Cadillac V-16 - WikiHQ

The Cadillac V-16 (also known as the Cadillac Sixteen) was Cadillac's top-of-the-line model from its January 1930 launch until 1940. The V16 powered car was a first in the United States, both extremely expensive and exclusive, with every chassis being custom-finished to order. Only 4,076 were constructed in its 11-year run, with the majority built in its debut year before the Great Depression took strong hold. The onset of World War II reduced the sales, resulting in its demise.

Genesis

In 1926, Cadillac began the development of a new, "multi-cylinder" car. A customer requirement was seen for a car powered by an engine simultaneously more powerful and smoother than any other available. Development proceeded in great secrecy over the next few years; a number of prototype cars were built and tested as the new engine was developed, while at the same time Cadillac chief Larry Fisher and GM's stylist Harley Earl toured Europe in search of inspiration from Europe's finest coachbuilders. Unlike many builders of luxury cars, who sold bare chassis to be clothed by outside coachbuilding firms, General Motors had purchased the coachbuilders Fleetwood Metal Body and Fisher Body to keep all the business in-house. Cadillac rolling stock chassis could be purchased if a buyer insisted, but the intention was that few would need to do so. One Cadillac dealer in England, namely Lendrum & Hartman, ordered at least two such chassis in even rarer right hand drive (RHD) configuration and had Vanden Plas (Belgium) build first an elegant limousine-landaulet (engine #702297), then a sports sedan with unusual cycle fenders and retractable step plates in lieu of running boards (engine #702298, which was successfully shown in various Concours d'Elegance events in Europe before being bought by the young Nawab of Bahawalpur); both these cars have survived. A third RHD chassis was ordered by the Indian Maharaja of Orchha (Bhopal) and sent to Farina in Italy, in July 1931, for a boat tail body (engine between #703136 and #703152).

It was not until after the Wall Street crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that Cadillac announced to the world the availability of the costliest Cadillac yet, the new V-16 Series 452. The new vehicle was first displayed at New York City's automobile show on January 4, 1930. Despite the bad timing and high retail price, and although sales would later drop off considerably, the launch "exceeded Cadillac’s fondest aspirations."

Gallery

File:1930 Cadillac 452 V16 Fleetwood Sport Phaeton (3828514399).jpg|Cadillac Series 452 Sport Phaeton (1930)

File:Haynes International Motor Museum - IMG 1485 - Flickr - Adam Woodford.jpg|Cadillac Series 452 Madame X (1930)

File:1931 Cadillac 16V Fleetwood 452A Convertible.jpg|Cadillac Series 452A convertible (1931)

File:1929_Cadillac.jpg|Cadillac Series 452B (1932)

File:Cadillac_V16_Fleetwood_front-right_2016_Shanghai_Auto_Museum.jpg|1931 Cadillac V16 Fleetwood

File:Cardouglasjf.JPG|Cadillac Series 90 General Douglas MacArthur (1937)

File:1934 Cadillac V-16 (3829317298).jpg|Cadillac Series 452D convertible (1934)

File:1930 Cadillac Fleetwood (3828518373).jpg|Cadillac Series 452D convertible (1934)

File:1937_Cadillac_series_90_2-door_convertible_(15219762286).jpg|Cadillac series 452D convertible (1934)

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1938–1940

thumb|left|1940 Cadillac Series 90 coupe