Cadillac 1934 452D V16 Convertible-Sedan

The Cadillac V-16 (sometimes known as the Cadillac Sixteen) was Cadillac's top-of-the-line car from its January 1930 launch until production ceased in 1940 as the war in Europe killed sales. All were finished to custom order, and the car was built in very small numbers; only 4076 cars were constructed in the eleven years the model was offered. The majority of these were built in the single year of 1930, before the Great Depression really took hold. This was the first V16 powered car to reach production status in the United States.

 

Genesis:

 

In 1926, Cadillac began the development of a new, "multi-cylinder" car. A customer requirement was seen for a car powered by an engine simultaneously more powerful and smoother than any hitherto available. Development proceeded in great secrecy over the next few years; a number of prototype cars were built and tested as the new engine was developed, while at the same time Cadillac chief Larry Fisher and GM's stylist Harley Earl toured Europe in search of inspiration from Europe's finest coachbuilders. Unlike many builders of luxury cars, who sold bare chassis to be clothed by outside coachbuilding firms, General Motors had purchased the coachbuilders Fleetwood Metal Body and Fisher Body to keep all the business in-house. Bare Cadillac chassis could be purchased if a buyer insisted, but the intention was that few would need to do so. One Cadillac dealer in England, namely Lendrum & Hartman, ordered at least two such chassis in even rarer right hand drive (RHD) configuration and had Van den Plas (Belgium) build first an elegant limousine-landaulet (engine #702297), then a sports sedan with unusual cycle fenders and retractable step plates in lieu of running boards (engine #702298, which was successfully shown in various Concours d'Elegance events in Europe before being bought by the young Nawab of Bahawalpur); both these cars have survived. A third RHD chassis was ordered by the Indian Maharaja of Orccha (Bhopal) and sent to Farina in Italy, in July 1931, for a boat tail body (engine between #703136 and #703152).

 

It was not until after the stock market crash of 1929 that Cadillac announced to the world the availability of the costliest Cadillac yet, the new V-16. The new vehicle was first displayed at New York's automobile show on January 4, 1930.

 

Statistics:

 

1930–1937:

 

Generation 1 (Series 452 and 90)

 

Overview:

Model years1930–1937

Body and chassis

PlatformSeries 90: D-body

RelatedCadillac Series 370/85

Cadillac Series 355

Cadillac Series 75

Powertrain

Engine452 cu in (7.4 L) Cadillac V16

Dimensions

Wheelbase1930–31: 148.0 in (3,759 mm)

1932–33: 143.0 in (3,632 mm) and 149.0 in (3,785 mm)

1934–37: 154.0 in (3,912 mm)

Length1930–31: 222.5 in (5,652 mm)

1932–33: 216.0 in (5,486 mm) and 222.0 in (5,639 mm)

1934–35: 240.0 in (6,096 mm)

1936–37: 238.0 in (6,045 mm)

Width1931: 73.6 in (1,869 mm)

1932–35: 77.0 in (1,956 mm)

1936–37: 74.4 in (1,890 mm)

Height1931: 72.5 in (1,842 mm)

1932–33: 71.5 in (1,816 mm)

1934–37: 69.5 in (1,765 mm)

Curb weight5,300–6,600 lb (2,400–3,000 kg)

 

The new car attracted rave reviews from the press and huge public attention. Cadillac started production of the new car immediately. January production averaged a couple of cars per day, but was then ramped up to twenty-two cars per day. By April, 1,000 units had been built, and by June, 2,000 cars. These could be ordered with a wide variety of bodywork. The Fleetwood catalog for the 1930 V-16 included 10 basic body styles; there was also an envelope containing some 30 additional designer's drawings. Research by the Cadillac-La Salle Club, Inc. puts at 70 the number of different job/style numbers built by Fisher and Fleetwood on the sixteen chassis.

