BF Auction: No Reserve 1938 Cadillac Series 65

Seller: George F innely
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Mileage: 0 Shown
Chassis #: 0
Title Status: Missing
Engine: 346 cui V8
Transmission: 3-Speed

Automotive restoration can be a rewarding hobby, but the world is rife with cars that have been relegated to restoration purgatory, perhaps never to return. Is there hope for a revival of this 1938 Cadillac Series 65? We here at Barn Finds certainly hope so, as it’s being offered as a Barn Finds Auction. As they say in the automotive community, even if it’s in this car’s cards to donate parts to keep other Cadillacs alive, it will have not given its life in vain. The taillights alone are apparently extremely difficult to find, as they were only used on certain models for a limited time period. If you have been looking for an ambitious project or have a 1938 Cadillac that’s missing some important components, perhaps this Series 65 sedan is for you.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a list of parts that come with this car, so it’s distinctly possible that some are missing. For example, the cylinder heads and intake manifold are no longer attached to the Cadillac’s 346-cubic-inch flathead, an engine that stuck around until 1947. Being a fairly common powerplant, missing mechanical bits wouldn’t worry me too much. But trim pieces and interior pieces?

That’s where I’d begin to sweat. Obviously, this car was taken apart long ago for a restoration that never happened, and pieces may have been scattered to the four winds. Considering that General Motors was the forerunner of planned obsolescence, many parts are unique to the 1938 Cadillac, and some are most likely unique to the 65 Series.

The undercarriage looks solid, so at least you’re not dealing with rust should you decide to go ahead with a restoration, and if you decide to use the Cadillac as a parts car, you’ll have some solid sheet metal to weld into your project. The ’38 models had a three-speed manual, as the Hydramatic was still a few years off. According to the 1938 Cadillac LaSalle Data Book, the Series 65 had a 4.58:1 rear axle ratio, which might limit its speed on today’s interstates. By comparison, the smaller Series 60 used a 3.92:1 ratio, feasibly due to its smaller body; there was simply less mass to accelerate.

The 1938 Cadillac is probably one of the most usable prewar cars you can buy. It’s not too big; at 211 inches in length, it’s a little shorter than a ’60s Ford Galaxie or Chevy Impala. Its 135-horsepower V8 made plenty of usable torque, so it shouldn’t have a hard time keeping up with modern traffic everywhere but perhaps a high-speed expressway, given its aforementioned rear-end ratio. It’s a Full Classic according to the Classic Car Club of America, a worthy car in every way, so whether you’d like to restore this one or use it for parts, bid now!