Shangri-La is the setting for 1933’s Best Seller: Lost Horizon. A Tibetan Monastery hidden away from the world enjoys perpetual peace, and the residents never age. The tale of a timeless paradise was the inspiration for this gorgeous 1936 Cadillac, and it could be yours.
One of the reasons Lost Horizon was such a hit, is that people in the depths of the Great Depression needed a fictional place where troubles are left behind. This car began life as a Series 60 coupe until it was reimagined by Rick Dore. His vision was made into a reality by Marcel DeLay, who built the aluminum body by hand.
Art Morrison delivered a custom 116″ chassis, fabricated of high-strength steel with coil springs at each corner. This impressive foundation allows the brushed metal top to be removed, and it reveals a gorgeous Roadster. The team at Rick Dore Kustoms used traditional coachbuilding to make the brass and copper trim. The firewall and inner fenders were smoothed to coddle a new Chevrolet RamJet 350. Rated at 380 horsepower, it is matched to a Corvette-spec 700R4 automatic transmission.
Classic Instruments Gauges were custom made for this car, along with a bespoke Ron Francis wiring harness to feed them. Art Deco touches like the amber shift knob and the elongated headlight pods are perfect in any era, and the Cadillac wire wheels are timeless. Even the tiny taillight lenses are metal sculptures that will take your breath away. The paint is PPG Indian Ink-Well Blue, and it was sprayed by Cambra Speed Shop. The flawless finish won the Charlie Hutton Paint Award, which is why it needs to be in your collection. It will be a feature at this weekend’s Mecum Auction in Monterey. Click the link below to learn more and be sure to stay with us for all your Mecum coverage.
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