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The Cadillac V-16 was superbly engineered and wore fresh new styling with a lengthened hood, lowered roofline, more curved fenders, and streamlined headlamp shells. For 1932, some of the V-16 styles once produced by Fleetwood were now handled by Fisher, and among them was the Sport Phaeton, style number 32-16-279, one of no fewer than three variations offered on the phaeton theme. While previous V-16 Sport Phaetons had incorporated a rear seat windshield concealed within the front seat back, the 1932 Sport Phaeton had a full hinged tonneau and a traditional folding windshield - a genuine 'dual-cowl' design.
Cadillac sold 300 examples of the V-16 in 1932, including this example. It is powered by engine number 1400219 and is the only original V-16 Sport Phaeton definitively known to have been built in 1932. A second example may have been built, but its factory shipping ledger indicates that it was not delivered as a dual cowl phaeton.
This car was acquired new by Francis Lieber after it had remained unsold in the Philadelphia showroom for several months, and at a $2,000 discount. This romantic story may not be exactly accurate as the car was 'tagged' for him and already noted as 'sold' on its build sheet. In 1934 he sold the car to an oil broker, Joseph Dexter, who used it for family trips to Vermont and the Jersey Shore.
By 1937 the car had returned to Main Line Cadillac, which sold it to a local livery company that used it for funeral processions—mainly as a flower car. It was later sold to one of the company's employees and sat in Brewerytown until December 1942, when a young student, Gene Matlack, bought it for $42 in ration stamps. After refinishing the Cadillac, it was sold for $175 around 1944 to Bayard Badenhausen. Badenhausen later sold the Cadillac to Fred Wetherill, who later sold it to pay for his wedding. Several short-term owners followed, bringing the car to Wilmington, Delaware, where it escaped one owner's plans for a tow truck when lumber salesman Paul Brake bought it for $275. While driving it in a local parade in Cambridge, Maryland, it was noticed by Walter Tilghman who fell in love and soon bought the V-16. He listed it, by its engine number, in the AACA roster for 1954, and owned it until his death in 1958.
Mrs. Tilghman sold the Cadillac and a pair of Rolls-Royces from her husband's stable to Judge John North II of Easton, Maryland. Judge North, in turn, sold the car as part of a package to Mary Hecht of Alligerville, New York. It was from Ms. Hecht that the Sport Phaeton was purchased by George Stuart, who completed its original restoration, with the rear tonneau reproduced and refitted (the rear tonneau had been removed when it served as a flower car).
Mr. Stuart sold the Cadillac in 1972 to Otis Chandler and while in his care, the car was featured in Roy A. Schneider's well-known tome, Sixteen Cylinder Motorcars: An Illustrated History. Mr. Chandler later sold the car to Gifford Oborne of New Jersey, then in 1988 from the Oborne estate to Fred Weber of Missouri. In Mr. Weber's care, the restoration was lightly freshened, with new undercarriage paint.
The current owners acquired the car in 1990 from Mr. Weber. The car has remained in their collection for over three decades.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2021
Cadillac sold 300 examples of the V-16 in 1932, including this example. It is powered by engine number 1400219 and is the only original V-16 Sport Phaeton definitively known to have been built in 1932. A second example may have been built, but its factory shipping ledger indicates that it was not delivered as a dual cowl phaeton.
This car was acquired new by Francis Lieber after it had remained unsold in the Philadelphia showroom for several months, and at a $2,000 discount. This romantic story may not be exactly accurate as the car was 'tagged' for him and already noted as 'sold' on its build sheet. In 1934 he sold the car to an oil broker, Joseph Dexter, who used it for family trips to Vermont and the Jersey Shore.
By 1937 the car had returned to Main Line Cadillac, which sold it to a local livery company that used it for funeral processions—mainly as a flower car. It was later sold to one of the company's employees and sat in Brewerytown until December 1942, when a young student, Gene Matlack, bought it for $42 in ration stamps. After refinishing the Cadillac, it was sold for $175 around 1944 to Bayard Badenhausen. Badenhausen later sold the Cadillac to Fred Wetherill, who later sold it to pay for his wedding. Several short-term owners followed, bringing the car to Wilmington, Delaware, where it escaped one owner's plans for a tow truck when lumber salesman Paul Brake bought it for $275. While driving it in a local parade in Cambridge, Maryland, it was noticed by Walter Tilghman who fell in love and soon bought the V-16. He listed it, by its engine number, in the AACA roster for 1954, and owned it until his death in 1958.
