Cadillac V16

Cadillac V16
Production period:	1930-1940
Class :	Upper class
Body versions :	Touring car , roadster , limousine , Pullman limousine , coupe , convertible , landaulet

V16 engine in the Jysk Automobile Museum , Gjern (Denmark)

The Cadillac V16 from the American automobile manufacturer General Motors under the Cadillac brand was the world's first production car with a sixteen -cylinder engine ( V-engine ) and automatic valve clearance compensation using hydraulic valve lifters . Depending on the model, the price ranged from $ 5,950 to $ 9,200  .

Series 452 (1930-1935)

Series 452
Cadillac V16 Cabriolet (1931)
Production period:	01.1930-09.1935
Engines:	Petrol engines : 7.4 liters (123-138 kW)
Length:	5486-6096 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	3632-3912 mm
Empty weight :	2249-2895 kg

Based on the 353 series model with a V8 engine , Cadillac presented the new car with a sixteen -cylinder engine in the middle of the 1930 model year.

The V16 engine with a 45 ° cylinder bank angle had a displacement of 7407 cm³ (452 ​​cu.in.) and developed 175-185 hp (130.5-138 kW) at 3400 rpm. Due to its heavy weight, it had five engine mounts. The crankshaft had five bearings . The valve control with hydraulic valve lifters made it unnecessary to adjust the valve clearance of the 32 valves.

The car was offered with more than 50 different bodies by Fisher , Fleetwood and other coachbuilders.

In October 1935, the 452 was replaced by the Cadillac Series 90. By then, a total of around 3700 pieces had been created from five generations (452, 452 A – D).

Technical specifications

Data Cadillac Series 452 (1930-1935)
Model year	Displacement (cm³)	Power (kW / hp)	Wheelbase (cm)	Length (cm)	Empty weight kg)	Price (US $)	number of pieces
1930/31	7407	130.5-138 / 175-185	375.9	565.2	2412-2727	5800-9700	3,251
1932	7407	123/165	363.2-378.5	548.6-563.9	2294-2689	4495-5945	300 (with 1933)
1933	7407	123/165	363.2-378.5	548.6-563.9	2677-2854	6250-8000	300 (with 1932)
1934	7407	126/169	391.2	609.6	2646-2895	6650-8950	150 (with 1935)
1935	7407	138/185	391.2	609.6	2627-2895	6750-9050	150 (with 1934)

Series 90 (1935-1940)

Series 90
Cadillac V16 Landaulet (1940)
Production period:	10.1935-08.1940
Engines:	Petrol engines : 7.1–7.4 liters (138 kW)
Length:	5096-6045 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	3581-3912 mm
Empty weight :	2226-2895 kg

At the beginning of the 1936 model year, Cadillac introduced the new V16 cylinder. The Series 36-90 name was new, but the car was basically the same as the previous model. The engine with a 45 ° cylinder angle, a displacement of 7407 cm³ (452 ​​cu.in.) and an output of 185 hp (138 kW) at 3800 rpm was also adopted.

The car was offered by Fleetwood with 12 different bodies and was only made to order.

A fundamental overhaul was due at the beginning of the 1938 model year. The cars became significantly smaller (wheelbase 3581 mm instead of 3912 mm) and thus corresponded to the 75 series . The top-controlled V16 engine was replaced by a side-controlled model with a shorter stroke (square design with bore = stroke = 82.55 mm) with a 135 ° cylinder angle. The engine had a displacement of 7063 cm³ and also made 185 hp at 3600 rpm. The compression increased from 6.0 to 7.1.

In the summer of 1940, the 90 series was discontinued without replacement. By then, out of five generations (36-90, 37-90, 38-90, 39-90 and 40-90) a total of 616 had been created.

Technical specifications

Data Cadillac Series 90 (1936-1940)
Model year	Displacement (cm³)	Power (kW / hp)	Wheelbase (cm)	Length (cm)	Empty weight kg)	Price (US $)	number of pieces
1936	7407	138/185	391.2	604.5	2757-2895	7250-8850	52
1937	7407	138/185	391.2	604.5	2757-2813	7350-7950	50
1938	7063	138/185	358.1	509.6	2226-2453	5135-7170	315
1939	7063	138/185	358.1	563.9	2226-2453	5240-7295	138
1940	7063	138/185	358.1	573.2	2226-2453	5140-7175	61

source

• Beverly R. Kimes, Henry A. Clark: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 , Krause Publications, Iola (WI) 1985, ISBN 0-87341-045-9 , pp. 205-224

Web links

Commons : Cadillac V16  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Cadillac Type 452 V 16 - American running culture event on www.autostadt.de (pdf; 0.4 MB)