1930 Cadillac 452 - $169,900 - Orange Village, OH - The Cadillac V-16 was Cadillac's top-of-the-line car from its January 1930 launch until production ceased in 1940 as the war in Europe diminished 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 1930, before the Great Depression. This was the first V-16 powered car to reach production status in the United States.
The V-16 models weighed approximately 6,000 pounds, and their price tags were equally impressive, ranging from $5,800 to a staggering $7,150. Customer support was enhanced as well following the launch of the V-16, and during 1930, Cadillac required its dealer network to supply weekly and monthly reports detailing owner satisfaction and service details collected on the new V-16.
The V-16 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.
After the peak in V-16 orders in mid-1930, production fell sharply. During October 1930, only 54 cars were built. Minimum production continued throughout the rest of the decade. Not surprisingly, Cadillac later estimated that they lost money on every single V-16 they sold.
The Cadillac V-16 is today recognized as one of the finest automobiles of the pre-WWII era by many authorities. The Classic Car Club of America rates all V-16s as CCCA Full Classics, a rating reserved for only the finest automobiles of the 1925–1948 period.
This Cadillac V-16 Imperial 7 passenger limousine with divider window scored 100 points at the 2014 CCCA Grand Classic in Hickory Corners, Michigan. It received a complete frame off restoration on all original very straight car and has been driven only 1408 miles since. The body has no rust.