1931 Cadillac 355 in Tucson, Arizona

Vehicle Description

This is a well documented 1931 Cadillac Model 355A. It is a Fisher bodied car with it's original 353 c.i.d V8 engine. The paint and interior appear mostly original with some ornamentation and pin striping added at some point during the car's life. The fuel system has been updated for reliability, but can be very easily converted back to 100% original. There is some bubbling of the paint along the bottoms of the doors, which is consistent with age, but is once again minor considering the age and otherwise amazing condition of this very original car.

The coupe features a rumble seat, exterior storage door to the rear of the passenger door, rear mounted spare tire, original wire wheels, near flawless chrome, dual horns, and original V8 engine.

Documentation shows that this car was purchased new from Mabbett Motor Company in Rochester, NY by a very prominent priest and educator named John Francis Goggins, who after studying in Rome, earning his doctorate, and being ordained in 1908, was made Dean of Studies at St Bernard's Seminary and became a leading contributor to the Catholic Encyclopedia. He was eventually was named Rector at St Bernard's seminary, named to the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and in 1934 was named Monsignor Goggins.

He drove and loved this car from 1931 until his death in 1966, when the car was sold by his estate to Robert O'Brien, a prominent member of the Rochester Diocese, with 63,000 miles on it. Mr. O'Brien lovingly cared for the car although he drove it just 3,500 miles until it was sold as a part of his estate in 2010.

The car was quietly purchased by Mr. Michael Auclair, a retired bomber and fighter pilot, and an avid Car collector, in Palm Springs, California. Mr. Auclair recently decided to reduce the size of his collection and we are fortunate to be able to present this historic Cadillac for sale today.

According the records we have been able to obtain this beautiful Cadillac was repainted in 1947 and in 2006 a few thousand dollars were spent updating the electrical system. The work was performed at Carriagestop Restorations in Palmyra, N, which is consistent with the time period that Mr. O'Brein owned the car.