Back to back: Caddy versus Duesy

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Oh yes, it’s a comparison as classic as the cars themselves, but we wanted to make it nevertheless. With Worldwide Auctioneers selling these two beauties at their Scottsdale sale on January 15, we decided the time has come to put them ‘back to back’ for our little evaluation. They are by the way, not the only two chariots of fire that will make it the block. There are more 1930s Caddies and Duesies, Packards and Auburns coming to Scottsdale, even a very nice Chrysler C1 Airflow Coupe. But this duo just seems well-matched, even with one being a V16 and the other ‘just’ a V12. (edit - that's an eight-cylinder of course!)

To start with the Cadillac – it’s a 1930 452A V16 Saloon Landaulette De Luxe with a body by Vanden Plas of England and a car with some cool history in that country. The Cadillac was no doubt one of the stars when displayed on the 1930 London Motor Show at Olympia. Not quite a car for the masses, it was purchased on the show by none other than Arthur Ernest Guinness of the famous brewing company, who may well have fallen for all the interior comforts in the shape of internal division glass, inlaid walnut wood, rear-compartment speedometer and split instrument panel plus an intercom system. Most of the history in Guiness’ hands is shrouded in mystery (a welcome and most rewarding task for a new owner, we’d say) and the first next sign of it only came in 1959 by which time the car had made it back to the US. It changed hands several times there, only to be restored with 56,000 miles on the clock(s) in the late 1970s. The story doesn’t tell if another restoration was carried out later, but we would not be surprised. It certainly looks fantastic and will continue to be a show stopper anywhere it goes.

Least as impressive, despite having half the number of cylinders but more power also, is the 1930 Duesenberg Model J-350 Berline offered without reserve in the same sale. This car comes with a body by Willoughby of New York and a remarkably low mileage of just 36,500. This car was sold new with a different Berline body by Judkins to a J. H. Troutman of Pennsylvania who kept it for eight years. In the War it was converted into a ‘truck’ with the idea to obtain more gas rationing coupons and in 1960 - by which time the mileage had reached 33,000 - the car was restored back to its Berline shape, now with the Willoughby body that it still wears today. Another full restoration was carried out in the late 1970s. A whole string of collectioners followed as owners and the car became well-known in Duesenberg-circles, with a string of photoshoots of it being made and published in books and magazines plus a ‘Category 1 Certification from the ACD Club’.

Now, the big Caddies and Duesies of the 1930s are considered to be pinnacles of the golden age of US motoring – the question is just which one do you prefer?

Words by Jeroen Booij. Pictures courtesy Worldwide Auctioneers.

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