Jo-Han 1931 Cadillac V-16 Town Brougham body by Fleetwood

[kyledehart5]

This one rolls out the assembly line as the first completion of 2024. I really can't say enough about how impressive this kit was for its age. The engineering, details and fit were all pretty top notch. Jo-Han based this model off of a restoration of an existing Cadillac limo that they modified using a second car. They were trying to recreate this Fleetwood coachwork of a car that was lost. So this car is literally a 1 of 1.  It is a beautiful and unique car but I wanted to put my own spin on it so I just did what I wanted. The V-16 in this kit is a beauty and the roof of the driver's compartment is also removable. This was an out of box build that took a good long while, at least for me. I fought some brittle plastic but other than that it was pretty smooth. Added some Scale Motorsport cane decals to the rear of the coachwork where the 1:1 car has the canework at the rear. I really enjoy these old kits and had fun with this one. 

[maverick]

Very nicely done! Color choice is spot on for this too. Love it!! To think, in 1930...This was a 20 to 35 thousand dollar car depending on the coachwork. AND it was the height of the great depression!

[kyledehart5]

Jan 7, 2024 13:04:11 GMT -5 maverick said:

Very nicely done! Color choice is spot on for this too. Love it!! To think, in 1930...This was a 20 to 35 thousand dollar car depending on the coachwork. AND it was the height of the great depression!

Thank you! Can you believe Cadillac was able to sell 2500 of these in 1930? Incredible. Of course that was about the end of everyone that still had money at the time so sales tanked after that. Still impressive

[2whl]

Very nice build Kyle. I like the two tone color choice.

[kyledehart5]

Jan 7, 2024 13:29:00 GMT -5 2whl said:

Very nice build Kyle. I like the two tone color choice.

Thank you Paul!!

[jeaton01]

Lovely, Kyle. I enjoyed watching the building process.

[kyledehart5]

Jan 7, 2024 13:59:36 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Lovely, Kyle. I enjoyed watching the building process.

Thank you!! I am glad to hear that!

[midnightprowler]

Beautiful work Kyle. Every bit as nice as mine!👍❤️

[kyledehart5]

Jan 7, 2024 14:55:00 GMT -5 midnightprowler said:

Beautiful work Kyle. Every bit as nice as mine!👍❤️

Thank you Lee! You really are too kind though. Yours is a stunner.

[atomicholiday]

Excellent work Kyle. I said this before, but I really like the cane work. Very convincing.

[kyledehart5]

Jan 7, 2024 15:53:49 GMT -5 atomicholiday said:

Excellent work Kyle. I said this before, but I really like the cane work. Very convincing.

Thank you very much! I very much appreciate it.

[sharp]

Beautifully done. Great choice of colors.

[kyledehart5]

Jan 7, 2024 17:04:56 GMT -5 sharp said:

Beautifully done. Great choice of colors.

Thank you very much!

[70 STING]

A lot of work went into detailing this kit and it shows.

[project510]

Wow, excellent work. I have no idea how ya'll can complete kits so fast, and at such a high level. Crazy

[kyledehart5]

Jan 7, 2024 22:24:50 GMT -5 70 STING said:

A lot of work went into detailing this kit and it shows.

Thank you very much!

Jan 7, 2024 22:59:45 GMT -5 project510 said:

Wow, excellent work. I have no idea how ya'll can complete kits so fast, and at such a high level. Crazy

Thank you! I am fortunate to get quite a bit of bench time around work. For the most part. 

[project510]

Jan 7, 2024 23:16:32 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Jan 7, 2024 22:24:50 GMT -5 70 STING said:

A lot of work went into detailing this kit and it shows.

Thank you very much!

Jan 7, 2024 22:59:45 GMT -5 project510 said:

Wow, excellent work. I have no idea how ya'll can complete kits so fast, and at such a high level. Crazy

Thank you! I am fortunate to get quite a bit of bench time around work. For the most part. 

Maybe in about 30 years ill be able to reitre and have more time haha!

[kyledehart5]

Jan 7, 2024 23:18:19 GMT -5 project510 said:

Jan 7, 2024 23:16:32 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Thank you very much!

Thank you! I am fortunate to get quite a bit of bench time around work. For the most part. 

Maybe in about 30 years I’ll be able to reitre and have more time haha!

