This 1947 Cadillac Series 75 was custom built by Derham for the family of William S. Paley, noted CBS executive and Television pioneer. Blanche P. Levy, Paley’s sister, and her husband owned it shortly after delivery, and kept it in their family until 1978, when it was traded in on 2 Rolls-Royces! Gilbert Dobbins owned it from ’78 to ’93, when Charlie Smith purchased it and began to restore it. The current family, well known experts in Classic Cadillacs, acquired it in 1996, and proceeded to finish the restoration, and use the car in shows and tours. The work they did has made this car run and drive like it did when it was new!
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Derham Started with a series 75 Imperial Sedan with divider window, and applied their custom touches, including the formal padded top, a more deluxe interior, Jump seats, and special rear seat radio equipment and vanities. Only 33 of this type of car were thought to have been produced by Derham in the immediate postwar era 1946 to 1949, according to Cadillac historian Roy Schneider.
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Formal lines, classic styling! Along with the ability to tour at high speeds using the original 346 Cubic Inch V-8, 3 speed manual transmission, and modern gear vendors overdrive!
1947 Cadillac Derham Formal Sedan
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The paint and bodywork are super high quality! look at those reflections in the doors. This car was a rust free car, that was taken to bare metal when the initial work was done in the 1990’s.
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The chrome and stainless is beautiful! Take particular note of the grille – that’s a huge die-cast piece, and it is lovely and pit-free!
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The Coker 16 inch radial whitewall tires have less than 100 miles since installation!
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Love that hood ornament – that doubles as the hood latch mechanism!
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Here’s the Cadillac Historic document build record for this car. This shows a 1947 7 Passenger Imperial Sedan (Division) with Antoinette Blue paint.
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Here’s the Derham tag on the hood.
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Authentic windshield wipers – which do work!
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The rear compartment is entirely original, and in excellent condition! Deep blue, with wool broadcloth fabric. Lovely!
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Jumpseats can be used for additional passengers!
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Here’s the divider window frame, and the jumpseats folded forward.
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Here’s the divider window switch – the divider window works, too!
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Passenger side controls, including a rear mounted radio, with it’s own antenna just aft of the rear window.
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Folding seat divider. This car was the lap of luxury in 1947!
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Working courtesy lamps
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The view into the chauffer’s compartment!
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The original steering wheel is absolutely beautiful, the plastic almost like new!
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Beautiful instruments!
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Great Instruments!
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Radio and radio grille – works great!
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Chauffer upholstery was redone in black vynil
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Driver doorpanel, with the master window switches. The windows are hydraulic, all 4 window cylinder assemblies were restored, and filled with modern ATF fluid. The windows work great!
.Passenger doorpanel.
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The 346 Cubic inch original V-8 was rebuilt in 2002, with receipts that show it was a comprehensive and high quality effort, including all new bearings, .040 overbore pistons, Stainless Steel valves, new valve guides, rebuilt lifter bodies and renewed camshaft, Timing chain, oil pump, and fully machined block and heads. Rebuilt water pump.
.Just a few of the many receipts on file for this car. These are for the 2002 engine rebuild.
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Here’s the rust-free car stripped to bare metal when it was repainted in the 1990’s.
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And all that fresh chrome when it was done – all still looks great today!
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And the rebuilt engine as it rejoined the chassis in 2002!
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Clean and correct!
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Note the rebuilt fuel pump and new hoses. Since 2017, this car has had substantial work done to make the car tour-ready and reliable, including New tires, new clutch, new brakes, rebuilt front shocks, new king pins, suspension alignment, fuel tank removed, cleaned and sealed, all new stainless fuel line from tank to carburetor, cooling system flush & clean, new water pump, and rebuilt carburetor. Wiring harness from dashboard forward was also installed. I can tell you after driving this car that all this work has made the car act and feel tight, solid, safe, and powerful!
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Here’s some of the new wiring harness under the hood
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Nice wiring installation!
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looking straight down in the engine bay, we can see the rebuilt combination upper A-Arm and hydraulic shock absorber in place. There was a real commitment to making this car drive nicely!
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The full expression of formality and style!
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The Year of Manufacture plates can be included if the car stays in California.