1930’s Cadillac and the Multi-Cylinder era

1930’s Cadillac and the Multi-Cylinder era

The severity of the nation’s economic calamity had not been realized when Cadillac unveiled its V-16 in January 1930. Cadillac’s 452 cid engine was recognized by the public and by the motoring press to be a great achievement in the automotive industry.

The SAE Journal for August 1930 contained a detailed evaluation of the V-16 engine which included performance figures of a V-16 carrying a 5 passenger sedan body and running a 4.39 rear axle. Even with such a heavy coachwork, the V-16 was capable of an 87 mph top speed. it became common knowledge that the V-16 in a lighter body would be capable of over 100 mph. This beast engine of the age averaged 8.5 mpg. Rolls Royce outperformed this engine with acceleration, but as far as top speed the Cadillac prevailed.

The V-16 lasted a decade, but become the victim of progress. It’s L-head design created a limited ability to co-exist with high compression ratios and a year before the V-16 was scrapped, in 1949, Cadillac’s overhead valve V-8 was introduced. Cadillac also tinkered with a V-12 in the 30’s but it also gave way to the V-8 revolution.

For the true classic car enthusiast, the V-16 and these early Cadillacs still remain in a class of their own and one positive that evolved out of the era was that these monster engines started the great cylinder race of the Depression years.

In 1933, there were 32 candles on the cake that celebrated Cadillac’s birthday and they were planning to roll out new cars to Detroit dealers. Although the Great Depression was in full force, Cadillac continued with the LaSalle and 3 different wheel bases available from Cadillac. They were feeling the effects of this financial mess and Cadillac adjusted by limiting production, but maintaining the exclusive and luxury marketing concept. Lawrence P. Fisher, the company’s president said “this years production on the V-16 again will be limited to 400 cars.” Once 400 cars had been delivered, order and production stopped.

During these trying times, Ford, Chevrolet and Plymouth were the biggest sellers, while Cadillac, Packard, Lincoln and Pierce Arrow had their very existence threatened. In 1934, Packard was ready to shut down, but the 120 Model kept them afloat until the strain was over.

The 1938 Sixty Special was revolutionary for Cadillac. Many have said that the Sixty Special turned General Motors into the King of luxury. Many car makers that were ahead of their time were already dead or dying, such as Stutz, Marmon, Mercer, Wills St. Clair and Cord. The timing was exceptional for Cadillac as the Depression was dissolving and the New Deal was creating an egalitarian attitude in America. The ingredients was perfect for a new luxury revolution and the Sixty Special took the spotlight. Packard and Lincoln still put lot’s of stock in their cheaper cars, which gave way for Cadillac to position themselves as the luxury car of future decades. Later Lincoln would adjust, but Packard became what is now called an orphan car.

Overall, we car enthusiasts love to relish in the past, whether it be in designs, engines or a particular coach style, but we must not forget the happenings throughout the decades, such as the Depression, WWII, the muscle car era and many others that have shaped the evolution of automobiles. We have truly live in a great age watching the evolution of motorized transportation take shape as the current and new generations watch vehicles evolve into similar designs. Many years ago, when traveling as a kid, my dad would look into the distance on the road as say ” there comes a Cadillac. Or, there’s a Lincoln, etc…” But now, from a distance you can’t make a Chevrolet from a Ford or a Subaru.

Photo Credit: All photos herein are the property of Cadillac and were published by MyclassicNEWS with their permission and consent. All content herein, other than property published by permission, is the property of myclassicnews.com and any reproduction, other than normal social media sharing, is strictly prohibited. Copyright ©, myclassicnews.com. For reprint permission contact us at rick@tessarect.com