Cadillac V-16 (Sixteen) Gen 1 (Series 452 & 90) 1930-1937

[Duell]

Cadillac V-16 Generation 1 (Series 452 and 90)

The new car attracted rave reviews from the press and huge public attention. Cadillac started production of the new car immediately. January production averaged a couple of cars per day, but was then ramped up to twenty-two cars per day. By April, 1,000 units had been built, and by June, 2,000 cars. These could be ordered with a wide variety of bodywork. The Fleetwood catalog for the 1930 V-16 included 10 basic body styles; there was also an envelope containing some 30 additional designer's drawings. Research by the Cadillac-La Salle Club, Inc. puts at 70 the number of different job/style numbers built by Fisher and Fleetwood on the sixteen chassis.

Beginning in June 1930, five new V-16s participated in a promotional tour of major European cities including Paris, Antwerp, Brussels, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Vienna (where they won prizes), Berne, Geneva, Lausanne, Zürich, Madrid, San Sebastian, La Baule and Angers. On the return journey from Spain, the V16 caravan stopped also in the town of Cadillac, in south-western France, although that city bears no relationship to the marque, other than its name.

After the peak in V-16 orders in mid 1930, production fell precipitously. During October 1930, only 54 cars were built. The lowest figures for the 452/452A cars of 1930-31 were August 1931 (7 units) and November 1931 (6 units). Minimum production continued throughout the rest of the decade with a mere 50 units being built both in 1935 and in 1937. 1940 was only marginally better with a total of 51 units. Not surprisingly, Cadillac later estimated that they lost money on every single V-16 they sold.

Production of the original V-16 continued under various model names through 1937. The body was redesigned in 1933 as the model 452C. Innovations included Fisher no draft individually controlled ventilation (I.C.V. or vent windows).

For 1934, the body was redesigned again and denoted as 452D, and as 452E in 1935. The V-16 now featured the Fisher Turret Top all-steel roof, though the cars were still built by Fleetwood. This same basic design would remain virtually unchanged through 1937. With a wheelbase of 154.0 inches (3,912 mm) and a curb weight of up to 6,600 pounds (3,000 kg) these are perhaps the largest standard production cars ever produced in the United States. Combined production for the 1934 and 1935 model years was 150. It was redesignated the Series 90 in 1936 as Cadillac reorganized their model names. 52 units were sold that year, with nearly half ordered as limousines. Hydraulic brakes were added for 1937, the last year of production. 50 vehicles were produced.
Info wikipedia

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RM Auction Amemia Island March 2011
AUCTION RESULTS: Sold at a price of $506,000

1930 Cadillac Sixteen Roadster by Fleetwood
Series 452, Body Style 4302. 175 bhp, 452 cu. in. overhead valve V-16 engine with three-speed manual transmission, solid front axle and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel vacuum-assisted mechanical drum brakes. Wheelbase: 148"

- From the Jack and Marilyn Tallman Collection
- AACA National First winner
- Just 60,000 miles since restoration

[Duell]

Cadillac Sixteen Roadster by Fleetwood #2

Huge !!!! a V16 roadster, that's madness. I love it

[Cobrafan427]

It's funny to think that a V16 only produced 180 hp especially when a turbo 4 can produce twice that amount today but that had to have been quite a lot of power in the 30's for a road car, it would be an interesting figure to see how much it weighed.

If you want another big engine/car size-wise, check out the Packard inline 12, it's very long

[henk4]

Originally Posted by Cobrafan427

It's funny to think that a V16 only produced 180 hp especially when a turbo 4 can produce twice that amount today but that had to have been quite a lot of power in the 30's for a road car, it would be an interesting figure to see how much it weighed.

If you want another big engine/car size-wise, check out the Packard inline 12, it's very long

are you sure they did an inline 12? I have only seen V12s and I-8s.

[f6fhellcat13]

I think maybe he's confusing the Twin Six with a straight twelve.
Interestingly enough, after reviving the "Twin Six" name for 1932, Packard renamed it the "Twelve" because the Twin Six moniker did not carry the same cachet as Packard had assumed and it confused the buying populace.

[Brix]

What's the displacement on that V16!?

[csl177]

Originally Posted by Brix

What's the displacement on that V16!?

7.4 liters or 452 cubic inches. These are long stroke engines, making plenty of the smooth torque that mattered for a luxury car.

[Duell]

Originally Posted by Brix

What's the displacement on that V16!?

Its a 452cu engine that translates to a 7.4 litre.

[Brix]

That's an amazing slim cylinder design then!
Would love to feel it running.

[Cobrafan427]

Originally Posted by henk4

are you sure they did an inline 12? I have only seen V12s and I-8s.

I coulda sworn i saw one in one of the many Packard books that my grandpa owns but i could have very easily mistaken it for a straight 8, it's still a large engine nonetheless.

I did a little bit of research on the straight 12 and the engine does exist... just in some marine vessels and old Russian military trucks

[henk4]

Originally Posted by Cobrafan427

I coulda sworn i saw one in one of the many Packard books that my grandpa owns but i could have very easily mistaken it for a straight 8, it's still a large engine nonetheless.

I did a little bit of research on the straight 12 and the engine does exist... just in some marine vessels and old Russian military trucks

in that respect, the I14 does exist as well, as a marine engine....

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by csl177

7.4 liters or 452 cubic inches. These are long stroke engines, making plenty of the smooth torque that mattered for a luxury car.

Pshh, 452? That ain't no 500.

[Duell]

1930 Cadillac V16 452 Seven-Passenger Limousine

[Duell]

1931 Cadillac V-16 452 Roadster by Fleetwood

[Duell]

1931 Cadillac V-16 452 Roadster by Fleetwood