1930 Cadillac V-16 Roadster (more pics below 👇)
Cadillac stunned the automotive industry in January 1930 by introducing America’s first purpose-built sixteen-cylinder production engine, an overhead-valve design representing four years of secret development.
The 452-cubic-inch powerplant featured a narrow 45-degree bank angle with external manifolds for ease of maintenance, a fully counterweighted crankshaft, hydraulic valve lifters, and finely finished aluminum and porcelain components.
Initial output was rated at 165 horsepower (later increased to 175 horsepower), with exceptional low-end torque of roughly 320 pound-feet at just 1,200 RPM. This allowed the massive engine to pull smoothly in high gear from near idle to maximum speed, a defining characteristic of the V-16’s refinement.
The Series 452 chassis rode on a 148-inch wheelbase and supported an extraordinary 54 different body styles by Fleetwood and select custom coachbuilders. Among the most sporting was the two-to-four passenger roadster (Fleetwood Style 4302), the lightest factory-bodied V-16 and a striking design with clean lines and restrained chrome trim.
Despite prices ranging from $5,300 to $9,700, Cadillac sold more than 2,500 V-16s during the debut 1930 model year. The car’s combination of engineering sophistication and prestige made it an instant benchmark in the luxury field.
Production declined sharply as the Depression deepened, with only about 750 built in 1931. The original overhead-valve V-16 remained in production through 1937, totaling approximately 3,800 units before being replaced by an entirely redesigned flathead version.
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