1937 Cadillac Series 90  — Best In Show American • 2021 Concours d'Elegance of America
Channel: Show Cars Illustrated
Date: 2021-07-28

A 1937 Cadillac Series 90 convertible with exotic Hartmann coachwork took honors as Best in Show American July 25, 2021 at the 42nd Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth Township, Michigan.
Vehicle History —  In 1937, Phillippe Barraud, a wealthy paper mill heir of Lausanne, Switzerland, decided to build the most ostentatious automobile he could imagine. Wanting to best the Delahaye Roadsters he saw in Paris, he chose the imposing Cadillac V-16 chassis with a 154-inch wheelbase as his starting point. His desire to oversee all aspects of the build led him to a local craftsman named Willy Hartmann. The result is a 22-foot long two passenger roadster, unequalled in both scale and style. The current owner purchased this car in 2015 and sent it for a complete concours level restoration. When acquired, it was intact and retained the original drivetrain and much of the original bodywork. There were numerous modifications, but after intense research and many hours, it has been returned to its original splendor. It’s owned and was restored by the Louisville-based Patterson Collection. This Series 90
V-16 Convertible with Coachwork by Hartmann is a national award winner.