Description
They're only original once!
Rare 1949 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
Only 2150 built in 49 and only 2 known examples in the UK
First year for the pillarless coupe body style
First year for the OHV V8 331ci engine
This is a very special car, its completely original, unmessed with, still wearing majority of its original factory paint, original interior, original chrome, original matching numbers engine and just 39k miles from new. The car starts on the button and drives superbly.
The exterior of the car still wears its original Madiera Marooon paintwork, the car has a lot of weathered patina, a few marks and a couple of blow ins but it would be a crime to paint it, it has so much character and style, it shines up well and holds its own at car shows, it looks a million dollars cruising down the road.
The chrome is original and still shines up well.
The seats still wear their original Tan Broadcloth and Tan Leather upholstery , it has minor wear and aging but no rips or tears, again it would be a crime to mess with it.
The headliner is near perfect with all chrome bars still intact.
Orignal steering wheel and horn ring in very nice shape.
Mechanically the car is great, the original matching numbers 331ci OHV V8 starts right up, runs great, drives great, the 4 speed Hydramatic shifts as it should, brakes have been gone through and work well.
All guages work, the heater works and the hydraulic power windows and power seat work.
Recently the car has had a new stainless steel exhaust and new radial wide whitewall tyres.
I would confidently jump in the car and drive it any resonable distance. Obviously its an old car and they always require minor fettling but this is well sorted and very usable.
The car has an interesting history, supplied new in New York in 1949, later it was in Arizona then San Diego by the early seventies.
It was imported to the UK in the 80s by the late Conservative MP Alan Clark, a well known petrol head, taking up residence among his car collection at Saltwood Castle where it sat unused for a few years until it was registered and sold to a new owner in 1990. This owner kept the car until he passed away in 2018 when his family gifted it to his mechanic who recommissioned it and has driven it all over the country showing it the last 7 years until earlier this year.
It was a Classic American magazine Car Of The Year heat winner in 2024 winning the Wheels Day heat at Newbury on Good Friday, and was displayed on the Classic American stand at the big NEC classic car show that year. It was also subject to a in depth feature in Classic American magazine and on the front coverThis is a very special and unusual car, historically signifiant in Cadillac terms being a low production one year body style first year coupe and with an interesting history and super low miles.
Its originality is amazing and it shows the way the doors close, the way the windows close, the way it drives, only orignal unmolested low milage cars feel this way
If you are genuinely interested in becoming the next custodian of this fantastic automobile message me for more info, pics, video etc
£39, 950
