Кадиллак V16: История роскоши и инженерной мысли

the 2003 showcar

The Cadillac V 16 (also known as the Cadillac Sixteen) was Cadillac's top of the line model from its January 1930 launch until 1940. The V16 powered car was a first in the United States, both extremely expensive and exclusive, with every chassis being custom finished to order. Only 4,076 were constructed in its 11 year run, with the majority built in its debut year before the Great Depression took strong hold. The onset of World War II reduced the sales, resulting in its demise. It was, however, at least three times cheaper than Bugatti Royale (only 6 made).

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 other 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. Cadillac rolling stock 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 Vanden 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 Orchha (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 Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that Cadillac announced to the world the availability of the costliest Cadillac yet, the new V 16 Series 452. The new vehicle was first displayed at New York City's automobile show on January 4, 1930. Despite the bad timing and high retail price, and although sales would later drop off considerably, the launch "exceeded Cadillac’s fondest aspirations."

The V 16 "Series 90" and V 12 "Series 80 and 85", were essentially merged for 1938 with the introduction of the new L head V 16. The engine was an in block valve (i. e. flathead) design, and featured a wider 135° V angle, twin carburetors, twin fuel pumps, twin distributors, twin water pumps, and a nine main bearing crankshaft (compared to the OHV V 16's five bearing crank) and produced the same as later versions of the original V 16. This engine was nearly silent at idle and exceptionally smooth in operation. The wheelbase was reduced to , the body remained in overall length. The "Sixteens" (as Cadillac referred to them) were basically series 75 cars with the new V 16 engine although they differed from the firewall forward from the V 8 cars and had several other trim differences. The instrument panels were identical to and changed yearly with the V 8 cars from 1938 to 1940. Only the '38 Sixteens had a horn button which had "Sixteen" in art deco script; the '39 and '40 models, like the V 8, had the Cadillac crest on the button. 315 were sold in the first year, 138 in the next. The production of the 1940 models ended in December 1939. The most expensive model documented was the 1940 Series 90 Town Car by Fleetwood at US$7,175 ($ in dollars ) using a wheelbase.

The Cadillac V 16 is today recognized as one of the finest automobiles of the prewar 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.

In 2003, Cadillac created a concept car called the Sixteen, which used a 13.6 litre V 16 engine that developed Even though it used the current "A&S" (Art & Science) style of design that is Cadillac's stylistic hallmark, it shared many small details from the classic V 16. The Sixteen is also known to have the steering wheel logo carved out of solid crystal and a Bulgari clock.