Unmatched Luxury: The 1930-37 First Generation Cadillac V16 Set the Standard of the World

Learn more about the first generation Cadillac V16, produced from 1930-37.

[@RC-gf8cs]

Bring back front bench seats..i miss them

[@timmcooper294]

This was one of GM's "peak GM" periods, several of which produced some really outstanding innovation and great cars. I was lucky enough to attend Pebble beach back in about 2009 , when the feature marque was the 1930-1940 Cadillac V16, in all it's variations. Incredible !! One restorer drove a bare running chassis around the show field, and the smoothness and beauty of that engine / chassis really struck me as being a cut above RollsRoyce. Modern car geeks can trash GM all they want, but they can't erase the history of that once great institution, and the amazing pool of skill it once represented.

[@UberLummox]

Right. History means nothing to present day "car guys" it seems. Harley Earl was the MAN. The '33 @9:34 is masterful!

[@Johnnycdrums]

Years ago at my country club, I can remember old guys talking about caddying for what they referred to as, "The Duesenberg Crowd". I'm guessing the Cadillac owners got mixed in with the Duesenberg Crowd without much distinction. Didn't know about Marmon, but boy, that thing looks great for 1932. Too bad Duesenberg and Marmon didn't survive.

[@Wileylikethehawk]

My dad just bought a 31 Ford Model A yesterday, and this thing makes it look like a farm tractor ha ha

[@MillerMeteor74]

I've only ever seen one of those V-16 Cadillacs. It was a 1930 with a limousine body. I first saw it at a local event in 1988, and the owner told me he had had it since 1956. He said he never restored it, and only fixed or refurbished things on it as needed. I took a few pictures at the time. I saw it again at the same event, but in 2013. The owner at that time was the nephew of the earlier owner. Again I took a few pictures of it. I always thought that car was amazing, and the engine was simply a work of art. 23 or 25 years ago I was a member of the Cadillac & LaSalle Club, and went to at least one of their annual meets, but never saw a V-16 there.

[@BLACKAAROW]

what a beauty! They also made the V16 concept car like 20 years ago as well

[@oliverdelgado6952]

I was so excited to see that v16 concept when it came out. Too it bad never came into production

[@earllutz2663]

Thank you for the explanation of the V16 Cadillac. At 75 my vision has slipped to the point that I no longer pass the vision test. But even if I could still drive I certainly could not afford one as I watched a 1932 V16 go for $ 600,000 But thank you again. I really like the V16 Cadillac.

[@corgiowner436]

Great episode. Such beautiful cars. The V-16 is a legend!

[@seed_drill7135]

A guy who was in the car club with my uncle had a '34 Phaeton that had belonged to an heiress of the Dupont family. He bought it in 1960 and kept it unrestored, but after it was featured in the AACA magazine, someone made it an offer he couldn't refuse and had it restored to show at the Concours de Elegance. He bought the car in Delaware and had to drive it back to Salem, VA. He said he averaged 4 mpg.

[@bobhill3941]

Amazing story and provenance. I was drawn to this because my maternal grandad worked at DuPont Canada from 1959-17 and made alot of trips down to Delaware to the plant there. I learned about the Cadillac V16 (in a Fleetwood-bodied roadster) from Peter Klutt reviewing it on Legendary Motorcar over over 15 years ago!🇨🇦

[@gt5002x4]

Why would someone even talk about MPG. In these casses! IT DOESNT MATTER!!!

[@bobhill3941]

It may not matter, but it's still Interesting from a review context. Also, current owners (hopefully) still drive and enjoy them.

[@gt5002x4]

@@bobhill3941 NO!

[@gt5002x4]

@@bobhill3941 you can not have both!

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

1930’s luxury cars are absolutely unmatched for pure elegance and beauty. It’s amazing that even industrial trucks had beautiful styling back then. I’ve seen a well tuned Cadillac V16 running at a car show. The smoothness is unreal.

[@danielescobar7618]

I saw one at the New York auto show or maybe it was an auction in West Palm... Anyway it was the size of a short bus. Incredibly huge compared to cars of that era.

