Registration No: 249 YUB
Chassis No: 5290040
MOT: Exempt

• One of just 138 V-16s built in 1939 and of just 18 built in this body style
• In current ownership for the last 13 years
• Offered from a private collection
• Showing c.66,117 miles on the odometer

The spectacular Cadillac V16 first stunned audiences at the New York Auto Show in 1930. The order books filled quickly, but after initially strong sales, production had dwindled as the American economy faltered on the cusp of the Great Depression. As the 1930s wore on, such lavish motorcars were frowned upon by even the wealthiest of buyers who preferred discretion over flash. Despite the dire economic conditions, the V16 soldiered on as GM’s halo model, and it stood proudly as a symbol of Cadillac’s unrivaled engineering excellence.

For the 1938 model year, Cadillac completely redesigned the car with an all-new engine and body design. The new V16 replaced Owen Nacker’s exotic and costly overhead valve design, which Cadillac was said to have lost money on every one built. Displacing 431 cubic inches, the new V16 was a more conventional design based on that of the V8, with a simple side-valve configuration and unusually wide 135-degree cylinder bank angle. The engine produced 185 horsepower (about ten more than the old unit) and weighed a staggering 250 pounds less than the original V16. Most importantly, it was significantly cheaper for Cadillac to produce, and therefore it stood a chance at finally making the Sixteen profitable.

Cadillac’s new V16 Series 90 rode on the same 141-inch wheelbase as the V8 series 75, allowing for the sharing of bodies from the Fleetwood and Fisher catalogues. Twelve catalogue body styles were available for the 1938-1939 model years, designed under the guidance of the masterful Bill Mitchell; the young protégé of Harley Earl. 1938 saw a dramatic shift in design as the influence of the streamline era became more prominent. The 1938 Cadillac marked a very significant point for GM, as it bridged the gap between the traditional classic form of the early 1930s and the fully integrated style of the early post-war period. 138 of these vehicles were built in 1939, with just 18 in the body style offered today.

Little is known of this particular example’s early history, but it was purchased by the current owner from a collector based in Indiana in c.2009. The car was shipped to the UK and registered on 1st September of 2010, and has been kept as part of a small private collection of American cars since; having been used sparingly for events. Now offered for sale due to ill-health, the odometer displays some 66,117 unwarranted, but believable miles. Accompanied with the vehicle is the V5C document which displays zero former keepers.

For more information, please contact:
Andreas Hicks
andreas.hicks@handh.co.uk
07943584762