Mrs. Tilghman sold the Cadillac and a pair of Rolls-Royces from her husband's stable to Judge John North II of Easton, Maryland. Judge North, in turn, sold the car as part of a package to Mary Hecht of Alligerville, New York. It was from Ms. Hecht that the Sport Phaeton was purchased by George Stuart, who completed its original restoration, with the rear tonneau reproduced and refitted (the rear tonneau had been removed when it served as a flower car).
Mr. Stuart sold the Cadillac in 1972 to Otis Chandler and while in his care, the car was featured in Roy A. Schneider's well-known tome, Sixteen Cylinder Motorcars: An Illustrated History. Mr. Chandler later sold the car to Gifford Oborne of New Jersey, then in 1988 from the Oborne estate to Fred Weber of Missouri. In Mr. Weber's care, the restoration was lightly freshened, with new undercarriage paint.
The current owners acquired the car in 1990 from Mr. Weber. The car has remained in their collection for over three decades.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2021
2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,000,000-USD $1,400,000
Sale Price :
USD $940,000
1932 Cadillac Series 452-B Sixteen Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Cadillac Series 452-B Sixteen
(Data based on Model Year 1932 sales)
1932 Cadillac V-16 Seven-Passenger Imperial Sedan by Fleetwood Chassis#: 14-208 Sold for USD$123,200 2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1932 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fisher Chassis#: 14-221 Sold for USD$940,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1932 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Coupe by Fisher Chassis#: 14-157 Sold for USD$1,022,500 2021 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1932 Cadillac V-16 Five-Passenger Sedan by Fleetwood Sold for USD$218,400 2020 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona | |
1932 Cadillac V-16 Limousine Brougham by Fleetwood Sold for USD$143,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1932 CADILLAC V16 SPECIAL PHAETON Chassis#: 1400044 Sold for USD$275,000 2018 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale | |
1932 Cadillac V-16 Five-Passenger Sedan by Fleetwood Sold for USD$220,000 2016 RM Sotheby's : Hershey | |
1932 Cadillac V-16 452B Madame X Imperial Sedan Sold for USD$264,000 2014 Gooding & Company - Amelia Island Sale | |
1932 Cadillac V-16 All-Weather Phaeton by Fisher Chassis#: 1400208 Sold for USD$291,500 2013 RM Auctions - Arizona | |
1932 Cadillac Sixteen Special Phaeton by Fisher Chassis#: 1400044 Sold for USD$176,000 2011 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Amelia Island | |
1932 Cadillac 452-B V16 Imperial Limousine Sold for USD$137,500 2010 Worldwide Auctions - The Auburn Auction | |
1932 Cadillac 452B V16 Sold for USD$231,000 2009 The Scottsdale Auction : Gooding & Company | |
1932 Cadillac 452B V16 Sold for USD$77,000 2009 The Scottsdale Auction : Gooding & Company | |
1932 Cadillac 452-B V16 Imperial Sedan Sold for USD$108,225 2008 The Richard C. Paine Jr. Collection | |
1932 Cadillac Series 452B Sold for USD$75,000 2007 Bonhams, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia | |
1932 CADILLAC 452 B V16 DUAL-WINDSHIELD ALL-WEATHER Sold for USD$137,500 2005 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2005 | |
1932 CADILLAC 452 B V16 DUAL-WINDSHIELD ALL-WEATHER Sold for USD$275,000 2004 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2004 | |
1932 CADILLAC 452 B FISHER DC PHAETON Sold for USD$193,600 2001 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2001 |
Cadillac Series 452-B Sixteens That Failed To Sell At Auction
1932 Cadillac Series 452-B Sixteen's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1932 Cadillac 452B V16 Fleetwood Imperial Limousine | 2016 The Finest : The Elegance at Hershey | $195,000 | $225,000 | ||
1932 Cadillac V16 452-B All Weather Phaeton | 2458869 | 2014 Bonhams The Scottsdale Auction | $225,000 | $275,000 | |
1932 Cadillac 452B V16 All-Weather Phaeton | 1400208 | 2011 Worldwide Auctions The Classics at the Trump Taj Mahal |
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1932 Cadillac Series 452-B Sixteen
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