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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.
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 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 V-16 All-Weather Phaeton by Fleetwood Sold for USD$129,250 2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1931 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood Chassis#: 7-2577 Sold for USD$242,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
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 V-16 'Woodie' Convertible Coupe Sold for USD$82,500 2019 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1931 Cadillac 452-A V-16 Sport Phaeton Sold for USD$390,000 2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction | |
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 V-16 Special Dual Cowl Phaeton by Fleetwood Sold for USD$465,000 2012 RM Auctions - Monterey | |
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 452 V-16 Sport Phaeton Chassis#: 702401 Sold for USD$410,000 2010 Gooding and Company - Scottsdale Auction | |
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.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1931 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Special Dual Cowl Phaeton | 702677 | 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |||
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible Coupe | 7-2921 | 2022 Mecum : Kissimmee | |||
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible Coupe | 702807 | 2021 Mecum : Monterey | $575,000 | $700,000 | $850,000 |
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible Coupe | 7-2921 | 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | $900,000 | $900,000 | $1,100,000 |
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 Coach Sill Convertible | 2921-7-1 | 2020 Bonhams : Amelia Island Concours | $700,000 | $900,000 | |
1931 Cadillac V16 Convertible Victoria par Lancefield | 702873 | 2017 Artcurial : Retromobile | $600,000 | $900,000 | |
1931 Cadillac V16 Five Passenger Imperial Landau Cabriolet | 702584 | 2016 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 Phaeton | 700543 | 2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia | $250,000 | $280,000 | |
1930 Cadillac V16 Sport Phaeton | 702401 | 2008 Sports & Classics of Monterey by RM Auctions | $475,000 | $500,000 | $600,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $378,823 range.
1959 Lister-Chevrolet Chassis#:BHL 127 Sold for $381,063 2024 RM Sothebys : Monaco | |
1966 FERRARI 330 GT 2+2 COUPE Chassis#:8387 Sold for $379,000 2024 Gooding : Amelia Island Concours | |
1966 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 par Touring Chassis#:0646 Sold for $379,258 2024 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1929 Auburn 8-90 Eight Speedster Chassis#:2972337 Sold for $379,000 2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
2018 PORSCHE 911 GT2 RS Chassis#:WP0AE2A91JS185485 Sold for $381,700 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina Chassis#:ZFFZR52C000124066 Sold for $382,159 2023 RM Sothebys : London | |
1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante 'Prince of Wales' Chassis#:SCFCV81C1KTL15768 Sold for $376,811 2023 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale | |
1954 Porsche 356 'Pre-A' 1500 Cabriolet Chassis#:60597 Sold for $376,956 2023 Bonhams : Festival of Speed | |
2013 Lotus Type 125 Monoposto Chassis#:C003 Sold for $376,956 2023 Bonhams : Festival of Speed | |
1907 FORD MODEL K TOURING Chassis#:K516 Sold for $379,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Estate of Mark Smith Auction | |
1992 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Group A 'BP Trampio' Racecar Chassis#:BNR32*002808R Sold for $379,000 2023 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | |
1963 OSCA 1600 GT By Zagato Chassis#:0094 Sold for $382,130 2023 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
1961 Aston Martin DB4 'Series 3' Sports Saloon Chassis#:DB4/677/L Sold for $376,637 2023 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | |
1994 Lamborghini Diablo VT Chassis#:ZA9DU07P1RLA12980 Sold for $379,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM SPLIT-WINDOW COUPE Chassis#:30837S108898 Sold for $381,700 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II Chassis#:WDB2010361F737492 Sold for $379,991 2022 RM Sothebys : Munich | |
1964 Aston Martin DB5 'Project' Chassis#:DB5/1482/R Sold for $378,356 2022 RM Sothebys : London | |
1994 Lola-Ford Cosworth T94/20 Chassis#:HU 20 Sold for $379,000 2022 RM Sothebys : The House That Newman/Haas Racing Built | |
1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:194677S104532 Sold for $379,500 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Houston | |
2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series Chassis#:WDBSK79FX9F157692 Sold for $379,000 2022 Broad Arrow Auctions : The Passion for the Drive |
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen
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