[@patricioperez7323]

If you got your hands on one of those cars in the 1930’s, You made it in life and are a special individual

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I just want a V16 engine. I don't know what I would do with it. But I want one anyway

[@xboxburnoutparadise]

The channel is also named Automotive History. You cover many eras of automotive history, both classic and more recent. Haters gunna hate. Don’t listen. I love this channel.

[@zaphodsrealm1549]

The G.M Heritage collection has a red 32 (I think) V-16. It is one of the most beautiful automobiles I've ever seen. Definitely peak Cadillac styling.

[@saxongreen78]

Golden Era...these things are romance encapsulated in moving steel.

[@originalamerican9396]

I wish vehicles still looked like this.

[@amandab.recondwith8006]

Those cars were so massive and so beautiful! They were works of art. The sale scale makes sense. Even in 1930, enough people were still wealthy enough to purchase a $100,000 car. Chances are, they may have ordered one bespoke in 1929 before the Crash. It's not surprising, therefore, that sales plummeted in the following years as the general public was either impoverished or feeding homeless from their back doors (like my mother's family did). It just wasn't kosher to flaunt wealth in public - but there were still plenty of millionaires and "Old Wealth" families who didn't mind quietly living in luxury.

[@christopherkraft1327]

The Cadillac V16's of the thirties are so prestigious & elegant!!! True timeless classics!!! Thanks Adam for sharing this fun video & Happy Thanksgiving to you & your family!!! 👍👍🦃

[@MrJayrock620]

I absolutely love the styling of cars from this era. I’m also a big fan of the 1936 Mercedes 500K roadster and the 1938 Talbot Lago teardrop coupe

[@damianbowyer2018]

Wow, This V16 Cadillac from the 30's is a Stunner, Adam😊🙌

[@jimcabezola3051]

All I can claim is to having built all three Jo-Han plastic models of this car back in the early 1970s. I STILL have those built models in my storage lockup, I think. Lovely models...

[@jamesi8594]

Don’t worry about people saying this or that car you focus on isn’t a “classic.” The fact that you mostly spotlight cars that other channels ignore is precisely what makes your channel unique and interesting. I grew up around most of the cars you review, and when I was a kid I thoroughly ignored them all. But when I see them highlighted on your channel now, I can’t help but watch. Even with mostly anemic engines and pedestrian handling, they never fail to bring a nostalgic smile to my face. Thanks!

[@waynejohnson1304]

My friend's father, a Police Officer, had a 1938 V-16 Cadillac Coupe. Even compared to today's standards of ride, it was extremely smooth. It did have a fair amount of cowl shake over sharp ridges in the road but, otherwise, provided a very comfortable ride. It was the smoothness of the engine though that was remarkable. If you could imagine riding around in an electric car with the sounds of an old car being piped in through the radio speakers, you would then understand just how smooth those engines were. There was ZERO vibration whether at idle or when the car was underway. Another thing, it was said that the V-16 engine was a $3,000.00 option in 1930's money. Back then, one could afford a decent home for that kind of money. Also, I have read that back then, people opted for the V-16 engine with smoothness being their primary reason, ahead of the extra power.

[@peterfaggella3120]

honored to be one of the few to watch this first. Thanks Adam, and greetings from Rhode Island.

[@User72637]

My grandfather worked at the Cadillac plant in Detroit during the 20s and 30s. Cadillac at that time, was absolute luxury.

[@ralphgedney1782]

Adam you need one of these in your collection!

[@Primus54]

The photo of that coupe has some definite vibes to the 1980 bustleback Seville.

[@0_1_2]

Some seriously good looking cars

[@DSP1968]

This was very informative, Adam. Thank you for featuring the V-16.

[@garyruark9506]

1933 Cadillac is my all time favorite classic car.

[@gregdelagrange8573]

Great video Adam! Glad to see some Full Classic content on the channel. A couple of people I know locally to me have both the Cadillac V16 and the Marmon Sixteen.

[@stormythelowcountrykitty7147]

Wow what a car!

[@kc0lif]

i would drive a car like that if i had money.

[@chazdc154]

Bravo Adam! I’ve been enjoying your channel immensely, and I am so pleased to see the classic car era (using that term in CCCA lingo) represented. I’d love to see you do more videos covering cars of this period. Thanks!

