1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen Sport Phaeton Style

This Sport Phaeton was sent to its first owner in Brookline, Massachusetts, through the local distributor, Boston Cadillac, LaSalle, and Oldsmobile. By the late 1940s, the car had been sold and was in the care of its next owner. It was sold in 1950 to a prominent collector, Harry King of Worcester, Massachusetts for the sum of $125. During later ownership, it was given a 1932 V-16 motor. When it was sold in 1955 to Homer Fitterling, the original engine went with the car. Fitterling kept the car until he passed away in the mid-1980s. It was sold at auction and purchased by George Lucetti of Springfield, Massachusetts. Over the next four or five years, the car was given a complete restoration. The original engine was rebuilt and re-installed. Upon completion of the restoration, the car was sold to Bob Bahre where it would remain for a number of years. It was sold in the mid-1990s to Bug Lyon who would keep it for nearly a decade. The next owner was Dave Kane. From that point, it had only two owners before coming to auction in 2009.

It is fitted with a number of desirable accessories such as a pair of Pilot Ray auxiliary driving lights, dual side-mounted spares, radiator stone guard, chrome wire wheels, wind wings, and a Jaeger Eight-Day trip clock and speedometer in the rear compartment. The interior features a machine-turned dashboard, uncluttered gauges, and plenty of legroom for its occupants.

In 2009, this Sport Phaeton with coachwork by Fleetwood was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. The car was estimated to sell for $500,000 - $600,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $632,500 including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2009