Vehicle Description
As the 1920s drew to a close, Cadillac was enjoying considerable
success in the hotly contested luxury car market. Locked in a tight
battle with its cross-town rivals at Packard, General Motors made a
bold move by adding La Salle as a stylish junior companion brand to
Cadillac. The step put Cadillac on firm footing, and soon company
president Lawrence Fisher, together with the new head of design
Harley Earl set their sights on creating an all-new flagship to
lead the GM's most prestigious marque into the 1930s. At the heart
of the new series was a pair sensational new overhead valve engines
- a 370 cubic-inch V12 and a 452 cubic-inch V16, both designed
in-house by Owen Nacker. The engines were technically and visually
stunning, featuring Art Deco-inspired styling with enameled and
polished valve covers, and concealed wiring for a striking, clean
appearance. Both engines were powerful, but it was the mighty V16
that genuinely stole the headlines with its 175 horsepower output
and unparalleled refinement. A new, strengthened chassis with
power-assisted brakes and a "clashless" synchronized gearbox
handled the power from the new V16. Unlike its competitors, 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 basis styling was penned by a
team led by Harley Earl, with the talented craftsmen at Fisher and
Fleetwood translating the beautiful designs into reality. Initial
sales were impressive for 1930 but tapered off dramatically in
subsequent years due to the harsh reality of the Great Depression.
GM lost money on every example they built, yet the Series 452
soldiered on through the end of 1937. Particularly in its original
form, the Cadillac V16 stands as one of the most desirable and
collectible American motorcars of the classic era. Sold new via the
Chicago Cadillac distributorship on March 14, 1930, this Cadillac
V16, serial number 700503, wears Fleetwood's exclusive and
beautiful five-passenger All-Weather Phaeton coachwork, style
#4380. This marvelous example of Cadillac's esteemed flagship has
well-documented history from the time it was delivered. It stayed
in Chicago until the early 1940s when it was purchased by Willy
Christi, who brought the car to California. He cared for it and
maintained it in original condition until his passing in 1988.
Through the estate, Jim Pearson of Kansas City was able to acquire
the car. Known to many as "Cadillac Jim," Mr. Pearson was an
authority on classic Cadillacs, a charter member of the Cadillac
LaSalle Club, and a stalwart of the Antique Automobile Club of
America. Since first learning about the car in the 1960s, Pearson
knew it was one of only a handful of V16s to be relatively
untouched and complete with original coachwork, and he was thrilled
to acquire it after twenty years of trying. After a brief period,
the car then changed hands to another well-known Cadillac
enthusiast, Mr. Bud Tinney who, in the late 1990s commissioned
Lloyd and Jeff Brekke of Lloyd's Restorations to perform a
concours-quality restoration to original factory specifications,
with careful attention paid to preserving this car's numerous
original components. In the hands of the next owner, Mr. Dave
Lindsay of Manawa, Wisconsin, the freshly-restored Cadillac earned
a Senior Award at the 2002 Cadillac LaSalle Club meet in Detroit.
Also in 2002, it received a CCCA Senior at the Spring Grand Classic
event. In 2016, this marvelous Cadillac changed hands again,
joining another collection of fine Classic Era motorcars. Over the
winter of 2016-2017, the new owners refreshed the restoration with
some new plating and paintwork, executed to a very high standard.
The newly freshened Cadillac debuted at the prestigious 2017 Amelia
Island Concours d'Elegance, completing the road tour and topping
that with a well-deserved Best in Class. Finished in striking
original colors of black and crimson, (per the original build
records) this marvelous Cadillac remains in exceptional condition
today. Concours-quality plating and detailing highlights the
outstanding paintwork. The fabulous Fleetwood coachwork is
distinctly sporting, with a split-V windscreen and stylish,
low-profile convertible roof. Accessories include dual Trippe
Lights, radiator stone guard, Goddess mascot, dual sidemount spares
with Cadillac See-Rite mirrors, and chrome trumpet horns. Red
painted wire wheels, and wide-whitewall tires round out the crisp,
visually stunning presentation. Complementing the exterior is an
equally lovely interior, opulently trimmed in black leather and
carpet. Finishing is to the same high standard set by the rest of
the car, with gorgeous woodwork, chrome, and engine-turned alloy
fascia. A mere one in five Cadillac Sixteens received open
coachwork when new, and just a small number of them survive with
their original bodies and significant mechanical components intact.
This well-documented example remains fresh, beautifully finished
and ready for concours events and road tours.