[@Channelscruf]

My grandfather knew a guy who bought a Cadillac V 16 used in the 30’s at about a 90% discount.

[@jec1ny]

Great video! A few points for background. The stock market crash of October 1929 did not instantly plunge the country into a depression. For the first half of 1930 stocks actually rallied and a lot of people thought the worst was over. Then the market crashed again during the summer of 1930 and went through a series of cascading crashes, punctuated by brief rallies, until finally hit bottom in July of 1932. Unemployment didn't reach catastrophic levels until 1931. The economy would remain in deep trouble with 20% + unemployment until 1941 when the government instituted the military draft and began shifting the economy towards war production. You are correct in pointing out that the terrible economic condition dampened demand for high end luxury products that were designed to announce you as a man/woman of great wealth. Another strong reason were the brutal tax hikes passed during this period on people in the upper income tiers. In 1929 when Calvin Coolidge left office the top income tax rate was 25% and most Americans paid no tax at all. Herbert Hoover raised the top income tax rate in 1932 to 63% and FDR would later raise taxes even further in 1936 to 79%. These taxes not only discouraged spending by the wealthy but in combination with trade tariffs helped crush whatever economic recovery might have occurred. In the end the US would be the last major country to emerge from the depression, and then only as a result of the world war.

[@paulpage5034]

Another superlative effort Adam! Thanks for reaching back into an equally interesting period. Hope you will later post on Cadillac’s competitors of this era.

[@davebarron5939]

Great cars, gorgeous and amazing. Thanks

[@rogerhinman5427]

Absolutely gorgeous.

[@edwinmassie]

I love your content, and your breadth of knowledge is striking!

[@cgmoog]

I remember seeing an engine for sale at Carlisle loaded in the back of a truck. It allowed good examination of the engine. Iron block on an aluminum crankcase with OHVs. Very advanced for its day. Forgetting that the engine bay was accessed by opening each side of the hood, it took awhile to figure out how the floating oil level indicator was read while in the car. Its too bad they cheapened the second generation by making it an all iron flat head design. I liked Packard designs but had a hard time accepting the flathead engines they used. I guess simplifying the engine made sense as Dusenburg rode the DOHC IL8 into bankruptcy.

[@VictorySpeedway]

Classics are classics, and are designated as such by some governing body or other. Good for them. You highlight cars that we just don't see anymore but are very happy to learn that someone else appreciates them, buys them, maintains them, enjoys them, and shares them with us. If I had to define "classic," I would point to your fantastic collection of luxury / near luxury automobiles. To me, they're all classics. Thanks

[@donaldrucker726]

Thanks!

[@RareClassicCars]

Wow. Thanks!

[@phillipmurrieta1]

Nice job Adam, glad the channel ia still growing.

[@shiftfocus1]

The Depression might have started in 1929, but the economic conditions grew steadily worse for years, and of course nobody knew that in advance. So for Cadillac to proceed with introduction of a model long in gestation is not a surprise, and the sales for the first couple of years weren’t nearly as bad as they would become. More surprising to me is that they would develop a whole new engine after years of sales less than 100 units. On the other hand, Packard was still limping along, and both they and Lincoln offered V12s. I’m guessing that killing off the V16 and keeping the V12 would lose too much prestige. This was a great taste of another era. Looking forward to more!

[@vincentconsolo5782]

Two Buick Straight Eights sharing a common crankcase and crankshaft .

[@kentspreen5607]

Great video featuring capital C Classic cars. I went to 2 events of the Lone Star Region of Classic Car Club back 30 years ago. The roster in that year was unbelievable to an emerging car collector, me. That club is defunct as das as I k is and many of those members are gone.

[@phillippacker5920]

Awesome job as always. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@joeseeking3572]

Nacker did the Marmon V16 too, and it had more power - in a lighter car. Had Marmon been a larger manufacturer, and had it not been introduced during the depression, Cadillac would have had a run for its money. As it was, the vast majority of the first gen 16s were 1930 models, virtually satiating the entire market demand. 32-33 was probably the nadir of the depression, and by this time, there was basically no one left to buy a Marmon.

