Al Capone's Cadillac Goes Under the Hammer

A 1928 Cadillac that belonged to renown Chicago mobster Al Capone is to be auctioned at the upcoming Sports & Classics of Monterey event on August 20. The Caddy, which is rumored to have been used briefly also by President Franklin Roosevelt after Capone was imprisoned, is expected to fetch some $500,000.

Another thing worth mentioning is that it is also believed to be the oldest surviving bulletproof automobile, fitted when new with heavy glass measuring nearly an inch thick and completely lined with 3,000 pounds of steel armor plating.

Moreover, heavy spring lifts allowed the side windows to operate, while the rear window was rigged to drop quickly, allowing occupants to fire upon potential pursuers.

According to RM Auctions, the company which is selling the ex-Al Capone Cadillac, the car is painted green with black fenders, the same as the 85 Cadillacs that were also supplied to Chicago police and city officials at that time. Similarly, it was also fitted with flashing red lights behind the grille, a regulation police siren, and the first known police-band radio receiver in a private automobile.

Technical details of the car include a 90 bhp, 341cc L-head V8 engine coupled with a three-speed manual transmission, beam front axle and full-floating rear axle, and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes.

In the late 1950s, the car underwent a process of comprehensive restoration. Most of the heavy armor plating was removed, but other features, including the bulletproof glass and drop-down rear window, were retained. The restoration was freshened in the late 1970s when, since the original glass was heavily crazed and deeply yellowed, a specialist supplied replacement glass of identical size and thickness.