1930 Cadillac Series 452A V16 Roadster

This Cadillac Series 452 V-16 has a Fleetwood Roadster body; it is believed that there are less than ten 1930-1931 V-16 Roadsters in existence today. This car was used as the model for Danbury Mint's die-cast 1930 Cadillac V-16 Roadster model.

This Cadillac with body number 29 has early features not retained on later 1930 and 1931 model-year V16s, such as the lack of cowl vent and the early dash assembly.

The original owner was William C. Bryant of Jefferson Avenue in Detroit who took delivery of the Roadster at Cadillac's Detroit Assembly Plant. The second owner was Wilbur Sanders, of Detroit, who purchased the car in the 1950s. In the 1980s, it was sold to Richard Sahlin. At the time, the car had low mileage and had never been disassembled or restored. Sahlin embarked on a professional restoration; after the work was completed, it was judged by the CCCA during 1990 and 1991 seasons and awarded a Senior Badge. Also in 1991, it was a class winner at the Meadowbrook Concours.

In the 1990s, the car became part of the collection of Dr. Joseph Murphy of Pennsylvania. He later sold the car to a private collector on the West Coast. It was put on display, for a short time, at the Los Angeles-based Petersen Automotive Museum for a short period of time and exhibited at the 1998 Pebble Beach Concours. Around 2014, it entered the car of its current owners. Since then, it has been given a re-restoration which included a new black leather interior, new black top, new paint and a complete mechanical servicing.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2019