1919 Cadillac Type 57 - $37,900 - Orange Village, OH - Older restoration and reliable, powerful tour car. 1-owner since 1953 with a massive collection of spare parts.
This 1919 Cadillac Model 57 phaeton has been owned by the same family since the early 1950s, and it was a regular tour participant throughout the 1970s and ‘80s following a very high-quality restoration. The sporting 4-passenger bodywork is a marked contrast to the more upright styles of the period, but there’s still no question that this is a massive car. Paint and bodywork, despite being more than three decades old, are still quite good and the car has a lovely patina that only time can create. We are not positive whether the light yellow finish is this car’s original color, but it looks fantastic on the sporty phaeton and certainly qualifies as period-correct. For many old car fans, these are simply the best kind of cars to own, as their owner have long since sorted out any mechanical maladies and there is no longer any worry about damaging sparkling fresh paint. Other neat items include the front fender mounted rear-view mirror, headlights that can be adjusted using a steering-column-mounted lever, and accessory taillights that add safety for touring.
Black leather was standard equipment on all open cars, and this phaeton wears correct long-grain material that’s exactly right for the period. As usual, black upholstery proves to be a challenge to photograph, and the upholstery is actually in better condition than the photos would indicate, with modest wear that’s appropriate to its age. There are no splits or tears in either the front or back seat, and the matching door panels (with map pockets in back) are still quite good. The instruments are all functional (except the clock, of course), including the interesting “gasoline pressure” gauge that helps with starting, as the system must be primed using a dash-mounted hand pump. The black top is in excellent condition and the car includes a full set of side curtains for inclement weather.
Mechanically, the Model 57 featured an advanced 314.5 cubic inch V8 engine that was the talk of the industry just a few years earlier. Priming cups are included but not needed as it sits today, and the Delco self-starter works as advertised, spinning the big V8 to life quickly. The original Johnson carburetor handles the fuel mixture and with dual exhaust it sounds impressive at idle and going down the road. The transmission is a 3-speed manual that requires quick double-clutching, but it was an all-new design that improved on shift quality and feel, so once you master the technique, it’s easy to manage. The rear end is positively massive and features rather tall 4.44 gears inside, but combined with the 35-inch tall tires, this car is capable of cruising at 50 MPH without strain. Two-wheel external contracting brakes are as strong as such brakes can be, but it’s always wise to remember that this car goes a lot better than it stops and to plan accordinglyThe tires are correctly sized blackwalls that look right on the beautiful wood-spoke wheels.
A splendid tour car that’s ready to go, and that’s really where this car belongs. Quite roadworthy and powerful, big Nickel Era cars like this represent tremendous value. Turnkey touring cars don’t get more substantial than an early Cadillac, and the spare parts alone (below) are probably worth a significant amount of money all by themselves. If you like the era, there are few finer machines than a Cadillac.
This Cadillac Model 57 also includes a massive collection of spare parts collected over several decades of ownership.
For more details, photos, and a list of the spare parts, please visit www.VintageMotorCarsUSA.com.