1938 Cadillac Series 90 V16 Convertible Coupe (more pics below 👇)
Cadillac’s V16 program took a surprising turn in 1938 when the company introduced an entirely redesigned engine rather than discontinuing the costly flagship.
The new 431-cubic-inch flathead V16 replaced the overhead-valve 452-cubic-inch engine that had powered the marque since 1930.
Engineers adopted a radical 135-degree cylinder bank angle (versus the earlier 45-degree configuration), creating an exceptionally wide, low profile that allowed the carburetors to be mounted atop the block while tucking the rear cylinders behind the cowl.
Despite abandoning overhead valves, the new engine matched its predecessor’s 185 horsepower at 3,600 rpm while weighing roughly 250 pounds less.
Twin carburetors, fuel pumps, distributors, and water pumps served the square bore-and-stroke design (3.25-inch bore and 3.25-inch stroke). The flatter engine allowed Cadillac to shorten the wheelbase by 13 inches to 141 inches while maintaining interior dimensions equal to or exceeding previous models.
Series 90 production proved minuscule even by V16 standards. Cadillac built 315 examples in 1938, followed by 138 in 1939 and just 61 in 1940, with V16 production ending in December 1939.
Total three-year output reached either 514 or 515 cars across twelve Fleetwood body styles, with prices ranging from $5,135 to $7,170. The Convertible Coupe represented one of the rarest configurations, with approximately ten built during the model’s brief run.
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