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In 1936, Cadillac began offering the Series 90 as a built-to-order purposes. All body styles had the Vee windshields and offered in sedan, limo, convertible, Aero, and stationary coupe form. The engine was a powerful 45 degree V-16 with cast iron block on aluminum crankcase.
 |  | View more photos Vin Num: 5130313 |
 |  | View more photos Convertible Sedan Coachwork: Fleetwood |
By 1937, most of the great prestige automakers were out of business or on the ropes. Peerless was out in 1931, and Stutz in 1935. 1937 would see the end of Duesenberg, and Pierce-Arrow would follow in 1938. However, Cadillac was not only in business, but together with Packard, represented the bulk of diminished American luxury market.
In 1937, Cadillac was in the last year of production of its legendary first generation 45-degree V16 motor. (A new 135-degree Sixteen was slated for the start of the 1938 model year.) The first generation V16 is widely regarded as the quintessential multi-cylinder automotive engine of the era, with its large engine, with polished lacquer and plated accents, the look reached the same high level as the performance.
This V-16 was a large and expensive car with the size and comfort of a sedan but capable of open air touring. The $7,950 price tag of this convertible sedan commanded a $2,500 premium over the best V-12 Caddy. Given their price and grandeur, the huge, 154-inch wheelbase V-16s were best suited for titans of industry or heads of state. They were also very limited production with only 50 Cadillac V-16s sold in 1937. Like this example, 47 were bodied by Fleetwood, two went to outside custom body builders, and one is unaccounted.
 |  | View more photos Aero-Dynamic Coupe Coachwork: Fleetwood |
Cadillac displayed a special streamlined V-16 coupe, referred to as the Aerodynamic Coupe, at the 1933 Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago. Beginning in 1934 this spectacular style was made available for customer purchase. This example is the very last of the eight aerodynamic coupes known to have been built - and the only 1937 model, one of just 49 1937 V-16s. Cadillac abandoned the 452 model designation in 1935, thereafter designating the cars as model 16-90 or Series 90.
 | Sedan |
The majority of these cars were built in the single year of 1930, before the Great Depression really took hold. This was the first V-16 powered car to reach production status in the United States.
Minimum production continued throughout the rest of the decades with a mere 50 units being built both in 1935 and in 1937. Hydraulic brakes were added for 1937.
For this engine Cadillac had designed a super chassis, coordinating every unit so that the full potentialities of power and speed could be enjoyed as never before. The bodies are of many types, custom built and elaborately finished, and all highly individualized.
Personal preferences as in styling and colors could be fully expressed. The finish of panels, upholstery, fabrics, trim and other factors of style and beauty were blended into distinctive expressions of individuality.
 |  | View more photos Aero-Dynamic Coupe Coachwork: Fleetwood |
In 1937, Cadillac built only two convertible coupes on the sixteen-cylinder chassis, type 37-90.
The V-16 was a large and expensive car with the size and comfort of a sedan but capable of open air touring. The $7,950 price tag of this convertible sedan commanded a $2,500 premium over the best V-12 Caddy. Given their price and grandeur, the huge, 154-inch wheelbase V-16's were best suited for titans of industry or heads of state.
There were only 50 Cadillac V-16's sold in 1937. Like this example, 47 were bodied by Fleetwood, two went to outside custom body builders, and one is unaccounted.
The small passenger cabin of this rare V-16 serves to accentuate the total length of this very rare 1937 example. With a fairly light body type, the unique performance features of the 452 cubic-inch engine are magnified. Period press recorded a V-16 idling along in top gear at 2 mph, then quietly rolling away to much higher speeds, such was the torque reserve.
 |  | View more photos Custom Imperial Cabriolet Coachwork: Fleetwood Chassis Num: 5130313 |
The V16 engine featured an advanced overhead valve design that incorporated automatic hydraulic valve lash compensators, ensuring that the engine would run as quietly as engine side valve engine. It was given a narrow 45-degree cylinder bank angle which allowed it to be very compact while having good balance. The styling was performed by Owen Nacker, and it was the first engine bay to receive design consideration. The wiring was hidden under covers and accented by cloisonné knobs. The fuel lines were plated, and a false firewall hid the necessary wiring and plumbing from sight.
Most of the bodies that adorned the V16 Cadillac's were done by Fleetwood. A few were special Fisher bodies. Though beautiful and mechanically superior to most other cars on the road, they Cadillac V16 was hard to sell, partly due to the Great Depression.
This Cadillac V16 was purchased new and delivered to the Beverly Hills home of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Vice President and General Manager Edgar 'Eddie' Mannix. The car was used by movie stars for decades during the 'Golden Age of Hollywood.' It is believed that Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh used the car during the filming of the multiple Academy Award winning, Gone with Wind.