[@OLDS98]

Just fantastic. Very interesting Adam. Thank you for sharing.

[@halhenryg]

Adam, I enjoyed this very much! Thanks.

[@mainiac4pats]

My dad had a pair of 1940’s era Ford trucks that had the four wheel drive conversions from Marmon-Harrington. This was over 40 years ago, so I apologize if I make any errors. To the best of my knowledge, I thought they were the first 4 wheel drive Ford trucks sold to consumers? They were 2-1/2 ton suspensions I believe. I think they were called “Deuce and a half Marmies” one of the two truck also had an enormous snow blower on the front, which everyone I knew called the maneater. It looked terrifyingly dangerous for anything in its path. I’m sure there are many who know much more about all of these things but I don’t come across Marmon videos often.

[@williamscoggin1509]

Absolutely Beautiful!!! 💛

[@jamesmisener3006]

This car and many others like it are true classics in fact the term classic automobile comes from the rare nearly one of a kind cars such as todays featured vehicle. When the American and Canadian Antique and classic car clubs were formed way back in the fifties these cars were the classics long before the cars we now call classics. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@adriennefoley2906]

You do a great job …..love your utube 👍🏻😘

[@Ed_Stuckey]

What a beauty!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam and Subscribers, Happy Thanksgiving! 😁

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

No need to alter your content in ANY way! Imo your success is mostly due to the niche that you show and educate us on, so no matter what some _think_ they can dictate RCCaAH's subject matter to be (based on its name or whatever else) your videos are great and the topics are perfect, because after all that's the reason the _true_ fan base comes. Be Well 👌 Stay Safe

[@engineerisengihere44]

Happy thanksgiving! I recently got into your channel and love the content! I was also wondering if you ever plan on doing a video about the Ford Taurus SHO?

[@TheBTG88]

The Duesenberg Model J engine was the most powerful in the market until Chrysler launched the Hemi in the 1950s.

[@Rom3_29]

9:17 - These classic luxury cars are same size or bigger then modern day full-size Suburban or Excursion SUVs.

[@AaronSmith-kr5yf]

That's nuts that they sold 9000 or so V12 and V16 cars in 1930-31. I thought they made MAYBE a few hundred each of the V12 and V16 cars, with some years being lower than 100. I'd love to see a video about how you could order a chassis from Cadillac, Packard, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Dusenberg, Panhard, etc and have a custom made body put on it by several different firms that made bespoke custom coach work.

[@secularsunshine9036]

*"Our Hearts bring back the Light."* Wishing you all a Wonderful Winter Solstice. A traditional celebration dating back well over 5000 years ago where the Sun is literally rebirthed in the passageway of an ancient tomb. "The Grand Passage Tomb." A World Heritage site. Witness the rebirth in person. A celebration of life and renewal, peace and camaraderie with food, song, dance, drink and goodwill. Happy Holidays. Let the Sunshine In... *Be Happy* "Solstice Night by S J Tucker" 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special.

[@timothydigiuseppe1753]

Thank you for showcasing this magnificent automobile. The design evolution images are remarkable. For me, a departure from your usual (and always welcome) offerings. Well done, concise and informative. One aspect of your videos to which I always look forward is your descriptive style and the pacing of the narrative. I would like to see more of these in the future. Are you open to suggestions?

[@TheBTG88]

The Marmon V16 engineer moved to Cadillac, hence giving them an edge getting the motor to market.

[@AlexanderWaylon]

1:45 This magnificent car, that beautiful period color and that magnificent very magnificent and massive Tudor Revival building in the background just screams how Detroit was indisputably the KING of the World at that time. This lack of interest in flashing wealth at the time, also speaks volumes about the erosion of the moral code of our society. Interesting video, I had never researched this car.

[@cezar7740]

Sweet video!

[@caribman10]

I'd love to see ANY picture of an owner of one of these using it with the full side curtains up, if that ever happened.

