Cadillac stunned the automotive world at the Detroit Auto Show in 1937 when it announced it would be introducing a new V-16 engine for the 1938 model year! Fiscally, it did not make a ton of sense for Cadillac as the past versions weren’t huge sellers, but it did have a lot to do with Cadillac wanting to position itself to potential buyers as being an advanced luxury brand. The new V-16 engine design was a rather monumental piece of automotive history all by itself anyway. The redesigned cylinder bank angle grew from 45 degrees to 135 degrees making them nearly horizontal. The bore & stroke were equally matched, and each bank of cylinders received its own Delco distributer versus previously having only one. The air/fuel mixture now delivered through twin Carter downdraft carburetors and newly designed intake manifolds. The engine size overall resulted in measuring 431ci, as well as being 6” shorter, 13” lower, and a whopping 250 pounds lighter due to fewer parts to operate it! Even with all this ingenuity and smaller displacement, it had no reduction in power output, still rated at 185 horsepower that was now smoother & quieter! Unfortunately, the post-Depression era was hard for many American luxury automakers. Peerless closed its doors in 1931, Marmon in 1933, Franklin in 1934, Stutz in 1935, with even the mighty Duesenberg by 1937. Difficulty selling high end luxury cars in the 1930’s was obvious, and the onset of yet another recession in 1938 didn’t help. Even Cadillac suffered the lowest production totals since 1929 this year, making the 1938 Cadillac and their new Series 90 Fleetwood Sixteen a rare car to find these days, and highly sought after amongst Cadillac enthusiasts and collectors!
Price: Auction
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Location: Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