Mannix kept the car during his entire life. It was sold from Mannix's estate after his passing and would pass through several prominent car collectors through the years. It was stored for 22 years in a St. Louis area garage. It was later sold to an enthusiast in Colorado. In present form, the car has been driven 34,000 original miles. Much of hte paint, trim, and interior are still original to the car. This car features such amenities as a blind rear quarter, padded leather roof, roll-up window, rear clock, heaters, and a hidden rear-seat radio. It is also the only known Cadillac to have been delivered with a sterling silver Goddess hood ornament.
Fewer than 50 Cadillac V16s were produced in 1937. This is one of just two Series 90 Fleetwood Custom Imperial Cabriolets and is a very rare car with a history to match.
In 2008 this 1937 Cadillac V16 Custom Imperial Cabriolet with coachwork by Fleetwood was brought to RM Auctions 'Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook' where it was estimated to sell for $200,000-$250,000. The expectations were nearly met as a high bid of $192,500 including buyer's premium was enough to satisfy the car's reserve. The lot was sold.
| | View more photos Stationary Coupe Coachwork: Fleetwood |
This car has less than 20,000 miles from new. It received a repaint many years ago, otherwise, it is as delivered new.
Cadillac's V-16 engine now featured overhead valves. The engine developed 185 horsepower from its 452 cubic-inches. Only 50 total Cadillac 16's were sold in 1937. Four stationary coupes were built in 1937; this is the only known survivor. Cost new in 1937 was a whopping $7,745.
Henry Martin Leland and his son Wilfred were partly responsible with making Cadillac one of the finest of all American Automobiles. Henry was renowned for his precision engineering and for standardizing manufacturing. He helped make Cadillac into one of the finest of all American Automobiles. Later, he founded Lincoln. Even after the Leland's departed from Cadillac, the marque remained a top-of-the-line figure.
Cadillac did not rely on four- or six-cylinder power. Every one of the company's cars was fitted with a V engine of 8, 12 or 16 cylinders. They were smooth and powerful.
During the late 1920s, the cylinder race was in full force. Cadillac's engineer Owen Knacker was tasked with developing a V16 engine that would keep Cadillac at the fore-front of the race. Their hopes were to displace Packard at the top of the luxury car market.
From 1930 through 1940 Cadillac produced a monsterous sixteen-cylinder engine. It was first displayed to the automotive community at the Detroit Opera House prior to the Detroit Auto Show. This was the largest number of cylinders to power an automobile of all time. The hood that housed the engine was intimidating, larger and longer than any other vehicle. Up to this point, there were only a few manufacturers that produced a twelve-cylinder engine, mechanical achievements in their own right. The introduction of the sixteen-cylinder engine was historical and seen as revolutionary at the time.
Up to the 1990's there have only been three manufacturers of a sixteen cylinder engine. The Bugatti Type 47 never made series production while the Marmon Corporation offering was short lived. In comparison, the Marmon built V-16 was more powerful. By using aluminum, the 491 cubic-inch engine with its overhead values weighed just over 900 pounds. The engine was formed by merging twin-eight cylinder engines in a 45-degree angle, giving the engine an impressive look and an astonishing 200 horsepower. The use of steel cylinder sleeves added to the longevity and durability of the engine. The V-16 engine earned Howard Marmon the Society of Automotive Engineers annual design award.
The Cadillac V-16 was the first and remained in production for eleven years.
A new sixteen-cylinder engine was introduced by Cadillac in 1938. This was not their first V16 enigne; their first had been designed by engineer, Owen Nacker of Marmon fame. It had an overhead valve design and mounted at a 45-degree to one another. Each back of the sixteen cylinders had their own exhaust and fuel system. The engine featured hydraulic valve adjusters that helped with the silent valve train operation. The exterior of the engine was equally as impressive, with all the wiring and hoses concealed under cover and finished in chrome, polished aluminum, porcelain and baked enamel. The result was a 452 cubic-inch engine that was nearly unmatched in the industry at the time.
A V12 version followed shortly after the introduction of the V16; it displaced 368 cubic-inches and was basically three-quarters of a V16. Both of these engines remained in production through 1937. The V12 did not resume production for 1938. A new engine was introduced in 1938 and that very different than its predecessors. It was an L-head design, cast in a 135-degree vee, and featured a monobloc design. The was easier and more economical to manfacutre and it weighed 250 pounds less, had 21 fewer cubic-inches, but developed the same power.
The V12 engine was used to power the Series 85 for 1937. The Series 75 and Series 85 were the same vehicle, with the exception of the powerplant. The Series 75 used a V8 engine. In 1938 the V12 was discontinued, and the V16 took its place. The sixteen-cylinder cars were shortened to a length similar to the Series 75, and the chassis and bodies were interchangeable.