I hope for the same. 🤣

[nyratrod]

Great build. Really diggin' the early "land yachts"

[406 Silverado]

The old Jo-Han kits don't get alot of lovin' from the newer modelers in the crowd as they are either long forgotten or "below standards" for some. I can tell ya this...I've got nuthin' but love for 'em as they are the forgotten heroes of kits that no one at the time would think of. For example....look who manufactured the most 1970's Ford Maverick and Mercury Comet kits ...Jo-Han. Chrysler Turbine kits.....Jo-Han. Javelins, Marlins, Eldorado and Toronados?? And then there are kits like this. Some were based off of promos so the chassis weren't as detailed as some out there but they made up for it with accurate car bodies and detailed out engines and the like.
What you've done here is build a fine example of a Town Brougham car Kyle. Beautifully done and as you mentioned, one heckuva kit. Well executed brother.

[handiabled]

You captured the iconic look of this classic perfectly!

[brandonk]

Gorgeous. I love those 30 era rides. Very well done!!

[tcoat]

Looks like you could get in it and drive away.

Or I guess get in it and be driven away.

[kyledehart5]

Jan 9, 2024 8:43:56 GMT -5 nyratrod said:

Great build. Really diggin' the early "land yachts"

Thank you! I love these old classics. 

Jan 9, 2024 9:20:05 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

The old Jo-Han kits don't get alot of lovin' from the newer modelers in the crowd as they are either long forgotten or "below standards" for some. I can tell ya this...I've got nuthin' but love for 'em as they are the forgotten heroes of kits that no one at the time would think of. For example....look who manufactured the most 1970's Ford Maverick and Mercury Comet kits ...Jo-Han. Chrysler Turbine kits.....Jo-Han. Javelins, Marlins, Eldorado and Toronados?? And then there are kits like this. Some were based off of promos so the chassis weren't as detailed as some out there but they made up for it with accurate car bodies and detailed out engines and the like.
What you've done here is build a fine example of a Town Brougham car Kyle. Beautifully done and as you mentioned, one heckuva kit. Well executed brother.

Thanks Joe! Nothing below standard about this kit. She’s a beauty. Looking forward to trying to get the turbine car stuck together one day. I’d like to get another of the Caddy’s in a different style as well. 

Jan 9, 2024 10:09:29 GMT -5 handiabled said:

You captured the iconic look of this classic perfectly!

Thank you very much!

Jan 9, 2024 10:33:47 GMT -5 brandonk said:

Gorgeous. I love those 30 era rides. Very well done!!

Thank you! I love them too. So many pretty cars back then. 

Jan 9, 2024 10:38:56 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Looks like you could get in it and drive away.

Or I guess get in it and be driven away.

Thank you! And I’d be more likely to be the driver…But I’d like a crack at the smooth V-16 power and the synchromesh 3 on the floor. Wouldn’t look forward to trying to stop or corner though…

[tcoat]

Jan 9, 2024 17:12:46 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Jan 9, 2024 10:38:56 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Looks like you could get in it and drive away.

Or I guess get in it and be driven away.

Thank you! And I’d be more likely to be the driver…But I’d like a crack at the smooth V-16 power and the synchromesh 3 on the floor. Wouldn’t look forward to trying to stop or corner though…

LOL well...
Considering that the V16 probably had about as much HP as your mother's Miata and although a 3 speed synchromesh may sound like fun I can assure you from personal experience they are not, I think you may be disappointed.

[kyledehart5]

Jan 9, 2024 17:35:21 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Jan 9, 2024 17:12:46 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Thank you! And I’d be more likely to be the driver…But I’d like a crack at the smooth V-16 power and the synchromesh 3 on the floor. Wouldn’t look forward to trying to stop or corner though…

LOL well...
Considering that the V16 probably had about as much HP as your mother's Miata and although a 3 speed synchromesh may sound like fun I can assure you from personal experience they are not, I think you may be disappointed.

oh no. Just not classy enough to ride in the back. 🤣 According to my research from my build These things clocked in at 185 horsepower and 271 ft/lbs. Weighing in about 6500 pounds? What a slug. Just a misery to drive, no doubt about it. Won’t go, won’t stop and won’t turn. But quiet and smooth for your wealthy employer. 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[tcoat]

Jan 9, 2024 18:14:58 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Jan 9, 2024 17:35:21 GMT -5 tcoat said:

LOL well...
Considering that the V16 probably had about as much HP as your mother's Miata and although a 3 speed synchromesh may sound like fun I can assure you from personal experience they are not, I think you may be disappointed.

oh no. Just not classy enough to ride in the back. 🤣 According to my research from my build These things clocked in at 185 horsepower and 271 ft/lbs. Weighing in about 6500 pounds? What a slug. Just a misery to drive, no doubt about it. Won’t go, won’t stop and won’t turn. But quiet and smooth for your wealthy employer. 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[modelcarjr]

Really nicely done, Kyle! One to be proud of!

[kyledehart5]

Jan 10, 2024 17:17:34 GMT -5 modelcarjr said:

Really nicely done, Kyle! One to be proud of!

Thank you very much!!