Vehicle Description
Luxury car buyers in the late 1920s seemed to make a contest of
one-upping one another, and as such, high-end automobile builders
were more than happy to oblige in their extravagant wishes. 1926
saw Cadillac begin development of a new engine that would be
smoother and more powerful than anything else on the market and
surely capture the attention of buyers who constantly demandedThe
Best or Nothing. Working in great secrecy, Cadillac engineers
developed a 452 cubic inch sixteen-cylinder engine, installed in a
heavily upgraded chassis to handle the 165-horsepower output. The
purpose of the Sixteen was not only to get huge power, but rather
it was about silky-smooth delivery and silent operation - two
aspects of motoring that were held in the highest regard at the
time. For this magnificent new chassis, Cadillac employed their two
new acquisitions - Fisher Body Works and Fleetwood Metal Body to
design and build their array of standard "catalog" bodies of which
it is estimated there were more than seventy variations possible. A
handful of individual chassis were sent to various coachbuilders
around the world, however most wore bodies by GM's highly capable
in-house builders. The timing of the V16's debut could not have
been worse, however. The stock market crash that signaled the
beginning of the great depression had happened just a few months
earlier and as the decade wore on, such opulence was frowned upon.
Thankfully, at the time of its release, the full effect of the
economic conditions had not yet reached the top of the market, and
demand for this stunning new Cadillac was strong. Sales were
encouraging for the first year or so, but gradually tapered off
during each subsequent model year. By the time the model run ended
in 1940, it was believed that GM lost money on every car built. Our
featured 1931 V16 Cadillac wears handsome and imposing Imperial
Cabriolet 5-passenger limousine coachwork by Fleetwood, style
#4355. This car, engine number 701758 did some traveling initially
before it found its first owner. While V-16s sold well in the first
part of 1930, with the onset of the stock market crash sales slowed
up a bit and many V-16's went unsold, being shipped from dealer to
dealer until their first owner would be found. Such as #701758,
first delivered to a dealer in Brooklyn, New York on May 28, 1930.
Over a year later on June 19, 1931, it was diverted to Cadillac of
Manhattan and then on September 28 it was moved again to Atlantic
City, New Jersey. Eventually the car found its way into the hands
of a Mr. George Ackerle of Camden, New Jersey sometime in the
1940's. The car later appeared in the June 1971 issue of the
"Self-Starter" magazine, and it was featured again in an issue of
Automobile Quarterly in 1973, still in the ownership of Mr. Ackerle
and still in completely perfect original condition. Mr. Ackerle
amassed quite a collection of American classics beginning in the
1940's and kept the V-16 in his barn until his death in 1988, when
the bulk of the collection was purchased by Pennsylvania based
collector Bill Houck.The news spread fast, and the collection and
its sale were featured in consecutive issues of Cars & Parts
magazine in February and March 1988. The Cadillac is prominent in
both articles, and at the time had amassed just 9890 miles from
new! The car was in a remarkably preserved state, and subsequently
traded hands a few more times. The mighty Sixteen eventually wound
up in sunny California in recent years, but the decades had taken a
toll on the car. The paint, while likely original, had deteriorated
to the point that it was time to give this stately motorcar the
restoration it deserved. A meticulous body off restoration was
undertaken, and the results are simply stunning. The elegant black
livery is adorned with gold coachlines, painted wire wheels,
polished spokes, white wall tires, and a padded black leather roof
with chrome landau bars. The proud chrome grille is fitted with a
stainless stoneguard and topped with a magnificent Goddess mascot.
The quality of the chrome on the wheels, headlamps, radiator shell
and other body fittings is excellent. Other fine details include
dual Cadillac mirrors mounted to the spare wheels, a sun visor,
accessory trunk, and toolboxes integrated into the running boards.
The driver's compartment features black leather upholstery, while
the passenger cabin boasts exquisite gray broadcloth-a common
choice for chauffeur-driven cars of that era. Beautifully restored
inlaid hardwood accents adorn the door tops, central divider panel,
and dashboard. A roll-up division window separates the luxurious
passenger compartment from the driver's area. The passenger
compartment is 1930's luxury at its finest, with monogrammed
pillows and matching foot warmers fitted umbrella, and a pair of
occasional jump seats. Cadillac's formidable V16 engine is
celebrated as the first engine to incorporate input from a styling
department. Per Harley Earl's directives, all extraneous wiring and
plumbing are concealed, and the black porcelain enamel valve covers
feature silver fluted accents. These engines are renowned for their
refinement, and this example is no exception, as it runs superbly,
having only 9990 miles from new, just 100 miles more than when
discovered in 1988, and boasts meticulous detailing and
period-correct hardware and fittings. A Cadillac V-16 is one of the
most desirable automobiles of the Classic Era�, and the example
offered here is simply superb with its collector-grade restoration.
The Fleetwood body is handsome and elegant, with passenger space
and weather protection that make it an excellent choice for CCCA
touring. The sublime and turbine smooth V16 delivers endless torque
and the synchronized transmission makes it an absolute joy to
drive. This wonderful Cadillac V-16 affords you the opportunity to
show it with pride, while being capable of enjoyment on a wide
range of today's classic touring events. Offers welcome and trades
considered For additional details please view this listing directly
on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7696-1931-cadillac-v16-imperial-cabriolet/
