this anymore.
It could have come from Nevada. There are places there so dry and dusty they look like the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust and water doesn’t dare show its face. It’s the only way this car can look as solid as it does, by being from Nevada.
I agree, with the legalization of gambling in 1931, I’m sure there were many shady characters that had to “get out of town”. It’s why many Chicago gangsters, including Al Capone, went to N.Wis. to let the heat cool off.
“city, pass….” designates the headlight situation, i.e., all the lights on except not the headlights, headlights on low beam, headlights on upper beam, lights on for parking only. I had a 1936 Cadillac V-8 convertible sedan briefly many years ago (ca. 1957!).
Geoffrey Stein
It was a different world ninety years ago that’s for sure. Nothing about this car says luxury to me. When you finished restoring it, or even just getting it running and cleaning it up, you just have a very old car. I would paint it like John Lennon’s Rolls Royce. Says pending so I guess someone bought it.
The 75 was the best of the V-8 Cadillacs, but the V-12 85 and V-16 90 outranked it.
another neat caddy but will cost thousands to redo
At that price, it’ll sit in Idaho a while longer.
Nobody deals with this kind of pre-war stuff anymore. The guys who did have hung up the torch and the paint gun and all the rest, and are now selling what they own.
Younger guys who can are not going to speed time on a frumpy old sedan, even if it is a Caddy, when there seems to be an endless supply of ’63 Rivieras to deal with.
Ad already says “Sale Pending,” so maybe he found a buyer. I think that’s a good price for such a solid example.
Yeah, we don’t know the actual price, but at least it has a new home.
In 1936 I think Fisher bodies were still wood structure so you’d better hope the wood is still sound. The lack of rust is a good sign in that regard
Actually I think ’36 is when GM finally went to all steel tops, so I supposed the rest of the body was all steel by then, also.
No photos of the right side.
The car is in excellent condition and impressive.
Ahemmm. Packard begs to differ with your first sentence.
First off, I’d wave $7500 under his nose and I bet he”ll take it too unless he’s a real dumbass and wants to keep the car forever. Got some really nice stuff doing that over the years. Dunno if I could do that today with Barrett
Jackson Syndrome and Mecumosis going around these days. Makes everyone who has
an old car think they can get a king’s ransom from the rest of us
by over inflating prices to the point it scares people out of the hobby. And once I had the car, the next thing I’d do would be to have WD Detailing clean the car
inside and out. I’ve watched their
videos on YouTube and it seems as though these young fellas do a
mighty fine job on any car they clean up. Then, I’d get the fuel and brake systems sorted out and get this grand old gal back on the road again. Maybe take ‘er
to Old Town for a cruise and have
Some of my friends and I dress
up in full gangster gear so that we could jump out of the car with
fake Tommy guns to entertain the
crowds as the Ant Hill Mob from the Wacky Races cartoon of the late ’60s. Whatever my plans for this car would be, she wouldn’t be
a trailer queen to he sure. After all, what fun is owning a vintage
car if you’re too afraid to drive it?
Car is beautiful, rare, and elegant. Get it running and drive it just like it is. Worth every penny of the asking price. Find another one that complete and unmolested for that price.