Cadillac 1930 Series 452-A V16: A Classy Symbol of an American Car Brand

One car that made a name for Cadillac more than any other was the V16. Built to each customer’s individual taste, it became a symbol of American prestige and helped the company outperform rival Packard and its V12 engine. Cadillac prepared a V16 engine to power its flagship model with more cylinders than any other engine available. “Sixteen-cylinder power, completely individual styling,” the brochure proudly declared, summing up the story of the Cadillac V16.

At a time when custom coachbuilt bodies were symbols of status and wealth, the V16 became one of the most respected chassis. Cadillac wanted the engine to be as vibration-free as possible, and eight combustion cycles per crankshaft revolution combined with balanced internals means the V16 is one of the best packages available.

As early as 1926, Ex-Marmon engineer Owen Nacker designed a V16 engine from two straight 8-cylinder Buicks that shared the same crankcase and crankshaft. Each bank is operated independently and shares only a common, center-mounted camshaft, which operates the valves with pushrods. The 45-degree angle between the banks is unusually narrow to fit the chassis. It gets its name from its 452-cubic-inch displacement and produces 185 horsepower, good for speeds of 100 mph. The unique hydraulic valve silencer system reduced noise and was a new feature for its time.

The chassis is designed straight and borrowed from Cadillac’s 353/355 series. This includes a massive steel ladder frame, rigid axles and hydraulically assisted drum brakes to support the vehicle’s massive weight.

Cadillac general manager Lawrence Fisher and GM stylist Harley Earl were largely responsible for the V16’s styling. Most of the cars were assembled by Fleetwood in Pennsylvania, then purchased by GM and shipped to Michigan to keep the business in-house. Customers can choose from around 70 available bodies that have been meticulously finished and all are highly personalized down to every detail. If that’s not enough, Cadillac can also offer a bare chassis for the company to create the independent styling of the customer’s choice. These arrangements helped Cadillac excel in the luxury custom car market.

The engine compartment is as exquisitely detailed as the many body parts that cover it. Chrome and polished aluminum have been used and the wire loom is neatly hidden.

The V16 was launched shortly after the stock market crash at the New York Auto Show on January 4, 1930. It became the first road car to use a V16 engine which Marmon and Peerless were also working on. try to roll out. The first V16 on display was the Madame X Landaulet designed by Harley Earl a year earlier for two V8 314-B chassis. The Landaulet is a limousine with split glass, a leather roof and a folding rear roof. After these two special cars, other 4-door Madame

Despite difficult times and a price higher than any previous Cadillac, the V16 was ordered in large numbers throughout 1930. GM displayed six cars for the European tour and the cars This received acclaim from both the press and the public. Production reached 2000 units in June, but by the end of the year, the economic recession had almost affected sales.

During 11 years of production, 4076 V16s were built in series. Minor upgrades separated the grades including 452, 452B, 452C, 452D. In 1936 they became the Series 60 and the Series 90 a year later. These final production cars used a new wide-angle V16 engine that had a much lower profile but retained the same power levels. This new unit also has a square bore and stroke which reduces piston speed and crankshaft stress.

After an initial upswing in 1930, production stagnated for ten years with only 50 units produced per year. Cadillac later returned to using V12 engines, but only after the V16 had made its lasting mark. Ultimately, Cadillac lost money on each car sold, but it was worth the cost of developing the entire brand. It is estimated that the V16 cost Cadillac $54 million.

To emphasize the V16’s place in Cadillac history, a show car was produced for the 2003 Detroit Auto Show. Called the ‘Sixteen Concept’, it used a 13.6-liter engine with approximately 1000 horsepower and 1000 ft lbs of torque. This show car is part of GM’s initiative to reestablish Cadillac as GM’s flagship brand. However, due to its length, the V16 engine is not feasible in modern cars.