The first production Cadillac was the single-cylinder 1903 Model A, manufactured in Detroit by Henry M. Leland, an enigmatic pioneer of precision manufacturing. From the very start, Cadillacs were known for their quality and reliability. In 1908, Cadillac was awarded the British Dewar trophy, in recognition of the uniform quality of its production parts. A new sales slogan was soon adopted, proclaiming Cadillac, ‘Standard of the World.’

In 1909, General Motors acquired Cadillac, but left management to Leland. Just six years later, the Division would produce America’s first truly successful V-8-powered car, the 1915 Cadillac Type 51. In 1917, Leland left GM, following a disagreement with Billy Durant. He and son Wilfred then set out to build their own V-8-powered luxury car, naming it after the martyred Civil War President, Abraham Lincoln.

The 1927 Series 314 models evidenced a transitional phase in Cadillac evolution. By the mid-1920s, Cadillac was a substantial, high-grade motorcar quite capable of defending its Standard of the World claim against worthy competitors. But the somber finishes and discreet trim of preceding Cadillacs were giving way to the spirit of the ‘Roaring ‘20s.’ The radiator shell and flanking massive barrel-shaped headlamps were now plated, while wire wheels and brighter colors gave a sporting air to many models.

At the heart of the Series 314 was the Cadillac V-8. The engine had proven itself in World War I, powering numerous Cadillacs pressed into service as AEF staff cars. The original L-head design had been brought to a new level of refinement in 1926, while retaining the original’s 314 cid.

Cadillac offered two series in 1927, the Standard line, on a 127” wheelbase chassis, and the exclusive 138”-wheelbase Custom line. The longer wheelbase Custom models were some of the most impressive cars on the American road in 1927. In many ways, large 7-passenger American touring cars such as this example could be considered the 1920s’ equivalent of today’s luxury SUV.

The featured car, cataloged as the Custom Touring Car for Seven Passengers, with body by Fleetwood, is equipped with a set of six handsome Buffalo wire wheels, with the two spares riding in front fender wells. It also features a folding windscreen and, on the rack at the rear, an accessory trunk.

This particular Series 314 Custom is a treat for the connoisseur of original automobiles, having covered but 30,000 miles over the past eight decades. According to the seller, the car retains its original paint and striping from 1927, complimented by an authentically restored interior and top. The seller further notes that the Cadillac, which is recognized by the CCCA as a Classic, “performs well, with excellent brakes and steering.” In a market that continues to place greater value on originality, the 1927 Custom line Cadillac being offered at auction may represent a unique opportunity.