 

Beginning in June 1930, five new V-16s participated in a promotional tour of major European cities including Paris, Antwerp, Brussels, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Vienna (where they won prizes), Berne, Geneva, Lausanne, Zürich, Madrid, San Sebastian, La Baule and Angers. On the return journey from Spain, the V16 caravan stopped also in the town of Cadillac, in south-western France, although that city bears no relationship to the marque, other than its name.

 

After the peak in V-16 orders in mid-1930, production fell precipitously. During October 1930, only 54 cars were built. The lowest figures for the 452/452A cars of 1930–31 were August 1931 (seven units) and November 1931 (six units). Minimum production continued throughout the rest of the decade with a mere 50 units being built both in 1935 and in 1937. 1940 was only marginally better with a total of 51 units. Not surprisingly, Cadillac later estimated that they lost money on every single V-16 they sold.

 

Production of the original V-16 continued under various model names through 1937. The body was redesigned in 1933 as the model 452C. Innovations included Fisher no draft individually controlled ventilation (I.C.V. or vent windows).

 

For 1934, the body was redesigned again and denoted as 452D, and as 452E in 1935. The V-16 now featured the Fisher Turret Top all-steel roof, though the cars were still built by Fleetwood. This same basic design would remain virtually unchanged through 1937. With a wheelbase of 154.0 inches (3,912 mm) and a curb weight of up to 6,600 pounds (3,000 kg) these are perhaps the largest standard production cars ever produced in the United States. Combined production for the 1934 and 1935 model years was 150. It was redesignated the Series 90 in 1936 as Cadillac reorganized their model names. Fifty-two units were sold that year, with nearly half ordered as limousines. Hydraulic brakes were added for 1937, the last year of production. Fifty vehicles were produced.

 

[Text taken from Wikipedia]

 

1934 452D V16 Convertible-Sedan

 

The Cadillac 452D was designed by the legendary Harley Earl and was first debuted at the 1933 Chicago World Fair. It was powered by a V-16 engine placed in the front and powering the rear wheels. Large 15 inch mechanical drum brakes were placed on all four corners and the transmission was selective synchromesh transmission with three gears.

 

The V-16 Cadillac was the company's top-of-the-line car until production ceased in 1940. In total, there were just 4,076 examples built during the eleven years the model was offered. Most of the Sixteen's were built in the single year of 1930 before the Great Depression really took hold. For 1933, the boxy looks of the Twenties were giving way to the streamlined look of the Thirties featuring flowing, fully skirted fenders and graceful vee'd grilles with painted shells blending into the bodywork. The V16s featured a longer 149-inch wheelbase, unique grille, a larger 'Goddess' hood ornament and massive 'four-bar' bumpers. These cars were serially numbered with the owner's name displayed on a plate inside the car.

 

Twenty examples of this Convertible Sedan body style were produced from 1934 to 1937. The twin bi-plane style bumpers were only offered in 1934. This car rides on a 154-inche wheelbase, is 240-inches long (the longest of any American car) and weighed 6,800 pounds. Power is from the 452 cubic-inch engine produced 165 horsepower. Base price for this car in 1934 was $8,150.

 

This particular car was built for DuPont heiress, Edith duPont-Reigel, when she was just 21 years old. Her inheritance had placed her on Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans. The current owner acquired the car in 2007 from a family who owned it for 44 years. A restoration to its original color was completed in 2008.

 

[Text taken from 'Conceptcarz.com']

 

www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/414550,10282,0,0/photo.aspx

 

This Lego miniland-scale 1934 Cadillac 452D V16 Custom Roadster has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 88th Build Challenge, - "Let's go Break Some records", - for vehicles that set the bar (high or low) for any number of vehicles statistics or records.

 

The 1933-37 Cadillac V16 (model codes 452D and 452E) set the record for the 'longest overall length' series production convertible (and coupe): 6,096mm (240 in) and 'longest wheelbase' series production convertible (and coupe): 3,912mm (154in). Also 'heaviest curb weight' series production convertible (and coupe): 2,721.5–2,857.5 kg (6,000–6,300 lb).

Done