Vehicle Description
In 1930, Cadillac made a bold statement in the luxury automobile
market with the introduction of its groundbreaking sixteen-cylinder
engine. The V16, along with its twelve-cylinder counterpart,
ignited a competitive race among prestige manufacturers to develop
multi-cylinder engines. However, this era of innovation coincided
with the onset of the Great Depression, which proved to be the
undoing of many luxury automakers, including Marmon, Auburn, and
Pierce-Arrow, who lacked the financial resources to weather the
economic downturn. With few true rivals, the Cadillac V16 emerged
as one of the most desirable prestige automobiles of its time,
offering an impressive 175 horsepower and an unmatched level of
refinement. Designated as the Series 452 in reference to its
displacement, the V16 shared its overhead-valve architecture with
the smaller Series 370 V12, delivering ample power for the stately,
custom-crafted coachwork that defined Cadillac's flagship model. To
accommodate the robust V16, Cadillac engineers developed a
reinforced chassis, incorporating power-assisted brakes and an
advanced "Clashless" synchronized gearbox to improve drivability.
The Series 452 bodies were produced primarily by General Motors'
in-house coachbuilders, Fisher and Fleetwood, with only a small
number outsourced to independent firms. Buyers could choose from
nearly one hundred body and wheelbase configurations, ensuring the
exclusivity necessary to compete with the finest offerings from
Rolls-Royce and Hispano-Suiza. Styling was overseen by Harley
Earl's newly formed Art and Colour Section, marking a turning point
in General Motors' design philosophy and setting a precedent for
future luxury models. While initial sales in 1930 were promising,
demand dwindled as the economic crisis deepened. Despite Cadillac
losing money on nearly every unit sold, the V16 remains one of the
most significant achievements of American automotive engineering in
the 1930s. Today, it is celebrated as one of the most coveted and
prestigious classic motorcars, a testament to Cadillac's commitment
to innovation and excellence in an era of unparalleled luxury. This
extraordinary V-16 Cadillac is a rare gem, one of just 85 Sport
Phaetons constructed, bearing the style number 4260, and was one of
the very first built, bearing body #2. This Sport Phaeton was
Fisher order #2587; the factory build sheet lists the model (in
error) as an "All-Weather Phaeton" , style 4260, whereas it is
definitely a dual windshield, special phaeton. It is one of five
consecutively numbered V-16 models that were shipped to Copenhagen,
Denmark in June 1930 for a promotional tour through 9 European
countries. When the tour ended, the car was acquired by Parisian
coachbuilder, Jacques Saoutchik. The original body was removed, but
the firewall and about five inches of the cowl were retained, to
which Saoutchik designed and built on this chassis a custom,
semi-convertible sedan, utilizing the original front fenders, hood,
running boards and most importantly the body plate on his new
creation. In the 1980's the car was reimported to the U.S., and by
the mid 1980's this car, along with a 5-passenger sedan (#700979,
style 4330) were owned by noted V16 collector Steve Nanini. Steve
subsequently sold both cars to V-16 enthusiast Fred Weber of St.
Louis, Mo. Fred had a new Sport Phaeton body constructed to return
the car to its original 1930 specifications, utilizing the original
cowl and the other original items to the car. Once the body was
completed, Fred sold the unfinished project back to Mr. Nanani, who
completed the restoration. Mr. Weber then mounted the Saoutchik
body on the 5P sedan chassis and restored it as well. Subsequently,
the Cadillac found itself in the hands of a dedicated Midwest
collector for the last two plus decades, taking pride of place in
the collection. Awarded Full Classic� status by the Classic Car
Club of America in 2001, the car has been actively shown in CCCA
competition and achieved Premier status. The elegant livery of
two-tone grey green is adorned with painted wire wheels, polished
spokes, whitewall tires, polished hood louvers and a tan cloth top
and matching boot. The paintwork remains in good order, wearing the
years since its restoration extremely well. The top is also very
good overall, save for a minor stain, and has a removeable
transparent plastic rain cover to protect it. The fit and finish
are extremely nice, and the chrome is largely in very good order.
It is lavishly detailed with a proper Cadillac Goddess mascot,
chromed hood vents, Pilot-Ray driving lights, twin long-trumpet
horns, dual sidemount spares wheels and body color [painted wire
wheels with polished stainless spokes. Like the exterior, the
interior is fabulously detailed and very well presented, showing
little use on the restoration. Green leather on the seats appears
virtually unworn, and the excellent carpeting and door panels are
accented with exquisite woodwork on the dash, door caps and rear
passenger fascia. The original AC speedometer reads 120 mph - which
must have seemed astonishing in 1930. A Jaeger eight-day clock
keeps time, and the instrumentation is replicated in the rear for
passengers to keep an eye should the driver be having too much fun
exploiting all of that power. 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. Apart from routine maintenance, the V16 remains in
excellent cosmetic condition, boasting meticulous detailing and
period-correct hardware and fittings. Elegant, imposing, and
powerful, the Cadillac Series 452 is undoubtedly a star of the
Classic Era. In spite of the fact that there are some years on the
restoration, this Cadillac still looks remarkably fresh. This
marvelous example benefits from years of attentive care and is a
superb choice for Classic Car Club of America tours or similar
events where the V16's exceptional power and refinement can be
experienced firsthand. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7847-1930-cadillac-v16-sport-phaeton/