[@clevelandmaker386]

Now you talking son....!!! THAT'S MY FAVORITE OLD CADILLAC.!!!! 31 FLEETWOOD V16!!! THE PEBBLE BEACH CROWD GON GET MAD BUT ..... IF I WIN THE LOTTERY....... IT'LL BE MY DAILY DRIVER!!!!!! THE ONLY THING IS ...THIS CAR IS EQUAL TO A NEW CTS V BLACKWING!!! (by the way......that two tone green and black one was for sale on ebay....and somebody paid 140 for it

[@jeffaulik3980]

By 1933, economic conditions in town (Rockford, IL) were so bad that all GM dealers except for Chevrolet were closed and condensed into one tiny storefront on a side street. There was one garage bay and no showroom. How Cadillac or any other division was able to come out with any new projects like a new V16 during this time is beyond me.

[@dueljet]

Interesting cars with a good presentation Adam. Unfortunately, I find this vintage of car totally unrelatable.

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Cool 🥰

[@Eligijus444]

i wouldn't say it is unmatched luxury, i would say Pierce Arrow, Packard and Isotta Fraschini made more luxurious cars in those years than Cadillac. 4 more cilinders doesn't mean it is more luxurious, but yes this helped Cadillac to get into most luxury class, love your videos

[@user-tr8dn3tn4e]

I'm GM. Hughes satallie.. Buick, Cadillac, and Jonsson motors.

[@LaLaLand.Germany]

What a wonderful, beautiful car. At the time Cadillac WAS The Standart of the World- to me at least. Only the Landyachts of the 60/70´s I like better.

[@ralphl7643]

It's my understanding that the V12 engines were put on the V8 chassis, which was not as long as the V16's for the same body. In the 20s, Cadillac's compact V8 meant their hoods were not as long as Packard and other Straight 8 luxury cars.

[@ironhead2008]

I have to wonder what kind of power that thing could make from just a bump in compression to 8.5 or 9:1, assuming the bottom end and driveline could handle it.

[@genehart261]

The era during which Cadillac actually stood for something better and backed it up with quality.

[@manher4335]

Not exactly sure. But I think even Lincoln came out with their first premium sedan with a V12 around this time. Unfortunately, I've heard those engines where very problematic during that time. So I've heard people that bought these replaced them with Ford "flathead" V8s that were more dependable. What a treat, great episode.

Difficult to fathom the fact that these beasts spanned the entirety of the Great Depression.

[@captkirk6145]

What about the Duesenberg?

[@donk499]

Hmmm, seems like going to a flathead design is a big engineering step backwards... Love that busy distributor cap, seems like arcing and cross firing would have been an issue for these engines...

[@LightningTheLMS3FJinty2020]

I wish I had one also nice video. I got one question/statement. The thumbnail of the car kinda resembles Cruella devilles car. What is the make and model of her automobile? if you don't mind me asking that is.

[@bigblockelectra]

I didn't know these existed until I played the PC game Mafia in about 2001 or so....these V16 cars and the Pierce Arrow Silver Arrow were the coolest cars in that game.

[@LightningTheLMS3FJinty2020]

@@bigblockelectra I wish I could have one. I love those stylish automobiles

[@noscwoh1]

Depends on which movie you're watching! In Cruella and the 101D remake, it's a Panther DeVille. In Once Upon a Time, it's a Zimmer Golden Spirit. In the classic, it's a "Royale Baguette," drawn as a mashup between a 1920 Alvis and Bugatti type 41. And in the novels, it's a mashup between an Austin Sheerline and Bentley Mk IV. You're welcome! 😊

[@LightningTheLMS3FJinty2020]

@@noscwoh1 the classic animation. Kinda wish I had those cars. I be the envy at the car shows in my hometown 😁

[@microy]

A real crassic auto...!

[@Lurch4you]

Thank you mentioning the Marmon Sixteen. I've had the privilege of comparing a Cadillac V16 vs a Marmon Sixteen. Except for ride quality, I found the Marmon to be the superior car.

[@williewright7790]

I have been helping a friend who Dad passed and they have a v16 engine in a barn they're trying to sell but don't know what it's worth any info on this will help out please

[@cardinaloflannagancr8929]

Such a beautiful car and thinking about it the price really is about on par with what you'd pay for now for a companies flagship model. Sadly, very sadly the flagship of Cadillac is now a truck and is not far off price wise to how most that sell are outfitted. Considering the Escalade is a Chevy with a silk hat on unlike this the price is even more normal. Which you'd not confuse this with anything Chevy was doing at the time.

