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Pre-war metal doesn't come around often, and when it does, it tends to come with a serious price tag and an even more serious story. From coachbuilt Packards and Lincolns to a supercharged Cord and a genuine Full Classic Cadillac V-12, here are ten of the coolest pre-war cars currently listed for sale on Motorious.
No. 10: 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Replica — $64,995
Streetside Classics has this "500K" roadster listed as a replica rather than a genuine Mercedes, but it's still a head-turner: a 221ci V8 and automatic transmission live under that long, swoopy hood, dressed in classic red-over-cream with wire wheels and dual driving lamps. It's the most attainable car on this list and a great way to get 1930s Grand Touring looks without a six-figure check.
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No. 9: 1930 Cadillac 353 Convertible Coupe — $178,000
Vintage Planet's Series 353 is proof that Cadillac's V8-powered "junior" Classic can be just as showy as its V12 and V16 siblings. This Fisher-bodied Convertible Coupe wears striking two-tone red over metallic burgundy, rides on red wire wheels, and still uses its original 353ci L-head V8 backed by Cadillac's easy-shifting "Clashless" synchronized transmission.
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No. 8: 1931 Cadillac 370A V-12 4-Door Phaeton — $169,995
Ellingson's Fleetwood-bodied 370A packs a 368ci V-12 under that long louvered hood, a scaled-down version of Cadillac's flagship V-16. Finished in seafoam and Camden green with a tan top and buckskin leather, this dual-windshield touring Phaeton carries period options like Pilot Ray driving lights and a rear-mounted trunk — 1930s road-trip glamour in the truest sense.
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No. 7: 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged "Sportsman" Cabriolet — $209,995
Gordon Buehrig's "coffin nose" Cord remains one of the most radical designs of the pre-war era, with front-wheel drive, disappearing headlights, and no running boards. This particular 812 adds the rare factory supercharger, boosting its Lycoming V8 from 125 to 170 horsepower, and wears concours-winning finish in a deep Dark Thrush Brown over tan leather.
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No. 6: 1936 Pierce-Arrow Deluxe 8 Convertible Sedan — $209,995
Pierce-Arrow only built 787 examples in 1936, and this Deluxe Eight Convertible Sedan is a CCCA-recognized Full Classic finished in a gorgeous Parrot Blue over matching leather. Its 385ci inline-eight, dual side-mount spares, and the marque's signature fender-integrated headlights make it one of the most distinguished American cruisers of its era — right before the company folded for good in 1938.
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No. 5: 1933 Lincoln KB Convertible Coupe by LeBaron — $219,500
One of only six Convertible Coupes LeBaron built on the 1932-33 Lincoln KB chassis, this example carries a documented history and a restoration by the respected Fran Roxas shop in Chicago. Power comes from Lincoln's big 448ci K-series V12, and the LeBaron coachwork is widely considered the most desirable body style on what collectors call one of America's finest pre-war Full Classics.
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No. 4: 1939 Packard Darrin Convertible Victoria — $249,995
Hollywood designer Howard "Dutch" Darrin hand-built somewhere between 15 and 20 of these 120-series Packards in his Los Angeles shop, instantly recognizable by the "Darrin dip" where the doors sweep down toward the rear fender. This award-winning restoration wears Packard Ivory over burgundy leather and picked up a Second in Class finish at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
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No. 3: 1934 Packard Twelve Dietrich Convertible Sedan — $325,995
Every Packard Twelve engine was tested at the company's proving grounds and certified with a signed "Diploma of Mechanical Excellence," and this Dietrich-bodied Convertible Sedan sat at the top of the 1934 lineup. A frame-off restoration brought back its Meadow Green and Mint Green two-tone paint, burgundy leather, and 445ci V12, backed by a documented ownership history stretching back 60 years.
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No. 2: 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Marlborough — $420,000
Coachbuilder Brewster made only ten of these formal "Marlborough" town cars on the Rolls-Royce Phantom I chassis, and just three are known to survive — this being the sole example that still wears its original 1930 paint and interior. All the numbers match, and the seller reports a recent engine rebuild that ran to six figures, making this a rare chance to own real, unrestored coachbuilt history.
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No. 1: 1932 Duesenberg II Royalton — $495,998
Topping our list at nearly half a million dollars, this Royalton dual-cowl phaeton is a Duesenberg II, a continuation model built by Volo on a modern Ford chassis rather than an original 1930s Duesenberg. But the drama is real: hand-formed steel-reinforced fiberglass bodywork, six chrome wire wheels, supercharger-style side pipes, and a genuine Duesenberg grille sit over a Ford 460 V8, automatic transmission, and modern brakes — built to be driven, not babied, and it's serial number 1 of the line.
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