Beschreibung:

Cadillac astonished the world's automotive elite when it introduced a spectacular new ultra-luxury car, powered by an amazing 16-cylinder engine, at the 1930 New York Salon. This new super-sized Cadillac was clearly a General Motors response to the Duesenberg, introduced by E. L. Cord the year before. However, while the snarl of the Duesenberg straight-eight flaunted its raw, race-bred power, the Cadillac V-16 would set new benchmarks for smooth, silent and superbly impressive performance. Cadillac created the V-16 to compete with the best automobiles in the world. GM dispatched a group of the new cars to Europe, where the Continent's most erudite automotive connoisseurs were invited to compare, first-hand, the beauty and substance of the Cadillac V-16 against the upper-crust cars of the time—including Isotta-Franschini, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes-Benz and, of course, Rolls-Royce. An impressive number of early V-16s were exported as a result. The heart of the Cadillac V-16 was its magnificent engine. Displacing 452 cubic inches, it produced up to185 horsepower. Beautifully detailed and meticulously sculpted, the engine's appearance was just as awe-inspiring as its soon-to-be-legendary smoothness and quietness. Cadillac offered a number of Fleetwood bodies for the 1930-31 Series 452A V-16 chassis. The open style most favored by buyers was the All-Weather Phaeton, Fleetwood Job (style) Number 4380, an example of which is offered here. This close-coupled 4-door convertible sedan combines the sporting lines of an open model with the all-weather practicality of a closed sedan. The top stack, when folded, rests almost level with the door upper edges, providing a sporty top-down appearance similar to a traditional open phaeton. The dual panes of the stately vee-style front windshield tilt outward for ventilation, while the body styling is beautifully complemented by special sweep panel moldings on the hood and cowl that provide a splendid motif featured only on a limited number of Fleetwood V-16 styles. The offered All-Weather Phaeton carries Fleetwood style 4380 body number 34 and was reportedly delivered new on March 19, 1930. The coachwork was built and installed at the original Fleetwood facility in Pennsylvania just before General Motors moved the famous firm and its coachbuilding artisans to Detroit. The retracting division window between the front and rear compartments on this All-Weather Phaeton is a special equipment option. It elevated the car's original list price to about $7,300—in a year when a new Chevrolet Roadster listed for $555! The wire-spoke wheels and dual sidemounts are additional options, much favored by V-16 owners then and now. Popular period accessories include the Pilot Ray driving lights, twin rearview mirrors atop the sidemounts and the luggage trunk mounted to the folding rear rack. The interior is trimmed in tan broadcloth and the tan convertible top is piped in brown, accenting the fender color. Restored some years ago, the V-16 has been thoroughly serviced and detailed, and a new set of whitewall tires has recently been fitted. The vendor reports the V-16 is, “A correct matching number car with engine, chassis and body numbers correct as per its original construction.” The majestic Cadillac V-16 established an unsurpassed standard of excellence for American cars and surviving examples rank among the world's most desired Full Classics. The offered example is ready to drive and tour in its present state—and with freshened cosmetics, would be a worthy candidate for any Concours show field. A clear Missouri title in the vendor's name is provided with the car.