 1932 452B V16 | 1934 452D V16  |
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1933 Cadillac 452C V16 news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Fleetwood Convertible Victoria Coachwork: Fleetwood |
 |  |  | Fleetwood All-Weather Phaeton Coachwork: Fleetwood |
In addition to a longer 149-inch wheelbase, the V-16's received a unique grille, a larger - and more elegant - 'Goddess' hood ornament, and massive 'four-bar' bumpers. Also, the three rectangular ventilated doors seen on the sides of the hood of the V-8's and V-12's yielded to three functional 'spears' on the V-16, a theme repeated on the lower front fenders.
Prices ranged from $5,540 for an Imperial Cabriolet to $8,000 for the All-Weather Phaeton. These prices exceeded Packard's priciest V-12's, and had to be staggering in the depths of the Depression, when a Chevy started at $445.
For 1933, Cadillac announced that V-16 production would be limited to 400 cars. These were to be serially numbered - the number and the owner's name to be displayed on a plate inside the car. Nearly seven body styles were suggested. Half this number of styles were actually built, but half of the total production of 126 cars were in the most conservative five- or seven-passenger sedan styles. Only three examples were ever built in this Convertible Phaeton bodystyles.
 |  | Fleetwood All-Weather Phaeton Coachwork: Fleetwood Chassis Num: 5100043 |
| Sold for $473,000 at 2009 RM Auctions. | ||
This 452-D Convertible Sedan was purchased by Dr. Atwood from well-known Classic Car Club member Dick Gold of Minneapolis. It was purchased in October of 1984. It was in the original family and it was an original, unrestored car wearing its original paint, chrome and upholstery. While in Dr. Atwood's care, the car was given a restoration.
The restoration was finished in 1991. It had previously achieved AACA National Junior and Senior First status. Upon completion of its restoration, it was brought to the 1991 Pebble Beach Concours where it took a First in Class. From there, it was brought to the AACA Easter Fall Meet at Hershey, winning AACA's 1991 Chocolate Town Trophy. It achieved a Grand National First at Dayton, Ohio in 1992 and was nominated as AACA's Outstanding Vehicle for the year.
The car is painted in original yellow. There is a tan canvas top and the interior is brown leather. The odometer reads just 277 miles, probably the distance traveled since restoration. There is an authentic radio in the panel, its power supplied by a Cadillac 'B' Eliminator under the hood.
In 2009, this V16 Imperial Convertible Sedan was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Arizona auction presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $300,000 - $400,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for the sum of $473,000 including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2009
 |  |  | Fleetwood Convertible Coupe Coachwork: Fleetwood |
 |  |  | Fleetwood Convertible Victoria Coachwork: Fleetwood Chassis Num: 5000028 |
| Sold for $412,500 at 2009 RM Auctions. | |||
This example is largely unrestored and is a California car from new and retains its original engine, chassis and body. The original owner was Hollywood film star Robert Montgomery, who was honored with two stars on the Hollywood 'Walk of Fame' for his achievements in both film and television.
The car has a pair of side mounted spare tires, dual rear view mirrors, a single Pilot-Ray driving lamp, a rear luggage rack and a set of painted steel wheels with hubcaps and period style wide whitewall tires. The interior features an inlaid wooden dash with metal insert panels housing Art Deco-inspired instruments. The odometer reads just 74,000 miles since new.
In 2009, this car was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $350,000 - $450,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $412,500, including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2009
 |  |  | Fleetwood Convertible Victoria Coachwork: Fleetwood |
 |  |  | Fleetwood Limousine Coachwork: Fleetwood Chassis Num: 5000066 |
| Sold for $159,500 at 2011 RM Auctions. | |||
This Cadillac Sixteen Cylinder Fleetwood Limousine is in near-original condition. It was built for Mrs. H.A. Springle and was delivered through General Motors Products of Canada on May 25th of 1933. It currently shows just 29,500 miles. It was also shown at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2003.
Fleetwood built just 32 of this body style on the V-16 chassis in 1933. This example is number 18. At year's end in 1933, just 126 Sixteens had been sold.
In 2011, this car was offered for sale at the St. John auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $130,000 - $160,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $159,500 including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2012
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.
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2008
For more information and related vehicles, click hereCadillac 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.
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2008
| Magnificent Series of Coachbuilt Classics To Grace RM's Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance Sale | |
 | • RM Auctions returns as the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, March 9, 2013 • Single-day sale features breathtaking roster of more than 80 investment-quality collector cars • Notable highlights include an outstanding series of coachbuilt classics headlined by a multi-million-dollar 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Walker-LaGrande Convertible Coupe and a trio of Cords from the personal collection of Jim Fasnacht • Frequently updated list of entries available online at r...[Read more...] |
| Cherished Classics From The Pettit Collection Will Be Offered Without Reserve | |
 | • The 1929 Duesenberg 'Blue J' and 11 collector cars from the William A. C. Pettit, III Collection will be sold at Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auctions • Estate Proceeds will benefit the Shriners Hospital for Children®-Tampa Gooding & Company, the acclaimed auction house celebrated for selling the world's most significant and valuable collector cars, is honored to present the finest automobiles of the William A.C. Pettit, III Collection at its Pebble Beach Auctions on Aug...[Read more...] |
| Lost Mercedes - Surfaces At Bonhams | |
 | One owner, unrestored, supercharged 'S' Type Mercedes to be sold by Bonhams at Goodwood Revival this autumn One of the greatest and most important motor car finds of the last decade, the 'Lost Mercedes' is to be offered at Bonhams Goodwood Revival sale on Saturday 15th September 2012. Bonhams announced today that it has been commissioned to sell a recently discovered 1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 'S' Type Sports Tourer which almost without precedent for motor cars of this type and d...[Read more...] |
| Auctions America 2012 Auburn Spring Auction Offers Full Range of Convertibles | |
 | Just in time for summer fun, Auctions America by RM will offer an array of open-air collector cars during its June 1-3 Auburn Spring auction,including a one-of-a-kind concept car that cost Ford Motor Co. more than a half-million dollars to produce. During the three-day event, more than 600 American muscle cars, Classics, foreign sports cars and hot rods will cross the block at the historic Auburn Auction Park, the company's national headquarters in Auburn, Indiana. 'It's that time of year wh...[Read more...] |
| Consignments now invited for RM St. John's | |
 | RM Auctions, the official auction house of the Concours d'Elegance of America, returns to the Inn at St. John's, July 28, 2012 for its firmly rooted Michigan sale. A featured attraction of the Concours weekend and a longstanding summer tradition for collectors, the single-day sale has established a reputation for offering outstanding American classics. In 2011, the sale enjoyed a very positive response to its new venue at The Inn at St. John's, realizing more than $7.6 million in sales with ...[Read more...] |
 1933
Cadillac
models |
| Cadillac 355 C Eight |
| Cadillac Series 370-C Twelve |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Chevrolet | Chrysler |
| Dodge | Ford |
| GMC | Hummer |
| Jeep | Lincoln |
| Mercury | Pontiac |
| Saturn | |
| Similarly Priced Vehicles from 1933 |
| Packard 1006 Twelve ($4,085-$7,034) |
| Lincoln Model KB ($4,205-$7,005) |
| Pierce Arrow Model 1247 ($4,250-$7,200) |
Average Auction Sale: $407,000 |
| Cadillac: 1931-1940 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Cadillac History |
| Other models by Cadillac |
| Manufacturer Website |
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| 1932 452B V16 | 1934 452D V16 |
