When 12 Cylinders Were Not Enough, The Cadillac V16 Was Born
CADILLAC V16 CONVERTIBLE
Words by Roberto Marrone
The Cadillac V16 was necessary for General Motors to restore its supremacy in the luxury cars segment, since the competitors at Packard had managed to question in 1925. The task to regain absolute prestige was to present an exaggerated car under every point of view. The new Cadillac should have all the necessary features, starting with a majestic appearance, comfort, luxury and with good performance too. So they began studying what kind of engine use for accomplish their target. The eight-cylinder would have been difficult to exasperate further, while the development of a 12-cylinder would have led to the creation of a product too similar to the competition. The choice, although not usual, fell on a 16-cylinder, a very ambitious job for which technician Owen Nacker has been hired, while the whole project was directed in great secrecy by engineer Ernest Seaholm.
In fact, the secrecy was kept safe, so much so that working in the commercial department where buses and similar came out, even the press had a huge surprise when in January 1930 the Cadillac V16 was presented at the National Automobile Exhibition. The new flagship car did not disappoint the expectations and only in the first four months a thousand units were delivered – in July two thousand, a really remarkable number considering the high price range, even if the well-known story of the Wall Street collapse was a tough blow. But back to the V16, beautiful, silent like no other, rich in finesse such as the arm that connects the steering to the headlights allowing a better illumination during cornering, the complete instrumentation is also available for the rear seats, the large wheels made even more elegant for the adoption of the wide white stripes, the spare wheels mounted on the footboards completely faired, or the generous and charming chrome profiles. Not only beautiful, it was free from vibrations, thanks to the adoption of overhead valves controlled by rods with the adoption of hydraulic pistons that recovered any play. Not even Rolls-Royce could boast a similar silence and in fact adopted the same solution a few years later on the Phantom III. But it must also be said that the American company was inspired by the English brand who was famous for the known qualities of its suspension, allowing exceptional fluidity while cruising, hiring Maurice Olley who had worked at Rolls-Royce.
He worked making changes to the inertia and geometry of the front axle, improving the set-up even with the introduction of independent wheels at front that made the big Cadillac to have a more precise drivability. These improvements were applied starting from 1931 onwards and also the braking system was constantly improved with the adoption of special drums with a particular system of jaws that proportionally dilated according to the heating and thus balancing the braking effect, in addition to the use of a vacuum brake booster. Sales, especially due to the crisis, decrease and in fact in 1931 only 750 units were delivered, while in 1933 although Cadillac had announced a production of 400 cars, it seems to have realized only a third of it, until 1937 when sales remained stuck between 50 pieces per year. In addition to the classic sedan, 2 or 4 doors, the V16 was also available as a limousine, landaulet and cabriolet (there were 15 versions available in total), in some cases it was also prepared in particular versions requested by bizarre customers, as usual in those years. In 1937 it came out of production, leaving space for a lighter model and built with half the material needed for a V16. Engines also passed the torch to the more sensible 8-cylinder. It was the end of an era, times have changed, but thirty years later those who had the opportunity to drive one, praised the incredible dynamic skills of this majestic piece of metal.
CADILLAC V16 CONVERTIBLE (1930-1937)
Layout
Front-engined, rear wheel drive
Engine
V16 cylinder – 7.412 cc
Transmission
3-speed synchromesh gearbox
Power
165 hp
Weight
2.812 kg
Wheelbase
3.759 mm
Top Speed
135-160 Kph