1948 Cadillac Saoutchik Series 62 Four-Seat Cabriolet

Aside from the dash and the distinctive 'sombrero' wheel covers, little else tells you what lies underneath the coachwork of this Cadillac.

This custom Cadillac is one of two cars bodied by Jaques Saoutchik of Paris, France. Saoutchik was known for his extravagant designs, taking many risks with sweeping shapes and copious amounts of chrome.

The genius of Saoutchik's design on such a large chassis is demonstrated in his ability to minimize the overall scale of the car by concealing the size of the wheels as well as using painted lines to reduce the height of the cowl.

The early owners of this car included Paul Kassoff and Louis Ritter. Mr. Ritter was the founder of Ritter Brothers Furriers of New York. he was well known for his extravagant wealth, flamboyant lifestyle, and eccentric taste. There is no wonder why he chose such a car for his stables. The arrangements were handled by famed Hollywood exotic car dealer Roger Barlow (via Tommy Lee of Don Lee Cadillac) to send the chassis to Paris coachbuilder Saoutchik. The design was to be similar to the Paris Show car Ritter admired. He traveled to Paris to monitor the building of his car and while in a free-spending mood, ordered a second car, a Talbot-Lago, of nearly identical design.


Ritter took delivery of his two cars in New York in December 1949. On New Year's Day 1950, both vehicles left New York with Mr. Barlow in the Talbot-Lago and his wife in the Cadillac for a cross-country road trip. According to Barlow, Ritter 'played with his new toys for a month or so in Beverly Hills and then gave them to us to sell, clearing the deck for the next efforts of the Paris builders.'

Full-Custom Cadillac from France
After World War II, European coachbuilders faced a most serious problem in that there were almost no luxury chassis on which to base their custom bodies. Separate body/chassis designs that lent themselves to coachwork were being replaced by unit-body construction. This made it difficult for coachbuilders to express their concepts. American luxury marques were a good option with separate body/chassis construction. Reasonably priced, with large engines and plenty of power, they could handle heavier, luxury coachwork. A coachbuilder who impressed an American maker with his design and construction capabilities could also possibly land subsequent design and prototyping work.

This 1948 Cadillac is an example of such a car. Powered by a 150 horsepower L-head, V8 engine, with 346 cubic-inch, and a full complement of factory-offered comfort and convenience features, it gave the coachbuilder an opportunity to show what he was still capable of doing. The design of this cabriolet, one of two Saoutchik custom-bodied 1948 Cadillacs, gives it the flow and proportions of a much more lithe automobile. Many design touches were employed specifically to mask elements that provided inherent cues to scale, particularly the skirted tires, which masked the wheels' size. The rear fender shape and chrome spear just above the beltline clearly recall body design elements of earlier Cadillacs. It also featured a low windshield, complemented by blind rear top quarters, for a mildly formal look. From the side and rear view, the design of this extremely rare Saoutchik-designed full-custom Cadillac cabriolet is especially attractive.

Production of automobiles in the United States during World War II was postponed in favor of supporting the war effort and the creation of war materials. At the conclusion of the war, the automotive industry scrambled to create new products that the public may enjoy. Coachbuilders and craftsmen found themselves with a dilemma - there were very few luxury chassis in which to use as a base to build their product. The producers of luxury automobiles that had survived and were still in business after the war had mostly transitioned to doing the work in-house rather than outsourcing to coachbuilders. Unit body construction was another factor squeezing out the trade of custom craftsmanship in the automotive industry.

The large American engines provided suitable amounts of torque to carry the large custom bodies of the luxury automobile. Americans had persevered through the war and at the conclusion were ready to stimulate the economy by purchasing products. Those that had the money were willing to buy the higher-priced automobile.

The 1948 Cadillac was a suitable platform for the coachbuilder due to its size, construction, and L-Head V8 engine that produced 150 horsepower. Jacob Saoutchik saw an opportunity with the Cadillac opportunity and pursued the possibility of creating a custom, luxury, concept for the marque.

Saoutchik was born in 1880 near Minsk, Russia, and emigrated with his family to Paris in 1899. He entered the business of furniture making. Seven years later he had become successful enough to purchase his own shop and soon entered the world of coachbuilding. His creativity and designs evolved and his craftsmanship and quality were undeniable. His work was intertwined with the client's desires and matted to his own ambition and creativity. Many of his vehicles had long hoods, flowing fenders, and low windshields. During the thirties, he worked on perfecting the popular teardrop style that is one of the most breathtaking and memorable of all the designs ever created. The designs simulated motion even while standing still.

The 1948 Cadillac shown personifies the teardrop styles of the 1930s with the addition of modern touches and advanced styling techniques. The two-door convertible had seating for four and sat atop one of the larger chassis sizes the industry produced. The front and rear tires are mostly hidden by fender skirts which aid in the appearance of a smooth and flowing design.

Saoutchik produced two 1948 Cadillacs and both were sold to prominent individuals. The flamboyant color schemes matched the vehicle's design and were done in a tasteful manner.

The black and violet custom creation shown was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auction held in Monterey, CA where it was expected to sell between $600,000-$800,000. The selling of the vehicle at the 2006 RM Auction was an excellent move, as its counterpart vehicle was being shown just miles away at the Pebble Beach Concours. The violet and black example is fitted with Marchal headlights, a power soft top, and power windows. It is an excellent example of European coachwork and American engineering with a design that is indicative of both pre- and post-war inspiration.

At the conclusion of the auction, the lot had been sold for $649,000.

In 2010, this Series 62 Custom Cabriolet was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. The car was estimated to sell for $500,000 - $600,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $649,000, inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2010