The 1930s built some of the most beautiful cars America ever made: long hoods, sweeping fenders, chrome grilles and Art Deco details. You can rent a 1936 Auburn Speedster, two 1937 Cadillac Fleetwoods, a 1938 Cadillac and a 1939 Packard for weddings, photo and film shoots, Gatsby parties and milestone birthdays, plus a 1912 Ford Model T from the decades before.
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The 1930s built some of the most beautiful cars America has ever made. Hoods so long they seemed to go on forever, fenders that swept down to running boards, chrome grilles shaped like cathedral windows and Art Deco details everywhere you looked. They were built in the hardest decade of the century, and the best of them were made to make people forget it. Here are the real 1930s cars you can rent through our classic car rental service, the story behind each one, the cars that came just before and after, and what people book them for today.
The 1930s at a glance
| Year | Car | Great for |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Auburn Speedster | Show-stopping arrivals and photo shoots |
| 1937 | Cadillac Fleetwood Series 70 | Weddings and vintage portraits |
| 1937 | Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 | A stately, long-wheelbase arrival |
| 1938 | Cadillac | Art Deco and Gatsby-style parties |
| 1939 | Packard | Weddings and family celebrations |
What made 1930s cars special
- Art Deco everywhere. Designers borrowed from skyscrapers, ocean liners and airplanes: chrome speed lines, tall grilles, teardrop headlights and hood ornaments that looked ready for flight.
- Streamlining. Over the decade, cars went from upright boxes to flowing shapes, with fenders that swept back into the body and windshields that leaned into the wind.
- Coachbuilt bodies. The finest cars wore bodies built by specialist coachbuilders. Cadillac even owned one, Fleetwood, whose name became a badge of its own.
- Big engines. Luxury makers competed with smooth eights, twelves and, at Cadillac from 1930, even a sixteen-cylinder engine.
- Survival. The Depression closed dozens of carmakers. Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg were gone by the end of 1937, which makes every survivor from those years rarer still.
The 1930s cars you can rent
1936 Auburn Speedster
If one car sums up 1930s glamour, it’s the Auburn Speedster. Designed by Gordon Buehrig, it has a long, louvered hood, chrome exhaust pipes sweeping out of the side and a pointed “boattail” rear that looks like the stern of a racing yacht. Auburn guaranteed that its supercharged Speedsters had been driven at more than 100 mph and fitted each one with a plaque to prove it. Auburn closed its doors in 1937, so the Speedster was one of its last and greatest cars.
Great for: grand arrivals, photo and film shoots, Gatsby and Art Deco parties, a couple’s exit.
1937 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 70
Fleetwood was a coachbuilder that joined General Motors in 1925 and became Cadillac’s own, and by the 1930s the Fleetwood name meant the best Cadillac you could buy. The 1937 Series 70 carries the look of its year perfectly: a tall, narrow grille, separate headlights, flowing fenders and whitewall tires, with a V8 to carry it along in quiet comfort. In white, it’s one of the most romantic cars of the decade.
Great for: weddings, engagement and portrait photos, 1930s-themed events.
1937 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75
The Series 75 was the long-wheelbase Fleetwood, the Cadillac chosen by people who were driven rather than drove, and the name would stay on Cadillac’s grandest cars for half a century. This one wears a deep blue that suits its formal, upright lines, with room for up to six. It’s the 1930s car for an entrance that feels genuinely stately.
Great for: a formal arrival, small family groups, period film scenes.
1938 Cadillac
1938 was a turning point for Cadillac. That year the young designer Bill Mitchell’s Sixty Special showed how a modern car could look, lower and sleeker, and the rest of the industry followed. This 1938 Cadillac, in white with a gleaming grille, captures the end of the Art Deco era just before streamlining took over completely.
Great for: Art Deco parties, vintage weddings, period photo shoots.
1939 Packard
Through much of the 1930s, Packard, not Cadillac, was the luxury car Americans aspired to. Its slogan was simply “Ask the man who owns one,” and its grille, shaped like an old ox yoke, was recognized at a glance. This white 1939 Packard has the long hood, the separate fenders and the upright grille of the very last prewar years.
Great for: weddings, anniversary celebrations, family photos with grandparents.
Before the 1930s: the Ford Model T
To see how far cars came in the 1930s, look at what came before. The Ford Model T, built from 1908 to 1927, put America on wheels. Ford’s moving assembly line, introduced in 1913, made it cheap enough for ordinary families, and more than 15 million were built. Speedster versions, stripped down and lowered, were the sporty Model Ts of their day. Our 1912 Model T Speedster is the oldest car you can rent with us: a true antique, with brass details, wooden-spoked wheels and an open cockpit.
Compare it with the 1937 Cadillac above and you can see three decades of change: from a tall, upright machine to a long, low, flowing car built for comfort and style.
After the 1930s: the 1940s
The early 1940s carried 1930s elegance a little further, with fenders flowing into the body and grilles growing wider. Then the war stopped American car production in 1942, and the cars that returned after 1945 started a new era. You can see the change in a 1940 Senior Packard or the gorgeous 1941 Buick Super convertible. Explore them all in our guide to 1940s cars for rent.
What people rent 1930s cars for
- Weddings. A 1930s car turns a wedding into a scene from an old film, especially at a historic venue, a vineyard or a ranch.
- Gatsby and Art Deco parties. Nothing sets the scene for a Roaring Twenties or Art Deco night like a long, low car from the same golden age.
- Film, TV and music videos. Period dramas, commercials and music videos need cars that are right for the time. These are the real thing.
- Photo shoots. Engagement sessions, fashion shoots, senior portraits and brand campaigns all look timeless with a 1930s car in the frame.
- A milestone birthday. For a 90th birthday, a ride in a car from the decade the guest of honor was born is unforgettable.
- Car shows and corporate events. A company anniversary, a hotel opening or a heritage event gets instant character from a prewar classic on display.
Booking a 1930s car: what to know
- These cars are around 90 years old. They’re happiest on short routes at gentle speeds, so plan venues close together or use the car for the arrival and the photos.
- Plan for the weather. There’s no air conditioning, and an open car like the Speedster needs a plan B for rain.
- Check the seats. A Speedster seats two; a Fleetwood sedan carries more. Tell us how many people will ride.
- Mind the step. High floors and running boards look wonderful but take a little care in a long dress.
- Book early. There are very few 1930s cars available for hire anywhere, and each can only be in one place at a time.
Questions people ask
Can I rent a real 1930s car?
Yes. You can rent a 1936 Auburn Speedster, a 1937 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 70, a 1937 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75, a 1938 Cadillac and a 1939 Packard, plus a 1912 Ford Model T from the decades before.
What is a Cadillac Fleetwood?
Fleetwood was a coachbuilder that joined General Motors in 1925. Cadillac’s finest cars wore Fleetwood bodies, and the Fleetwood name became a mark of its top models for decades.
What’s the oldest car I can rent?
A 1912 Ford Model T Speedster, more than a century old.
Can I use a 1930s car for a film or photo shoot?
Yes. These cars are popular for period films, commercials, music videos and photo shoots. Tell us the location, the timing and what the shoot needs when you ask for a quote.
Do you have cars from the 1940s and 1950s too?
Yes. See our guides to 1940s cars and 1950s cars for rent.
