Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 12
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 All-Weather Phaeton Coachwork by Fleetwood Engine no. 701949
Sold for US$184,800 inc. premium
Lot 12
From the Estate of Andrew W. Edmonds
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 All-Weather Phaeton
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 All-Weather Phaeton
Audrain Concours Auction|29 September 2023, 16:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
1931 Cadillac Series 452A V-16 All-Weather Phaeton
Coachwork by Fleetwood
Engine no. 701949
Coachwork by Fleetwood
Engine no. 701949
452ci OHV V-16 Engine
2 Cadillac Carburetors
165bhp at 3,400rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
*Cadillac's crowning technological achievement, the V-16
*Desirable All-Weather Phaeton coachwork
*Extremely expensive model aimed at society's elite
*In the Edmonds Collection for 41 years
THE CADILLAC V16
Cadillac astonished the world's automotive elite when it introduced a spectacular new ultra-luxury car, powered by an amazing 16-cylinder engine, at the 1930 New York Salon. This new super-sized Cadillac was clearly a General Motors response to the Duesenberg Model J, introduced by E. L. Cord the year before. However, while the snarl of the Duesenberg straight eight flaunted its raw, race-bred power, the Cadillac V16 would set new benchmarks for smooth, silent, and superbly impressive performance.
Cadillac created the V16 to compete with and exceed the standards of the best automobiles in the world. GM dispatched a group of the new cars to Europe, where the Continent's most erudite automotive connoisseurs were invited to compare, first-hand, the beauty and substance of the Cadillac V16 against the upper-crust cars of the time—including Isotta-Fraschini, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes-Benz and, of course, Rolls-Royce. An impressive number of early V16s were exported as a result.
The heart of the Cadillac V-16 was of course its magnificent engine. Displacing 452 cubic inches, it produced up to 185 horsepower. Beautifully detailed and meticulously sculpted, the engine's appearance was just as awe-inspiring as its soon-to-be-legendary smoothness and quietness.
Cadillac offered a number of Fleetwood bodies for the 1930-31 Series 452A V16 chassis. The open style most favored by buyers was the All-Weather Phaeton, Fleetwood Job (style) Number 4380. This close-coupled 4-door convertible sedan combines the sporting lines of an open model with the all-weather practicality of a closed sedan. The top stack, when folded, rests almost level with the door upper edges, providing a sporty top-down appearance similar to a traditional open phaeton. The dual panes of the stately vee-style front windshield tilt outward for ventilation, while the body styling is beautifully complemented by special sweep panel moldings on the hood and cowl that provide a splendid motif featured only on a limited number of Fleetwood V-16 styles. The All-Weather Phaeton carried a monumental price tag of $6,650—that is, $150 more expensive than the dual cowl Sport Phaeton!
THE CAR OFFERED
This fine example of Cadillac's technological tour de force sports the stylish All-Weather Phaeton coachwork by Cadillac's preferred coachbuilder Fleetwood.
In the old school way that collectors gathered cars, Andrew Edmonds saw this car advertised by former owner Jack R. Miller of Fayetteville, Georgia in June 1982. Some perception of the stature of these cars can be measured by the fact that even 41 years ago this was a six-figure car, its asking price being a very sizeable $115,000! Bought as a good older restoration, Mr. Edmonds found the car to be in worse condition than he had expected it to be and much refurbishment ensued over the coming years. With parts supplied by Charles H. Selick of Rumson, New Jersey, and work carried out by David Webber's Classic Coachworks among others, the car was brought up to his exacting standards.
Towards the end of the 1980s, the work was complete, and the Cadillac was toured to a variety of Classic Car Club of America events sufficient to enable it to achieve Senior Award status. It would later be shown at the 1999 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance receiving an Amelia Award.
On file are decades of invoices and correspondence charting its original restoration and then constant maintenance by Harbor Auto Restoration of Pompano Beach, Florida, Mr. Edmonds preferred local car carers. Today, the V16 remains a classic example of its breed in very tidy order. One of the highlights of this collection, and much appreciated by its late owner, this fine Cadillac is deserving of close attention.
2 Cadillac Carburetors
165bhp at 3,400rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
*Cadillac's crowning technological achievement, the V-16
*Desirable All-Weather Phaeton coachwork
*Extremely expensive model aimed at society's elite
*In the Edmonds Collection for 41 years
THE CADILLAC V16
Cadillac astonished the world's automotive elite when it introduced a spectacular new ultra-luxury car, powered by an amazing 16-cylinder engine, at the 1930 New York Salon. This new super-sized Cadillac was clearly a General Motors response to the Duesenberg Model J, introduced by E. L. Cord the year before. However, while the snarl of the Duesenberg straight eight flaunted its raw, race-bred power, the Cadillac V16 would set new benchmarks for smooth, silent, and superbly impressive performance.
Cadillac created the V16 to compete with and exceed the standards of the best automobiles in the world. GM dispatched a group of the new cars to Europe, where the Continent's most erudite automotive connoisseurs were invited to compare, first-hand, the beauty and substance of the Cadillac V16 against the upper-crust cars of the time—including Isotta-Fraschini, Hispano-Suiza, Mercedes-Benz and, of course, Rolls-Royce. An impressive number of early V16s were exported as a result.
The heart of the Cadillac V-16 was of course its magnificent engine. Displacing 452 cubic inches, it produced up to 185 horsepower. Beautifully detailed and meticulously sculpted, the engine's appearance was just as awe-inspiring as its soon-to-be-legendary smoothness and quietness.
Cadillac offered a number of Fleetwood bodies for the 1930-31 Series 452A V16 chassis. The open style most favored by buyers was the All-Weather Phaeton, Fleetwood Job (style) Number 4380. This close-coupled 4-door convertible sedan combines the sporting lines of an open model with the all-weather practicality of a closed sedan. The top stack, when folded, rests almost level with the door upper edges, providing a sporty top-down appearance similar to a traditional open phaeton. The dual panes of the stately vee-style front windshield tilt outward for ventilation, while the body styling is beautifully complemented by special sweep panel moldings on the hood and cowl that provide a splendid motif featured only on a limited number of Fleetwood V-16 styles. The All-Weather Phaeton carried a monumental price tag of $6,650—that is, $150 more expensive than the dual cowl Sport Phaeton!
THE CAR OFFERED
This fine example of Cadillac's technological tour de force sports the stylish All-Weather Phaeton coachwork by Cadillac's preferred coachbuilder Fleetwood.
In the old school way that collectors gathered cars, Andrew Edmonds saw this car advertised by former owner Jack R. Miller of Fayetteville, Georgia in June 1982. Some perception of the stature of these cars can be measured by the fact that even 41 years ago this was a six-figure car, its asking price being a very sizeable $115,000! Bought as a good older restoration, Mr. Edmonds found the car to be in worse condition than he had expected it to be and much refurbishment ensued over the coming years. With parts supplied by Charles H. Selick of Rumson, New Jersey, and work carried out by David Webber's Classic Coachworks among others, the car was brought up to his exacting standards.
Towards the end of the 1980s, the work was complete, and the Cadillac was toured to a variety of Classic Car Club of America events sufficient to enable it to achieve Senior Award status. It would later be shown at the 1999 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance receiving an Amelia Award.
On file are decades of invoices and correspondence charting its original restoration and then constant maintenance by Harbor Auto Restoration of Pompano Beach, Florida, Mr. Edmonds preferred local car carers. Today, the V16 remains a classic example of its breed in very tidy order. One of the highlights of this collection, and much appreciated by its late owner, this fine Cadillac is deserving of close attention.
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