There was time that automobiles were often judged by the number of cylinders their engines had. It could be argued that this is sometimes the case today, but in 1931 the Cadillac 452A and it’s 16 cylinders said a lot. The car was an all-time great for Cadillac. Cadillac produced two of only three production, gasoline-fueled V16 engine models in automotive history.
Cadillac Unveils Their Expensive V-16
The Cadillac 452A V-16 was introduced at the New York Auto Show on January 4, 1930. This was a bit over two months after the great stock market crash. Timing could have been better but nobody could predict the future. The style of the car was a collaboration between Cadillac GM Lawrence Fisher and GM stylist Harley Earl. The body for all 1931 Cadillacs were longer and lower than previous models. Theses cars also had a longer hood. The 1931′s also had a chrome plated screen that covered the radiator and gave the car an expensive look. Cadillac used it’s longest wheelbase and very elaborate bodies for the V-16’s.
Cadillac led the way in developing the V-16 although both Peerless and Marmon were attempting to do the same. All three automakers were working on this project during the last years of the Roaring Twenties. The goal was to design a smooth running engine that would provide more than adequate power. Cadillac used the term “continuous flow” to describe their V-16. Continuous flow implied that the engine multiplies power and subdivides it into a continuous flow, always at full volume efficiency.
The engine debuted in 1930. The V-16 Cadillac was highest priced Cadillac to date however this did not turn buyers away, even a year after the stock market crash of 1929. Interestingly enough, while Cadillac had orders for over 2,000 of these vehicles during the first six months the car was out, sales dropped in 1931. In fact, it would take another ten years for Cadillac to get decent sales numbers for it’s V-16. During that period of time Cadillac was producing only about 50 of the V-16’s per year.
The Cadillac V-16 was a success if you look at it’s first year. After that the Great Depression was in the wings and sales were not good. Regardless, Cadillac’s 452A V-16 did outperform the Packard’s Twelve.
The V-16 was designed by an ex-Marmon engineer, Owen Nackler. Cadillac’s first V-16 engine was a combination of two new Buick eight cylinder engines. The two engine blocks were put on a common frame with each block at a 45 degree angle to the other. Crankshaft and crankcase were of course common. The V-16 could put out 165 HP and achieve a speed of 90 MPH. It’s said that the V-16 could get 8 miles per gallon.
A Status Automobile
A status automobile might be one with a custom coach build and with a high price tag. It was an automobile for the very wealthy and in some cases celebrities. Customers could have their V-16 Cadillac as they wished. Cadillac provided some 70 different styles for the customer to choose from. If the customer chose, he or she could take a finished chassis to an independent coach builder.
To help secure status, a buyer of the Cadillac 452A might pay $6,500 for the automobile. With this being said, the Cadillac V-16 remained the top of the line Cadillac from it’s inception straicodiFhas1940strong>.
C/ te58e">1931 CaCr pu De Vvy21ve V-16trong>. The CaT saiFwasplid Me Home: Memoi//NumbadillaDream Reaptzid c 452A .< trong>igure>