In 1936, the Cadillac V-12’s penultimate year of production, the model was offered on two wheelbase lengths, the 131-inch Series 80 and the 136-inch Series 85. Both were equipped with modern hydraulic brakes, a significant engineering improvement welcomed by drivers on busy roads. Better tuning under the hood increased performance to a robust 150 horsepower at 3,600 rpm, enabling easier highway cruising.

While sales improved from prior years, the V-12 was in 1936 still a great rarity, even when new, with only 250 Series 80s and 651 Series 85s sold to new owners. Today these are rightfully held as some of the most attractive and best-engineered Cadillacs of their time, which is quite an achievement in an era of beautiful automobiles from the “Standard of the World,” as the company slogan touted.

According to a copy of its build sheet on file, this particular Series 85 Convertible Sedan was delivered new in Chicago, finished in sedate black. Interestingly, it originally had Wiese broadcloth upholstery, indicating that it was most likely intended to never be used with the top down. The car was specified with steel wheels, including dual side-mounts, among other accessories, altogether making for a truly striking machine on the roads of the Classic Era Windy City.

During a previous restoration, the car was refinished in its present livery, year-correct Dartmouth Green, with matching leather interior—a much more practical choice for open-air motoring. It is equipped with Scarab Green wheels with beautiful, polished covers, dual Pilot Ray driving lights, a Goddess mascot, and dual side-mounted spares with full metal covers, as original. While the restoration is believed to have been completed in the nineties, it was obviously extremely thorough and appears to have held up nicely over the years, with only minor signs of aging and use throughout, with the interior still in very nice overall condition. A division window, an original feature of this design, allows for comfortable use as a limousine when the top is raised—or for shutting oneself off from noisy passengers during Classic Car Club of America CARavans or Antique Automobile Club of America tours.

This is a very handsome Cadillac, immediately appealing to the eye, with the power, comfort, and sheer scale that one looks for in one of these mighty, smooth classics.