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1939 Cadillac Series 90 Convertible Sedan

  • Coachwork by Fleetwood
  • Chassis Number: 5290067
  • Engine Number: 5290067
  • Body Number: 4
There were only 50 examples of the Cadillac V16 sold in 1937. They were the same as the 1938 models except for a few detailed changes. Spears on the hood and fender skirts were fully chromed. The year prior, in 1938, the engine added 90 degrees to the cylinders' included angle, going from the earlier narrow-angle V16 with 45-degree between the cylinders to a nearly flat 135-degree vee. The result was a better-balanced engine and a lower design giving stylists the opportunity for modern styling trends and better aerodynamics. While Cadillac's abandonment of overhead valves for an L-head configuration seemed a little unusual, the 135-degree V-16 shared many parts with Cadillac's V8 and was more economical to produce than its predecessor. The removal of the overhead valve gear and a short 3.75-inch stroke made up for some of the 135-degree V16's greater width and allowed the rear of the engine to extend under the firewall so it fitted in the same wheelbase chassis as the shorter V8.

The 38-90 sat on the same chassis as the Series 75 V8, a full 13-inch shorter than earlier Cadillac V-16s. This meant that the 1938 V16s had nearly a ton less mass to move than their predecessors and performance was markedly improved. The new V16 made 185 horsepower from its smaller 431 cubic-inch displacement, the same as the earlier narrow-angle 452 cubic-inch V16.

The exterior designs owed much to a newer talent, Bill Mitchell, and reflected aerodynamic trends and elegant packaging. Cadillac offered the same twelve semi-custom body styles in the V16 that were available on the Series 75 V8. Most were practical, closed, and formal designs.

From 1938 through 1940, Cadillac produced just 514 V16 cars. Only 19 convertible coupes and the same number of convertible sedans (of which 11 had rollup glass divider windows) were built. This particular example is a 1939 Cadillac 39-90 V16 Convertible Touring Sedan. It has a large chrome-plated die-cast egg-crate grille flanked by headlights flared into the front fender catwalks. The hood sides had three longer tapered horizontal louvers with similar moldings on the front and rear fenders. There is a raked vee windshield with large wind wings.

This example is painted in dark green with saddle tan leather upholstery, tan carpets and kick panels, and a tan cloth top. There are dual side-mounted spares carried under hinged covers. The body color wheels have large hubcaps and wide whitewall tires.

In 2009, this 39-90 V16 Convertible Touring Sedan was offered for sale at the Houston Classic Auction in Seabrook, Texas, presented by Worldwide Auctioneers. The lot was estimated to sell for $125,000 - $175,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the lot had sold to a phone bidder for the sum of $155,000, plus the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2009

2011 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $250,000-USD $300,000 
High Bid (Lot was not sold)
USD $185,000

2009 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Houston Classic Auction

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $125,000-USD $175,000 
Sale Price :
USD $170,500

1939 Cadillac Series 90 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Cadillac Series 90

(Data based on Model Year 1939 sales)
1939 CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE COUPE
Chassis#: 3291218
Sold for USD$106,400
  2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  
1939 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Sedan
Sold for USD$63,800
  2022 Mecum : Kissimmee
 
1939 Cadillac Series 90
Sold for USD$68,200
  2020 Mecum : Las Vegas
 
1939 Cadillac Series 90 V-16 Seven-Passenger Sedan by Fleetwood
Chassis#: 5290094
Sold for USD$11,000
  2020 RM Sothebys : Auburn Fall Auction
 
1939 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Coupe by Fleetwood
Sold for USD$257,600
  2020 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona
1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  
1939 Cadillac Fleetwood V16 Series 90
Sold for USD$99,000
  2016 Russo & Steele : Arizona
 
1939 CadillacV-16 Imperial Touring Sedan
Sold for USD$57,500
  2015 Mecum - Rogers'Classic Car Museum 2015
 
1939 Cadillac Series 90 Limousine
Chassis#: 5290046
Sold for USD$42,000
  2014 Mecum : Anaheim
 
1939 Cadillac Sixteen Sedan by Fleetwood
Chassis#: 5290045
Sold for USD$44,000
  2014 Motor City Auction by RM Auctions
1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  
1939 Cadillac Series 90 V-16 Convertible Sedan
Sold for USD$138,600
  2013 Auctions America - Auburn Fall
 
1939 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 5290093
Sold for USD$231,000
  2010 Gooding and Company : The Amelia Island Auction
1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  
1939 Cadillac Series 90
Chassis#: 5290067
Sold for USD$170,500
  2009 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Houston Classic Auction
1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  
1939 CADILLAC V16 CONVERTIBLE SEDAN
Sold for USD$181,500
  2008 Worldwide Auctions - The Auburn Auction 2008
 
1939 Cadillac Series 90
Sold for USD$170,500
  2008 Automobiles of Amelia Island, RM Auctions
1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  
1939 Cadillac V16 Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 5290093
Sold for USD$330,000
  2008 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
1939 Cadillac Series 90 image  
1939 Cadillac V-16 Formal Town Car
Sold for USD$148,500
  2002 Michigan Fall Classic Car Auction - The Kughn Collection
 
1939 CADILLAC V16 CONVERTIBLE SEDAN
Sold for USD$94,600
  2002 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2002
 
1939 CADILLAC V-16 LIMOUSINE
Sold for USD$42,000
  2002 Kruse Auction - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
 
1939 CADILLAC 90 SERIES LIMOUSINE
Sold for USD$65,000
  2001 Kruse Auction - San Antonio, TX
 

Cadillac Series 90s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1939 Cadillac Series 90's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1939 Cadillac Model 39-7533 Imperial Limousine 2012 Leake Auctions Tulsa$39,000  
1939 Cadillac Series 90 Sixteen Formal Sedan 2012 Bonhams Greenwich Concours d'Elegance: Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia $75,000$100,000
1939 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Sedan52900672011 RM Auctions Automobiles of Amelia Island$185,000$250,000$300,000
1939 Cadillac Series Series 90 V-16 Convertible Sedan 2009 Bonhams Bicentennial Pavilion at Hotel Murano $200,000$225,000
1939 Cadillac Series 90 V-16 Limousine 2004 The Florida Collector Car Auction$48,000  
1939 CADILLAC 90 SERIES LIMOUSINE 2001 Kruse Auction Scottsdale Arizona$53,000  
1939 CADILLAC 90 SERIES LIMOUSINE 2001 Kruse Auction Ft. Lauderdale, FL$39,000  

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1939 Cadillac Series 90

Additional valuation insight and sales data
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Other Cadillac Series 90 model years

1939 Cadillac Series 90 Vehicle Profiles

1939 Cadillac Series 90 vehicle information
Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Fleetwood
Chassis #: 3291218
Engine #: 3320013
1939 Cadillac Series 90 vehicle information
Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Fleetwood
Engine #: 5290069
1939 Cadillac Series 90 vehicle information
7-Passenger Sedan
Coachwork: Fleetwood
Chassis #: 5290045
1939 Cadillac Series 90 vehicle information
Convertible Coupe
Coachwork: Fleetwood
Chassis #: 5290093
1939 Cadillac Series 90 vehicle information
7-Passenger Sedan
Coachwork: Fleetwood
1939 Cadillac Series 90 vehicle information
Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Fleetwood
Chassis #: 5290710
1939 Cadillac Series 90 vehicle information
Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Fleetwood
Chassis #: 5290067
Engine #: 5290067