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This 1931 Cadillac V-16 Roadster was offered for sale at the 2007 Christie's auction of 'Exceptional Motor Cars at the Monterey Jet Center.' It is finished in maroon with a black canvas top and gray leather interior.
As the cylinder wars of the early 1930s were in full force, along with the Great Depression, Cadillac led the pack with their powerful nearly introduced V12 and V16 engines. Marmon followed with its 16-cylinder engine, but it never achieved the volume success of Cadillac.
Cadillac's V16s were produced in limited numbers with less than 4,100 examples being created from 1930 through 1940. Most were created in the vehicle's introductory year. The factory bodies were designed by Harley Earl who drew inspiration from the greatest marques of the era with an emphasis on those from Europe. The bodies were created in-house at GM-owned Fleetwood and Fisher facilities. It is believed that Cadillac offered a very wide range of optional body configurations to its clients, reaching 60 different designs.
The Cadillac catered to the social elite and wealthy individuals. They carried a very expensive sticker price, yet even at those prices, it is reported that Cadillac lost money on each one produced. The Fleetwood-bodied roadster was the least expensive in the V16 catalog. A total of 105 examples were produced and each carried a sticker price of $5,000.
This vehicle began life as a five-passenger sedan and currently wears a Fleetwood-style coachwork with traditional roadster elements, including a fold-down windshield, a top that folds nearly flush with the body, and a rumble-seat compartment. This vehicle has been treated to a total restoration that took four years to complete. Over $300,000 went into making this example one of the best and most original in existence. This car has Pilot Ray spotlights, and Tilt Ray headlamps, and tail lamps. It is an AACA National First Prize winner in 2004.
At the auction, the car was estimated to sell for $250,000 - $350,000. Those estimates proved to be accurate as a new owner was found at the selling price of $275,000, including the buyer's premium.
The car is powered by a 452 cubic-inch, overhead valve, 45-degree V16 engine with twin Updraft Cadillac single-throat carburetors and delivers 175 horsepower at 3,400 RPM. There is a three-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel mechanical drum brakes with vacuum booster, and semi-elliptical leaf springs.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2007
As the cylinder wars of the early 1930s were in full force, along with the Great Depression, Cadillac led the pack with their powerful nearly introduced V12 and V16 engines. Marmon followed with its 16-cylinder engine, but it never achieved the volume success of Cadillac.
Cadillac's V16s were produced in limited numbers with less than 4,100 examples being created from 1930 through 1940. Most were created in the vehicle's introductory year. The factory bodies were designed by Harley Earl who drew inspiration from the greatest marques of the era with an emphasis on those from Europe. The bodies were created in-house at GM-owned Fleetwood and Fisher facilities. It is believed that Cadillac offered a very wide range of optional body configurations to its clients, reaching 60 different designs.
The Cadillac catered to the social elite and wealthy individuals. They carried a very expensive sticker price, yet even at those prices, it is reported that Cadillac lost money on each one produced. The Fleetwood-bodied roadster was the least expensive in the V16 catalog. A total of 105 examples were produced and each carried a sticker price of $5,000.
This vehicle began life as a five-passenger sedan and currently wears a Fleetwood-style coachwork with traditional roadster elements, including a fold-down windshield, a top that folds nearly flush with the body, and a rumble-seat compartment. This vehicle has been treated to a total restoration that took four years to complete. Over $300,000 went into making this example one of the best and most original in existence. This car has Pilot Ray spotlights, and Tilt Ray headlamps, and tail lamps. It is an AACA National First Prize winner in 2004.
At the auction, the car was estimated to sell for $250,000 - $350,000. Those estimates proved to be accurate as a new owner was found at the selling price of $275,000, including the buyer's premium.
The car is powered by a 452 cubic-inch, overhead valve, 45-degree V16 engine with twin Updraft Cadillac single-throat carburetors and delivers 175 horsepower at 3,400 RPM. There is a three-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel mechanical drum brakes with vacuum booster, and semi-elliptical leaf springs.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2007
2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $275,000-USD $350,000
Sale Price :
USD $379,000
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 |
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Similar sales to the $378,823 range.
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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 | |
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1992 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R Group A 'BP Trampio' Racecar Chassis#:BNR32*002808R Sold for $379,000 2023 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | |
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 | |
1963 OSCA 1600 GT By Zagato Chassis#:0094 Sold for $382,130 2023 RM Sothebys : 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 | |
2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS 'Weissach' Chassis#:WP0ZZZ99ZJS181074 Sold for $379,906 2022 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz |
1931 Cadillac Series 452-A Sixteen
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