Car Cadillac V-8 Five-Passenger Coupe 1931 for sale

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To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Hershey Auction event, 7 - 8 October 2026.
Offered Without Reserve | $65,000 - $85,000 USD

Formerly owned by noted Cadillac collector Dan Gernatt
AACA National First Senior and CCCA Premier Awards
Very high-quality and well-preserved restoration in original colors
A lovely example of the Full Classic V-8 Cadillac

Cadillac revised all of its 1931 models with the V-8 offerings now riding a shorter 134-inch-wheelbase chassis that gave them a more sporting appearance with their Fisher and Fleetwood coachwork. The new chassis combined with slightly more curvaceous body lines, courtesy of curved door sills and other gentle, elegant improvements, made for an impressive automobile indeed. Not surprisingly, Cadillac sold 10,717 examples of its 1932 V-8 model, in a trend that eventually led the division to dominate the luxury car field over archrival Packard.

The Fisher-body Five-Passenger Coupe offered here was, according to a copy of its build sheet on file, supplied to Cadillac’s New York branch at Kingsbridge in the Bronx just as it appears today, finished in Black and Highland Green with Tokio Ivory striping, a Wiese broadcloth interior, and “Goddess” radiator mascot. It was restored in the late 1990s by William E. Bettendorf of Snyder, New York, a longtime Cadillac service manager whose passion for the cars extended into his private life; he was well-known for his high-quality restorations of vintage examples. Mr. Bettendorf displayed the car in Antique Automobile Club of America judging, receiving its National First Junior in 2001.

Subsequently, noted Cadillac collector Dan Gernatt of New York acquired the car and, in his ownership, continued its prizewinning career, eventually receiving its Classic Car Club of America Premier status in 2006 with a perfect 100-point score and an AACA First Senior Award—a testament to the lasting quality of its restoration.

Since its acquisition from the Gernatt collection by its present owner, another vintage Cadillac enthusiast, the car has received a thorough servicing by RM Auto Restoration of Blenheim, Ontario, and continues to present in excellent overall condition. It would be a superb addition to any collection of Cadillac’s finest, as one of the few V-8 examples of this era restored to such a high standard.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/.