Vehicle Description
Throughout the 1920s and into the 1930s Cadillac and cross-town
rivals Packard dueled for supremacy in the in the hotly contested
luxury car market. Cadillac had the benefit of GM's backing, while
Packard often topped sales charts thanks to its fiercely loyal
clientele. Wanting to stamp its authority on the market and live
into its motto "The Standard of the World," General Motors invested
heavily to energize Cadillac. In 1927, GM introduced LaSalle as a
stylish junior companion brand to Cadillac. LaSalle was a way to
fill the ever-increasing gap between Buick and Cadillac, to boost
Cadillac's bottom line, and to draw younger, style-conscious buyers
into the showroom. A vital part of that plan centered on Harley
Earl, who was hired away from Don Lee Coachworks to design the
LaSalle. With its immediate success, became the head of GM's newly
formed Art and Colour Department and would oversee all future GM
styling for decades to come. Earl then set his sights on Cadillac,
designing a fresh and elegant line to see the marque into the
1930s. With Cadillac on firm footing, division president Lawrence
Fisher, together with Harley Earl, set out to create an all-new
flagship that would General Motors at the pinnacle of the American
automobile industry. In search of inspiration, Earl and Fisher
toured numerous traditional coachbuilders of England and mainland
Europe, including Barker, James Young, Saoutchik, and Vanvooren.
Meanwhile, in Detroit, Cadillac engineers were hard at work
preparing a stunning new engine to serve as the new Crown Jewel at
General Motors. Making its debut at the New York Auto Show was the
sensational new 452 cubic-inch V16, designed by Owen Nacker. The
engines featured overhead valves and twin updraft carburetors, and
a headline-grabbing 175 horsepower output. Nine months later, the
nearly identical V12 version followed, giving Cadillac buyers an
astonishing variety of engine, chassis, and body combinations. Not
only was Nacker's powerplant a technical achievement, but it was
also a stylistic masterpiece, and one of the first production
engine designs to cross the desk of the stylist after leaving the
engineer's hands. To accommodate the big, powerful V16 engine,
engineers strengthened the chassis and added power-assisted brakes
and a "Clashless" synchronized gearbox. General Motors utilized
in-house coachbuilders Fisher and Fleetwood to build the bodies for
the new Series 452, with only a select few cars going to outside
firms. Nearly one hundred body and wheelbase combinations were
possible, which ensured the kind of exclusivity that was necessary
if Cadillac hoped to lure buyers from the likes of Rolls-Royce and
Hispano-Suiza. The basic styling was a product of Harley Earl's
team, while Fisher and Fleetwood crafted some of the most beautiful
bodies of the 1930s. Initial sales were robust for 1930, but
tapered off dramatically in subsequent years, as the Great
Depression worsened. Despite GM losing money on nearly every unit
they built, the Cadillac V16 stands as a proud symbol of Detroit in
the Classic Era, and it remains one of America's most desirable
motorcars. Presented in a striking Burgundy and Vermillion paint
scheme, this 1930 Cadillac Series 452 wears Fleetwood's handsome
2/4 passenger coupe coachwork known officially by the catalog job
number 4376-S. This gorgeous example in marvelous condition with an
older yet gorgeous nut-and-bolt restoration. Fleetwood's 4376 Coupe
is a sporty, elegant body style for the owner-driver, and this
particular car has several interesting characteristics. The styling
is a breathtaking display of Harley Earl's mastery, beautifully
proportioned on the long 148-inch wheelbase chassis. The scalloped
hood/cowl treatment reflects the earlier, European-influenced
LaSalle design. The Fleetwood-specific split-V swing-out windscreen
is raked at 7 degrees, lending the car a very sporting look in
profile. This car's special features include dual side mount spare
wheels with body color metal covers; a period accessory rarely seen
on these early V16s. Also, the roof is covered in leather and
fitted with landau irons for a faux-cabriolet appearance, also
unusual since most of these cars left Fleetwood with a painted
roof. There is some speculation that this car and a
similarly-equipped V16 with Fleetwood's 4335 Convertible Coupe
coachwork were ordered in period as a matched pair. Today, this
car's older restoration is exceptionally well-maintained, with
beautiful paintwork and high-quality chrome plating. Bright red
wire wheels wear black wall tires, giving the car a purposeful and
sporting appearance, while subtle red coach stripes tie the color
scheme together. The Fleetwood-built coupe was a car intended for
the owner/driver, and the cabin reflects its sporting purpose. Red
leather covers the seats and door cards, which is pleasingly
broken-in with some light creasing and character on the seating
surfaces. The same leather repeats on the dash top, while scalloped
wood door caps add a touch of formality. The upholstery is
outstanding and consistent with this car's high-quality
restoration. The stylish engine-turned dash features a
centrally-mounted instrument cluster, housing factory-correct AC
gauges and a Waltham clock. Rumble seat passengers enjoy a
reasonably spacious seat, covered in matching red leather, and a
golf door allows for small items, while the color-keyed factory
trunk accommodates plenty of luggage for long-distance touring.
Controls for the original radio remain in place on the dash, while
the receiver and speaker are included separately. Crisp and correct
detailing continues under the hood, with Mr. Nacker's
multi-cylinder masterpiece proudly displayed in striking black
porcelain enamel. Exceptionally presented, the period-correct
engine in this car is fastidiously detailed to a high standard.
Power goes to the rear wheels via a 3-speed synchromesh gearbox,
which, combined with the torque and horsepower of the sixteen,
makes for effortless progress. The mellowed restoration makes this
is an approachable car, with touring and road events an enticing
proposition. With its numerous intriguing features and striking
presentation, it is still sure to turn heads in AACA, CCCA, or
Cadillac LaSalle Club concours.