1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen Sport Phaeton Style

There were 85 examples of Fleetwood's Style 4260 Sport Phaeton built on the Cadillac V-16 chassis, and three examples were built to order with folding rear cowls. They are chassis number 702682 with body number 8, 702691 with body no. 7, and this example, chassis 702677 with body number 25. Mounted on the rear cowl, instead of the typical crank-down secondary windshield, is a folding windshield, which has delicate profiles cut out of the bottom of its wind wings, which allows for it to be folded at quite a rakish angle. Another interesting feature on the 4200 Series cars was the elegant curved bottom coach sill doors, a styling cue not seen on other less expensive series V-16 bodies.

This example was ordered on April 30th of 1930 through Don Lee Inc. distributorship of San Francisco, California. The car was ordered with fender-mounted spare tires and wire wheels. The new owner took delivery of the completed car on August 30th of 1930.

In the mid-1950s, the car next surfaced as advertised for sale in a national automotive magazine. It was being offered by an engine rebuilder who was stuck with an unpaid bill. The next owner was a pea farmer from Opportunity, Washington, who intended to use the car for Shriner's parades. He had the rear cowl removed, although he retained it, along with all the corresponding hardware. The next owner was Ray and Dorothy Radford, also from Portland. The Radfords acquired the car in 1962. Early on in their ownership, the Radfords properly reinstalled the second cowl. The car would remain with the Radfords for the next two decades. It was used extensively on tours throughout the United States and Canada.

In 1979, the car was purchased by auto show promoter and SEMA Hall of Fame inductee Robert Larivee Sr. of Pontiac, Michigan. Mr. Jim Brucker was also a partner in its purchase. It was displayed at Brucker's Movie World Cars of the Stars Museum, still mostly original and never having been fully restored.

It was shown 'as is' at the 1981 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, as a preservation example. After that, it was treated to a restoration. The total cost for the work was $115,000.

After the work was completed, it returned to Pebble Beach in 1983. The car scored 97 points because the restoration was not fully complete, and the car lacked side curtains, but still managed to earn Third in Class. After the Concours, it returned to the restoration show for final completion and detailing, ultimately earning 99.5 points and Best of Show at the Grand Classic at Hudson, Ohio in 1985.

The car was later sold to John Mozart, followed by a Mr. Paul Quinn, of Boston Massachusetts. The current owner acquired the car in 1988.

This Sixteen is equipped with Pilot-Ray steering headlights, a radiator stone guard, dual Klaxon horns, a trunk rack, dual taillights, fanned tips on the dual exhaust, and full metal covers with pedestal mirrors on the side mounts. The current restoration work is around a quarter-of-a-century old.

Of the Style 4260 phaetons built, fifty-two were constructed in 1930 and thirty-three in 1931.

In 2012, this car was offered for sale by RM Auctions at their Monterey, CA sale. The car was estimated to sell for $650,000 - $850,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $465,000 inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012