Istorie
Cadillac was formed from the remnants of the Henry Ford Company when Henry Ford departed. Henry M. Leland & Faulconer Manufacturing Company persuaded the remaining partners to continue the automobile business using Leland's proven 1-cylinder engine. On August 22, 1903, the company was renamed the Cadillac Automobile Company.
Full description
Cadillac was formed from the remnants of the Henry Ford Company, the second company founded by Henry Ford in November 1901. Shareholders of the defunct Henry Ford Co. recruited Henry M. Leland, a Detroit machinist, to assess the company's assets for a planned sale. Leland persuaded them to stay in business, and he proposed combining Ford's latest chassis and frame with a single-cylinder engine developed by Oldsmobile. On August 22, 1903, the company was renamed the Cadillac Automobile Company.
Cadillac's introduction of V-12 and V-16 powered cars in 1930 kicked off the 'cylinder wars' among the American luxury marques. The V-16 powered 90 Series was Cadillac's top-of-the-line car until production ceased in 1940. The 90 Series had a 7407 cubic-centimeters V16 engine delivering 185 HP. The bodies featured GM's all-steel Turret Top with Vee windshields. The Series 90 models were fitted with Fleetwood coachwork.
The monstrous sixteen-cylinder engine was produced from 1930 through 1940 and was first displayed to the automotive community at the Detroit Opera House prior to the Detroit Auto Show. This was the largest number of cylinders to power an automobile of all time. The hood that housed the engine was intimidating, larger and longer than any other vehicle.
The Cadillac V-16 is today recognized as one of the finest automobiles of the prewar era. The Classic Car Club of America rates all V-16s as CCCA Full Classics, a rating reserved for only the finest automobiles of the 1925–1948 period. Values reflect these opinions; particularly fine examples of the 1930 production can change hands for more than US$500,000.
This unit has the body #1 of the 136 units built in 1939 and is equipped by "Fleetwood". The car still has its original “Motorola” radio. The car was completely restored by the Tiriac Collection`s engineers, between 2016-2017. At the 2017 edition of the Sinaia Concours d’Elegance, this car, won the title for “Best Pre-war Sedan” but also took home the prize for “Best Restoration of a Pre-war Car” and also the main award of “Best of Show”.
This car has covered 27,171 miles (approx. 43,730 km).
