| The Astor Collection Friday, June 27, 2008 - Sunday, June 29, 2008 |
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| 1938 Cadillac V16 Convertible Coupe | |||||||||
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185hp, 431 cu. in. 135-degree V16 engine, three-speed selective synchromesh manual transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs, semi-floating rear axle, and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Wheelbase: 141" For years, automotive writers have struggled to find suitable superlatives with which to describe Cadillac’s majestic sixteen-cylinder motor cars – and for good reason. At a time when the competition offered eight-cylinders, and a few were considering twelve, Cadillac offered its sixteen-cylinder masterpiece. Aside from simply looking to outdo the competition, the idea, of course, was twofold – smoothness and torque. Engineers have long known that the more power pulses in a revolution, the smoother an engine can be. And in the days before automatic transmissions, the best way to provide silky acceleration was to maximize torque. The best cars allowed the driver to select high gear at minimal speed, and then proceed without the inconvenience of gear changes. And thus, the idea for a sixteen-cylinder engine was born. As Cadillac’s (and GM’s) flagship, it was offered with only the best coachwork – mostly custom crafted by Fleetwood. As the company’s in-house coachbuilder, Fleetwood allowed Cadillac complete control over the quality and engineering of its bodies – not to mention keeping the profits internal. The first series of V16s, built from 1930 through 1937, was a tremendous success as the standard bearer for the world’s largest carmaker. They were whisper quiet, supremely powerful, and utterly unmatched by the competition. Their only downfall was profitability; it is widely believed that GM lost money on every one built. This is not hard to imagine, given that the market dropped from thousands of units annually in the beginning, to less than fifty cars per year for the last four years. The Great Depression was well underway, and even the well-heeled felt the need to curtail their spending on such ostentatious automobiles. The solution came in 1938, with the introduction of the second series V16. Far more conventional, it dispensed with the original engine’s complicated and trouble-prone hydraulically-compensated valve lash adjustment system in favor of a much simpler side valve configuration, packaged in an unusual 135-degree bank angle – nearly horizontally opposed. It offered comparable horsepower and torque, in a package that weighed 250 pounds less and must have been far less expensive to build. Styling was both imposing and appealing. GM Chief of Design, Bill Mitchell, crafted a new front ensemble that combined a handsome vertical egg crate grille with a pair of streamlined headlight pods, which were both set back into the fenders, and painted to match. Very stylish triple “vents” accented modern style pontoon fenders with unique one-piece lift up sidemount covers. One of the industry’s first alligator style hoods gave unprecedented access to the engine, which was a good thing as it was set both low and rearwards in the chassis, making it a long reach down from either side. Coachwork costs were also reduced as the wheelbase for all models was standardized at 141 inches. Furthermore, all the Fleetwood V16 bodies were also available on the much less expensive V8 chassis, a move that increased sales volumes and lowered unit costs. By the late 1930s, only Cadillac, Packard, and Lincoln continued to offer a traditional multi-cylinder, top of the line luxury car. All the other great American marques, including Duesenberg, Pierce-Arrow, Franklin, Auburn, Marmon, Stutz, and DuPont were gone. Ultimately, the new generation of sixteens befell the same fate as the first – bad timing. While 1936 and 1937 had been strong years for new car sales, 1938 ushered in another major recession. Once again, promising early sales petered out, and just 60 cars were sold in 1940, after which the mighty V16 was allowed to slip quietly away. With just 514 examples built in twelve body styles over three years, these second series V16s are one of the most rare production models of the classic era. In fact, Cadillac built 315 V16s in 1938, of which merely 10 were Convertible Coupes. An iconic movie star, Hollywood celebrity, and leading man Gary Cooper is purported to have been the first owner of this particular V16 Convertible Coupe, supposedly purchasing it at Hillcrest Motors in Beverly Hills. While there is presently no known conclusive documentation to support this, chassis 5270095 is well known to both enthusiasts and marque experts and has been consistently acknowledged as Gary Cooper’s car since the 1940s. In fact, it has also been regarded as such in Roy Schneider’s definitive book on the V16 Cadillac. Of course, given Cooper’s wealth, larger-than-life box office stature, and personal interests, there were perhaps few men in Hollywood at the time better matched with such a grand automobile. Appearing in such renowned films as Meet John Doe, Sergeant York, Ball of Fire, Pride of the Yankees, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and High Noon, Gary Cooper amassed largely unparalleled star power and wealth, becoming America’s highest paid entertainer in the late 1930s. With eclectic tastes ranging from skiing to horseback riding, Cooper also enjoyed luxurious and sporting automobiles, including one of just two short-wheelbase Duesenberg SSJs, the other of which was given to Clark Gable. After remaining under the same ownership since the 1950s and reportedly having spent its entire life in southern California, this Cadillac V16 eventually entered the esteemed collection of Larry Harvey. A show-quality, no-expense-spared restoration was conducted approximately four years ago by noted expert Bob Mosier and at great expense to its owner. Spectacular and show quality in every respect, the car went on to win second in its class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Following its appearance at Pebble Beach, the astounding Cadillac was acquired by the Astor Collection, where it has remained ever since. Finished in a very handsome maroon, the stately exterior presents beautifully and is simply spectacular in every respect. As is typical of a Mosier restoration, every element from the undercarriage to the engine bay was given the utmost, period correct attention to detail. The interior is beautifully upholstered and features two large jump seats in back, indicative of the Convertible Coupe body style. Showing less than 2,300 miles on its odometer, the car’s overall condition is commensurate with its relatively recent Pebble Beach-quality restoration and the limited, periodic exercise it has received as part of the respected Astor Collection. Collectors interested in American classics long ago identified Cadillac’s V16 as a pivotal car, and one every serious collector aspires to own. The second series V16 offers an unparalleled driving experience, combining smoothness and sophistication with rarity and appeal. Of these, few would argue that the Convertible Coupe is the sportiest and most desirable of all, enhanced in this case by celebrity provenance and a show-quality restoration. |
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