SOLD: 1930 Cadillac V-16 452

Specifications:
Chassis No. 700979; Engine No. 700979; 452 CID Overhead Valve V-16 Engine; 175 BHP at 3,400 RPM; 320 LBS/FT Torque at 1,400 RPM; Matching-Numbers V-16 Chassis with Saoutchik Coachwork.

Unveiled to the public in January 1930 at the New York Auto Salon, the Cadillac V-16 attracted unparalleled publicity and immediately numerous orders were received. Cadillac rapidly responded to demand, shipping over a thousand V-16s by early April. It was so successful that Cadillac continued production virtually unchanged into 1931. Later production was matched to retail orders with a total of 3,878 built during the seven years the V-16 was in production, a remarkable number considering that America was in the depths of the Great Depression.

This fantastic Cadillac V-16 features a truly special body built by Paris' renowned Jacques Saoutchik that features beautiful silver and blue paintwork, classic Berline limousine-style seating, a custom sliding sunroof that opens to the entire passenger compartment, beautiful rear-seat cabinetry with a rear-seat speedometer and running lights. The car also has Grebel headlights that match the cowl spotlights. Originally built for a promotional tour of major European cities in June 1930, it lay abandoned for a few years in a Paris garage. Later it was bought by French automobile dealer Johnny Thuysbaert. Repairs were carried out in 1964 by the Francis Workshops near Paris, at which time it was featured in an article in the August issue of France's 'Auto Journal'. the car was subsequently acquired by Serge Pozzoli, former editor of France's 'Fanatique de l'Automobile', who stored it in a warehouse at Avenue Jean-Jaures in Paris, near another warehouse owned by Hubert Le Gaillais who subsequently bought the car and began showing it at various meets in and around Pris in the late '60s and '70s.

In the '80' the car was returned to the United States where it was completely restored to the highest standards by respected restorer Fran Roxas for Fred Weber in St. Louis, Missouri. During restoration, this fantastic body was removed from the European tour-car chassis and put on chassis 700979, originally ordered by C.F. Kettering, the creator of Delco and a leading GM engineer who went on to devlop the Parade of Progress. Throughout the '90s the beautifully restored car was campaigned by its owner, noted collector Bernie Glieberman, with great success. Major awards included a Class Award at Pebble Beach in 1991 and at Meadowbrook in 1995 where it won Best in Class and the Engineering in Excellence Trophy. The present owner acquired the automobile in January 2001.

Under its current ownership, this outstanding V-16 has won awards at the Pebble Beach Concours with yet another Class Award, Amelia Island where it received the trophy for Most Elegant Closed Car, as well as at Palos Verdes and Newport Beach. In the care of the noted restoration shop of Alan Taylor Company and Mosier Restoration, Inc., significant efforts were made to ensure the car can be used for touring.

Full classic. Body built by Jacques Saoutchik. Originally built for a promotional tour of European cities in June 1930. In the '80's the car was returned to the United States and was completely restored by Fran Roxas and Fred Weber. Has received class awards at Pebble Beach and won Best in Class and the Engineering in Excellence Trophy from Meadowbrook in 1995.