1936 Cadillac 70 - $59,900 - Orange Village, OH - Older restoration in good order with recent service that includes a fresh carburetor and tune-up. A big Full Classic Cadillac that’s ideal for touring.
An older restoration in handsome colors, it still shows well, but its competition days are behind it. The burgundy paint is a popular and pleasing choice, giving the rakish convertible sedan a sporty yet elegant appearance and the Series 70 proportions are ideal—impressive, but not so massive as to be clumsy on the road. Dual sidemounts, pontoon-style fenders with the most delicate crease running down their centers, and the body-colored grille shell all add to the 1930s streamlined look. The paint was probably done 20 years ago, yet it’s holding up nicely and takes a shine on a Saturday afternoon that you’ll be proud to show off at a Sunday car show. Body fit is good, particularly for a convertible sedan, with all four doors opening and closing easily without a major slam, and the long hood fits flush. Some of the chrome and brightwork was refinished with the rest of the car and some appears to be good original stuff, and it all has a nice all-of-a-piece look where no item stands out.
Stitched using correct patterns, the wide bench seats show only modest stretching of the hides and some wear in the usual high-traffic areas on the sides of the front seat. Door panels are similar, with ornate patterns on their flat surfaces. The carpets are worn and soiled, and perhaps the most notable issue with the interior, and might warrant replacement sometime in the future to bring them up to the standards of the rest of the car. Additionally, the gauges are probably original and unrestored and as such, are showing their age. Someone in the past has fitted a trio of auxiliary instruments under the dash which are obviously not period-correct, but do a good job of monitoring the engine. Overhead, the tan canvas top is in good order with some light discoloration due to age, but it folds neatly and surprisingly easily for a ‘30s convertible sedan, and the low stack makes for a sporting profile with the top stowed. There’s also a sizeable trunk, which was a hallmark of the Series 70 cars, and the floors are solid with no signs of trouble.
The 346 cubic inch flathead V8 was all-new in ’36 and definitely lives up to the legend. Smooth, torquey, and virtually bulletproof, it moves the big Cadillac with ease. This car starts easily and runs well thanks to a freshly rebuilt carburetor and doesn’t suffer from vapor lock as many cars of this period do thanks to an electric fuel pump. Other recent work includes a full tune up with new plugs and wires, a cooling system flush, and all the other little things that are needed to get a car into shape for touring. The engine bay is not detailed for show, but the engine wears correct corporate olive green paint and the wiring harness was obviously replaced during the restoration and shows no needs. The chassis underneath is in good order, a bit grungy perhaps, but ready to enjoy and the 3-speed manual transmission shifts beautifully thanks to Cadillac’s pioneering synchromesh. It cruises happily at 55 MPH without strain and thanks to those hydraulic brakes and the “knee action” independent front suspension, it feels quite modern going down the road. Flashy wide whitewall tires complete the look and wear original trim rings and hubcaps.
An excellent candidate for the next CCCA Grand Caravan, this is a fantastic high-speed tour car with excellent road manners and reliability. If you’re one of those guys who looks past the shiny stuff and sees the hardware underneath, you’ll quickly recognize that this is a great open Cadillac at a very attractive price.
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