Vehicle Description
1931Cadillac V-16 Madame X Imperial Landaulet Cabriolet. Body Style
#4155-C. One of two built with a collapsible rear quarter. Rare
FleetwoodMadame X body style. One of the most elegant of the V-16
Cadillac's. This 1931 Cadillac V-16 Madam-X Landau Sedan is a rare
find. Engine Number: 702584 On January 4, 1930, New Yorkers were
treated to an automotive unveiling like no other. At the opening of
the National Automobile Show at the Grand Central Palace, Cadillac
unveiled the worlds first production V-16 automobile engine.
Aesthetically, this engine was a work of art and it was said to be
the first automobile engine that was truly designed with visual
aesthetics in mind. While the new sixteen-cylinder engine was
beautiful to look at, its performance statistics were impressive as
well. The new, V-16 engine boasted a cubic inch displacement of 452
while producing 185 horsepower. This was almost five times the
horsepower as a 1930 Ford Model A. The new engine was designed with
two, separate, eight-cylinder engine blocks that were topped with
overhead valve cylinder heads. Each cylinder block was carbureted
with a separate carburetor and a separate fuel delivery system. The
new engine was mounted on Cadillacs new 148-inch wheelbase chassis,
which had been designed specifically for the new model. While the
engine was a mechanical masterpiece, the exterior design of the new
Cadillac V-16 was a design achievement as well. Buyers could choose
from a variety of 54 bodies, with the most ornate and most
expensive being part of the so-called 4100 series, a group of
closed body styles distinguished by sporty 18-degree slanted
windshields and narrow window pillars that were edged in chrome.
The name Madame X was applied to the style, after a famous stage
play of the era. It was a name never used by Cadillac but has been
enthusiastically adopted by collectors. These bodies were designed
and built by Fleetwood. Extremely Rare1931 Cadillac V-16 Madam-X
Landau Sedan For Sale This extremely rare 1931 Cadillac V-16 uses
the Fleetwood body style designation of 4155. The proper name for
this particular body style, as designated by Fleetwood, is an
Imperial Landaulet Cabriolet. It is one of only eighteen #4155
landaulet body styles built for the V-16 chassis. This particular
example is more specifically designated as a 4155-C and is believed
to be one of only two Imperial Landaulets built with a convertible
top that opens to expose only the rear seating area-a design that
was made popular by many of the famous European coachbuilders of
the period. This car was sold new and delivered to the Cadillac
dealer in Antwerp, Belgium through General Motors Export Division.
At some point, it found its way to Switzerland. The last European
owner retained this car for nearly 40 years before it was sold to a
collector in the United States in 2012. Most recently, this car has
been part of a major, east coast collection of prewar cars. Today,
this vehicle is predominantly original having only had some
cosmetic restoration over the years, which has served well to
protect and preserve this impressive motorcar. The body is
extremely straight, solid and tight. The doors open and close with
a solid feel and fit the body with even gaps and margins. The body
appears to retain all of its original wood, which has been well
preserved and today remains solid throughout. Numerous pieces of
wood found on this body show both the Fleetwood name as well as the
body style and body number clearly stamped. The hood aligns
properly with the cowl and radiator shell. The fenders align well
and the bottoms are just as clean as the tops. The maroon and black
exterior paint was likely refinished many years ago but today
remains extremely clean and presentable. The car retains all of its
correct and proper V-16 items such as the bumpers, headlights, cowl
lights, horns, stone guard, gauges, hubcaps, etc. Under the hood,
the original and correct sixteen-cylinder engine, #702584, is
largely original and very clean. For reliable driving, later Solex
carburetors are being used with an updated fuel pump instead of the
original and sometimes troublesome, Cadillac carburetors. A pair of
Cadillac carburetors from the same era are included in the sale.
The firewall retains the original trim tag, which clearly labels
the car as the rare, 4155-C Imperial Landaulet Cabriolet, body
number 18. The car also has an interesting and original brass data
tag used for export models only. A copy of the original Cadillac
build sheet, which accompanies this car, clearly indicates that
this V-16 Cadillac retains its original engine, chassis and body
components. Unlike many other V-16 Cadillacs that have been
assembled from parts, this example is original throughout and well
documented. The interior is finished in period correct, wool
broadcloth. The interior was professionally replaced many years ago
and appears to be correct and is in very nice condition. The rear
compartment includes vanity lights and built-in armrests. The
dashboard retains all of its proper gauges and controls and
features a rare Kilometer speedometer that shows the mileage to be
43,861, which is very likely to be original. The thin, die-cast
trim ring is missing from the dashboard, although we believe
reproductions of this part are available. The folding landau top is
in very good condition and fully functional. This car is equipped
with the typical period and factory accessories one would expect on
a Cadillac V-16 including dual side mounted spare tires, a
rear-mounted luggage rack, white wall tires, Cadillacs Goddess
mascot, and a radiator stone guard. This is a Cadillac V-16 of fine
character and elegance. It is an authentic and documented car that
has been well cared for. This Imperial Cabriolet is ideal for
enjoyment on Classic Car Club of America CARavans and other tours.
It will certainly be a welcomed participant at any of the nations
leading concours delegances. Check out all of our classic cars |
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