[@07MoPower]

I don’t own one of these. Nobody I know owns one of these. Nor does anybody I know, know anybody that owns one of these. But if they did, I’d be telling that story right now.

[@tombrown1898]

Cadillac "enlisted" Owen Nacker? Larry Fisher, head man at Cadillac, stole him from Marmon, along with all drawings for the Marmon V-16. Howard Marmon had to start from scratch, but he did, and produced a V-16 that out-performed the Cadillac. These cars are true Classics, but I can't see buying a car so rare, so valuable, so huge that it's impractical. I'll still take your 1971 Marquis every time. Great video!

[@jazzfan6]

At 7:57, you say that Cadillac sold more than 9,000 cars with more than 8 cylinders in 1930-31. Then, at 8:17, you say (for comparison, and to play up Cadillac's relative success) that Packard sold only 300 12-cylinder cars in their first year of 1932. However, at 9:27, you state that the 1932 V-16 only sold 300 units (despite a $1,000 price cut!). You really should compare sales figures for like years to make sense and be fair. (Admittedly, you did not include figures for sales of the V-12 Cadillac for 1932, but still . . .)

[@rockets4kids]

$130k is not at all inappropriate for a car like this made today.

[@Johnnycdrums]

Prices are going crazy, especially pickup trucks.

[@rockets4kids]

@@Johnnycdrums Well, even before Covid this would not be at all inappropriate.

[@Johnnycdrums]

@@rockets4kids; I don't in any way, disagree with your intial statment. Not a counter argument, as such, just a different one.

[@rockets4kids]

@@Johnnycdrums Oh sure, I absolutely agree things have gone nuts since then.

[@ahoorakia]

oil price was 1$ per barrel those years, LOL

[@philkey8135]

You continue to play around with "this & that " on 80's & 90's stuff. I asked months ago to review the Oldsmobile 98 Touring Sedan. WHEN? ag

[@RareClassicCars]

It’s coming. I get a fair number of requests

[@patricioperez7323]

Worst times to grow up in but fair to see America still slapped people in the face with cars they couldn’t afford during the Great Depression

[@nk53nxg]

In my opinion some of the most famous Cadillacs from the 50's with too much chrome and glitz cheapened or made Cadillac tacky. The punters loved them though so I suppose that is what matters, in my opinion the damage was done. Luxury cars should have beautiful subtle styling but have noticeable road presence. This 30's V16 is very classy and just oozes luxury, the 58 and 59 Cadillacs were too excessive and over the top in styling that it just appears they were trying too hard rather than actually being luxury. The fins and chrome were the fashion at the time I suppose. Then in the 80's GM cheapened Cadillac even further with the Cimarron. This old 30's V16 was engineered from the outset to be a luxury car. When simple badge engineering is employed to distinguish between run of the mill and luxury then the brand will be damaged regardless of short term profits. The early to mid 50's Caddies were actually nicely styled, it was later in the 50's they got far too excessive.

[@jayweiss4378]

Not a fan of the 30s cars as they all looked the same! I much prefer the 60s and 70s cars which was the peak for unique automotive design

[@johndeere8345rt]

Cars looked just as much the same in 1970 as they did in 1930 or in 2010. Automotive styling is a contemporary artform, 10% innovation and 90% imitation, hence why most vehicles objectively look like products of their time.

[@Colorado_Native]

What a disappointment that Cadillacs now come with four cylinder engines.

[@timbullough3513]

I can't bring myself to care about vehicles that don't exist in the flesh'. More interested in the lousy X car Oldsmobile 😂

[@michaelwhite2823]

Okay NOW you are cooking with gas. Your knowledge and expertise should not be wasted on shrunken 80s FWD cats. Share your knowledge of beautiful designs and past automobile milestones.

[@Henry_Jones]

Packard > Cadillac

[@anthonypopola5773]

After 1940, Cadillac knocked the shit out of Packard and Lincoln