There were twelve bodystyles available, including coupes, convertible coupes, and sedans, as well as the larger seven-passenger sedans and limousines. These larger vehicles were called Formal Sedans or Imperial sedans depending on whether they had a division partition.
The Series 90 experienced its best year in 1938 with 315 examples built. The five-passenger Touring Sedan was the most popular, with 41 sold.
In 1939, the front of the V8 Cadillacs were midly updated. The grille was raked back and the headlights were now mounted to the nose and flush with the top of the grille. Chrome moldings were added to the running boards and the fender ornamentaion was now fully chromed. The rear license plate was moved from the left fender to the trunk lid.
There were a total of 138 V16 cars produced in 1939. Few changes or modifications to the car followed for 1940. A total of 61 V16 cars were built this would be the final year for their production. A total of 4,400 examples were built over an eleven year period.
Cadillac did not rely on four- or six-cylinder power. Every one of the company's cars was fitted with a V engine of 8, 12 or 16 cylinders. They were smooth and powerful.
During the late 1920s, the cylinder race was in full force. Cadillac's engineer Owen Knacker was tasked with developing a V16 engine that would keep Cadillac at the fore-front of the race. Their hopes were to displace Packard at the top of the luxury car market.
From 1930 through 1940 Cadillac produced a monsterous sixteen-cylinder engine. It was first displayed to the automotive community at the Detroit Opera House prior to the Detroit Auto Show. This was the largest number of cylinders to power an automobile of all time. The hood that housed the engine was intimidating, larger and longer than any other vehicle. Up to this point, there were only a few manufacturers that produced a twelve-cylinder engine, mechanical achievements in their own right. The introduction of the sixteen-cylinder engine was historical and seen as revolutionary at the time.
Up to the 1990's there have only been three manufacturers of a sixteen cylinder engine. The Bugatti Type 47 never made series production while the Marmon Corporation offering was short lived. In comparison, the Marmon built V-16 was more powerful. By using aluminum, the 491 cubic-inch engine with its overhead values weighed just over 900 pounds. The engine was formed by merging twin-eight cylinder engines in a 45-degree angle, giving the engine an impressive look and an astonishing 200 horsepower. The use of steel cylinder sleeves added to the longevity and durability of the engine. The V-16 engine earned Howard Marmon the Society of Automotive Engineers annual design award.
The Cadillac V-16 was the first and remained in production for eleven years.
A new sixteen-cylinder engine was introduced by Cadillac in 1938. This was not their first V16 enigne; their first had been designed by engineer, Owen Nacker of Marmon fame. It had an overhead valve design and mounted at a 45-degree to one another. Each back of the sixteen cylinders had their own exhaust and fuel system. The engine featured hydraulic valve adjusters that helped with the silent valve train operation. The exterior of the engine was equally as impressive, with all the wiring and hoses concealed under cover and finished in chrome, polished aluminum, porcelain and baked enamel. The result was a 452 cubic-inch engine that was nearly unmatched in the industry at the time.
A V12 version followed shortly after the introduction of the V16; it displaced 368 cubic-inches and was basically three-quarters of a V16. Both of these engines remained in production through 1937. The V12 did not resume production for 1938. A new engine was introduced in 1938 and that very different than its predecessors. It was an L-head design, cast in a 135-degree vee, and featured a monobloc design. The was easier and more economical to manfacutre and it weighed 250 pounds less, had 21 fewer cubic-inches, but developed the same power.
The V12 engine was used to power the Series 85 for 1937. The Series 75 and Series 85 were the same vehicle, with the exception of the powerplant. The Series 75 used a V8 engine. In 1938 the V12 was discontinued, and the V16 took its place. The sixteen-cylinder cars were shortened to a length similar to the Series 75, and the chassis and bodies were interchangeable.
There were twelve bodystyles available, including coupes, convertible coupes, and sedans, as well as the larger seven-passenger sedans and limousines. These larger vehicles were called Formal Sedans or Imperial sedans depending on whether they had a division partition.
The Series 90 experienced its best year in 1938 with 315 examples built. The five-passenger Touring Sedan was the most popular, with 41 sold.
In 1939, the front of the V8 Cadillacs were midly updated. The grille was raked back and the headlights were now mounted to the nose and flush with the top of the grille. Chrome moldings were added to the running boards and the fender ornamentaion was now fully chromed. The rear license plate was moved from the left fender to the trunk lid.
There were a total of 138 V16 cars produced in 1939. Few changes or modifications to the car followed for 1940. A total of 61 V16 cars were built this would be the final year for their production. A total of 4,400 examples were built over an eleven year period.
| Cadillac: 1931-1940 |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2009 Conceptcarz.com