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1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen Boattail Convertible

In 1930, to re-establish itself as the top luxury car builder, Cadillac introduced the 452, complete with a V16 engine that was itself a study in aesthetics. Over 3,200 were built in 1930 and 1931, of which just 105 were roadsters (style 4302). These Cadillacs were bodied mostly in-house by Fleetwood and Fisher; some outside coachbuilders clothed them as well.

Battista Farina was born in 1893, the tenth of eleven children, and he was consequently called 'Pinin' Farina, meaning 'baby of the family.' He worked as an apprentice with the family coachbuilding firm of Farina before founding his own company in 1930, Carrozzeria Pinin Farina. His first client in 1930 was Vincenzo Lancia and his fame soon spread. A year later the Maharaja of Orcha commissioned a unique roadster on a Cadillac V-16 chassis. Fewer than six Cadillacs were exported to India. This example is considered to be the oldest Pinin Farina-bodied car in existence and is one of just 21 V16 chassis bodied by European coachbuilders. In 1993, this car was chosen as the Concours Poster Car for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The painting was performed by Nicola Wood, a member of the Automotive Fine Arts Society and a four-time recipient of the Athena Award of Excellence. The post of the V-16 Cadillac earned her the industry's prestigious Peter Helck Award.

This car is sometimes known as the 'Tiger Hunt' car, mostly by Western auto historians, but those from India who rode in it recall that this was not the case. It rides on a 148-inch wheelbase and is propelled by a 16-cylinder narrow-angle (45-degree) engine which develops 165 horsepower. His Highness, Sir Sawai Mahendra Maharajah Shri Vir Singh Deo Bahadur, ordered the body and included six gun compartments and a raised rumble seat so he could sit above everyone else in a procession and for a clear shot when hunting. That last part may be an urban legend as the car was used more for high-speed touring than actual hunting. The car accompanied the Maharaja's son to England, for his use at college, where it must have caused quite a sensation. The next owner, Indian film director Sheikh Mukhtar, had the car painted pink in the 1960s. The car was exported from India in 1976, and it was acquired by collector Bob Lee in 1988.

The upholstery and exterior paint have varied through the years. The car was black and red over a red interior when it came to America. It was repainted in black in 2010. The original colors of pale blue and cream were discovered in patches on the frame as verified by a friend of the Maharajah.

This was one of the first cars to be bodied by Battista Farina at his newly opened Carrozeria Pinin Farina in Turin.

No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.

1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen

(Data based on Model Year 1931 sales)
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 All-Weather Phaeton
Sold for USD$184,800
  2023 Bonhams : Audrain Concours Auction
 
1931 CADILLAC SERIES 452A V-16 SPORT PHAETON
Chassis#: 702406
Sold for USD$802,500
  2023 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 702935
Sold for USD$660,000
  2023 Mecum : Indy
 
1931 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Roadster
Chassis#: 702104
Sold for USD$434,000
  2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction
 
1931 CADILLAC SERIES 452A V-16 ROADSTER
Chassis#: 7-2338
Sold for USD$379,000
  2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac V-16 All-Weather Phaeton by Fleetwood
Sold for USD$129,250
  2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood
Chassis#: 7-2577
Sold for USD$242,000
  2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac 452B V-16 Roadster
Chassis#: 702201
Sold for USD$517,900
  2021 Worldwide Auctioneers : The 14th Annual Auburn Auction
 
1931 Cadillac V-16 Seven-Passenger Imperial Sedan by Fleetwood
Sold for USD$72,800
  2020 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac V-16 'Woodie' Convertible Coupe
Sold for USD$82,500
  2019 RM Sothebys : Hershey
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac 452-A V-16 Sport Phaeton
Sold for USD$390,000
  2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood
Chassis#: 2994-7-1
Sold for USD$670,737
  2018 RM Sothebys : London
 
1931 CADILLAC V-16 LANCEFIELD CONVERTIBLE VICTORIA
Chassis#: 702873
Sold for USD$577,500
  2017 Dragone Lime Rock Park
 
1931 CADILLAC V-16 SERIES 452 TOWN BROUGHAM
Chassis#: 703164
Sold for USD$259,073
  2015 Bonhams : The Frederiksen Auction
 
1931 Cadillac V-16 Roadster in the style of Fleetwood
Sold for USD$319,000
  2015 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Special Dual Cowl Phaeton by Fleetwood
Sold for USD$465,000
  2012 RM Auctions - Monterey
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac Imperial V16 Limo Fleetwood
Sold for USD$143,000
  2012 Auctions America - Ft Lauderdale, Fl
 
1931 Cadillac V16 Roadster by Fleetwood
Sold for USD$418,000
  2010 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Amelia Island
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac 452 V-16 Sport Phaeton
Chassis#: 702401
Sold for USD$410,000
  2010 Gooding and Company - Scottsdale Auction
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen image  
1931 Cadillac V16 Roadster
Chassis#: 703165
Sold for USD$404,687
  2009 RM Auctions - Automobiles of London
 

Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteens That Failed To Sell At Auction

1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1931 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Special Dual Cowl Phaeton7026772022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction   
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible Coupe7-29212022 Mecum : Kissimmee   
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible Coupe7028072021 Mecum : Monterey$575,000$700,000$850,000
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible Coupe7-29212021 Mecum : Indy 2021$900,000$900,000$1,100,000
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible2921-7-12020 Bonhams : Amelia Island Concours $700,000$900,000
1931 Cadillac V16 Convertible Victoria par Lancefield7028732017 Artcurial : Retromobile $600,000$900,000
1931 Cadillac V16 Five Passenger Imperial Landau Cabriolet7025842016 Dragone : The Boston Cup Auction $350,000$375,000
1931 Cadillac 452A 2010 Branson Auctions Spring 2010$500,000  
1931 Cadillac V-16 All Weather Phaeton 2009 Leake Auctions Dallas 37th Annual Leake Auto Auction Market Hall$155,000  
1931 Cadillac V-16 Series 452A All-Weather Phaeton7005432009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia $250,000$280,000
1930 Cadillac V16 Sport Phaeton7024012008 Sports & Classics of Monterey by RM Auctions$475,000$500,000$600,000

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1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen

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