Cadillac V-16 – Legendary Luxury and Power of the 1930s

The year 1929 is remembered in US history for the crisis that led to the Great Depression. The economy didn’t just suffer – it was partially destroyed.


Not hundreds, but thousands of previously successful companies went bankrupt. The people working there were literally thrown out onto the streets and left without a livelihood. Automobile brands also suffered losses.

At the same time, there was a layer of people who benefited from the Great Depression. Some increased their already considerable wealth. Some rose from the very bottom, using not the most legal methods of enrichment.


In any case, the situation in the luxury market cars, which were produced in small batches, turned out to be the exact opposite of the economic situation. Richer customers rushed to buy cars, demanding more power.

That's why General Motors decided to develop the most luxurious Cadillac in history. The car received a V16 engine. And this was not at all for the sake of standing out. It was just that due to a number of restrictions in the US, increasing the volume of cylinders or installing a compressor was a costly matter.

Birth of a legend

It is well known that until about the mid-1930s, cars were considered a luxury rather than a means of transportation all over the world. They were available, at least in factory form, only to wealthy people.


Of course, Henry Ford tried to change the situation much earlier, setting up a conveyor belt production of his cars. And in 1926, they were already being sold in the US for $290. This amount is more than three times lower than what was asked for the Ford Model T at the beginning of production.

But the standard of living of the population was still low. Therefore, not everyone could buy a car even in the USA. The rich did not like that cars were becoming affordable. It was for this reason that they demanded the creation of more and more expensive models.

They met a number of parameters. They were:

✅ Large and spacious
✅ Powerful
✅ Fast

All these requirements were met by the Cadillac models, which in the 1920s competed mainly with Packard. And in the second half of the 1920s, the management of General Motors decided to overtake the competitor in one sharp leap.


To do this, they were going to bring cars with V12 and V16 engines to the market. The latter were a priority, since no one had yet mastered such power units in series production.


In the end, the bodies were entrusted to Fleetwood and Fisher. They already belonged to GM, so the choice seemed obvious. Incidentally, this is why the V-16 is often called Fleetwood.


The finished prototype was demonstrated to the public in New York in early 1930. And it created a sensation.

More about the engine

Engineer Owen Nacker was responsible for developing the powertrain. He was lured from Marmon. The new engine is two Buick V8 blocks, joined together. The complexity of the engineering research is astounding even today, and in 1930 it was absolutely mind-boggling.

The engine capacity was 7,41 liters. The declared power was no less than 165 hp. In fact, the engine exceeded these figures, and they were understated only due to the peculiarities of the legislation of those years. In reality, the engine produced 180 "horses", and buyers were told this directly at a personal meeting.


The fuel system is two carburetors, one for each 8 cylinders. The same is with the ignition. But the V16 engine only got one camshaft - it is located in the center.


The key feature of the power unit is the hydraulic valve lifters. Such a system was first used on a production engine. Due to this, the engine worked quietly. And it looked impressive - the engineers tried to harmoniously fit it into the appearance of the Cadillac V-16.

Other performance characteristics

As befits the models of those years, the new model is created on a frame chassis. This solution allowed experimenting with the huge dimensions of the platform and the weight of the power units. Thanks to a powerful side member frame made of high-quality steel, the Cadillac V-16 was not afraid of collisions with budget cars - it simply demolished them, like modern armored special vehicles.

The model has dependent suspensions. The front has a solid axle on springs, and the rear drive axle is on them as well. The shock absorbers were hydraulic.

The engine was paired with only one gearbox, a three-speed one. The brakes were drum brakes all round, and to make it more comfortable to work with them, the manufacturer added a servo booster.


The Cadillac V-16 received spoked wheels, as was the fashion of those years. Later, solid disks appeared - like modern stamping.

The length of the model was 5,65 meters. The maximum speed was up to 160 km/h, depending on the modification. Fuel consumption was quite adequate, considering the years and the working volume – 28 liters per 100 km.

Variety of bodies and options

Naturally, most of the cars passed through the Fleetwood and Fisher studios. Moreover, if the latter offered only 5 types of bodies, then the former had more than 70 options.

The Cadillac V-16 was produced as:

✅ Phaeton sports and all-weather versions
✅ Roadster
✅ Sedan for 5 or 7 seats
✅ Convertible with two and four doors
✅ Coupe

The manufacturer also offered "bare" chassis, which could then be given to any body shop around the world. But this option was rarely used - 70 options from Fleetwood were usually enough.


In any version, the Cadillac V-16 could be recognized by its long hood and V16 badge. And the model always impressed with its dimensions, even in two-door sports versions.

The Cadillac brand offered many options. There is a feeling that the long list included everything that was available at that time in the arsenal of serial car manufacturers. Plus, the interior trim could be ordered to suit any taste, right down to gold and pearl inlay.

The base convertible cost $1930 in 5,35. The most expensive version cost $9,7.

Restyling

In 1932, the Cadillac V-16 was given a makeover. The exterior of the car changed minimally – teardrop-shaped headlights and a new radiator grille appeared.

There were more technical improvements. The gearbox was improved, a new oil filter was installed. The clutch received a vacuum booster. The cars became cheaper – the Great Depression, it seems, affected wealthy customers. Now the most affordable Cadillac V-16 in the two-seater coupe version could be purchased for 4,49 thousand dollars.


The model was further improved every year. Prices no longer decreased – they only grew. Demand, accordingly, decreased.

The largest Cadillac V-16 was the 452 1934D Convertible Sedan. At 6 inches long and weighing 096 pounds, it was the largest production sedan in U.S. history.

In 1937, the production of the first-generation Cadillac V-16 ceased. But at the same time, the second-generation model debuted. Despite the far from rosy prospects, the manufacturer decided to secure its fame as a leader in the luxury car class.