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Photograph credit: Rus Baxley
PROPERTY FROM THE PATRICK S. RYAN COLLECTION
Details
PROPERTY FROM THE PATRICK S. RYAN COLLECTION
1931 CADILLAC MODEL 452-A SPORT PHAETON
COACHWORK BY FLEETWOOD
Engine No. 703249
Dark blue with blue leather interior and beige top
Engine: V16, 456.6ci., 165bhp at 3,400rpm; Gearbox: three-speed manual; Suspension: semi-elliptic leaf springs with hydraulic dampers front and rear; Brakes: four wheel drum. Left hand drive.
As the 1920s drew to a close, General Motors, under Alfred P. Sloan, had only one field left to conquer - the luxury end of the market. The roaring twenties were times of opulence and excess for many, and America's rich and famous were looking toward Packard and Duesenberg to fulfill their needs.
Cadillac's dilemma was how to overcome their rivals. A V8 would not do. Cadillac had pioneered the V8 and it already lived up to the firm's slogan 'Standard of the World' by being the smoothest, most refined V8 in production anywhere. Likewise, Cadillac would not introduce a V12 that would merely flatter Packard by imitation. Therefore, chief engineer, Ernest Seaholm, and a designer, Owen Nacker, were left with little choice but to go for a V16.
A sixteen cylinder engine, for all its perfect balance and smooth power that would propel a car weighing 6,000 pounds swiftly to 100mph, was an extravagant gesture to say the least. The V16 set a standard of refinement unequalled by any manufacturer in the world. Its silence in operation has never been matched and its synchromesh transmission, vacuum-assisted servo brakes and the powerful engine gave it performance that could be equalled only by the noisy, comparatively rough and more expensive Duesenberg.
By 1931 Cadillac had reached the pinnacle of automotive styling. The 1931 model line offered four separate passenger car choices powered by eight, twelve or sixteen cylinder engines. Despite the overall lower automotive sales brought on by the pandemic mood set by the Depression, Cadillac managed to run its competitors into the ground, staking outright claim on the bulk of luxury car sales in America. There were a total of twelve body styles available and they included customer specified designs carried out by the prestigious American coachbuilders, Fleetwood and Fisher. General Motors employed an Art and Color styling department led by one of the most famous automotive designers, Harley J. Earl. An automotive engineer, Earl was hired in 1926 to make the most of DuPont's newly developed synthetic paints, and made such a success of the LaSalle in 1929 that he was put in charge of the newest and grandest Cadillac. Earl worked his magic on the V16 and it was one of the most ravishing classics ever. Even the engine compartment was highly stylized. Owen Nacker's engine had been designed to have almost no visible extraneous components, accordingly all wiring was almost completely hidden from view and its overall appearance was finished in true elegant fashion with a polished aluminum block.
This V16 from the Patrick S. Ryan Collection is understood to be a very genuine car that has its original body (No.71) and frame. This car was built in 1931 but unsold until 1932 when the Columbus, OH, Cadillac dealer Don Cole purchased it and sold it the same year to Joseph Vanmeter of Piketon, OH. He sold the car to Raymond Jones of Birmingham, MI in the early 1950's. In 1969, William A. Johnson of Woodbury, NY purchased the V16. He kept it until 1984 and finally sold the car to Fred Weber of St. Louis, MO. In 1985 Steve Nanini of Tuscon, AZ purchased the car and he commissioned a full restoration by the highly respected specialist Tom Sparks of Hollywood, CA. He undertook a complete, no expense spared, frame-up restoration. When it was stripped down, the original structural wood and body sheet metal were found to be in sound, rust free condition and there was no need to replace any of the original work during the restoration. The engine and running gear were all rebuilt as necessary and, at the same time, high speed touring gears were fitted to the differential.
The Cadillac was repainted in dark blue and trimmed with blue leather upholstery throughout. The beige top is edged with blue leather to complement the coachwork and interior. The dashboard instruments include a Jaeger eight day clock, while the rear compartment has its own speedometer and Jaeger chronometer.
The car was premiered at Pebble Beach after the restoration where it won its class in the famous Concours d'Elegance and subsequently went on to win Best of Show at the Santa Barbara and Newport Beach concours. The following year this V16 took top honors and won Best of Show at Meadowbrook. It has also scored 100 points in both the Automobile Club of America and the Classic Car Club of America national events. Later, Steve Nanini sold the car back to Fred Weber who in turn sold it to Pat Ryan.
Since its restoration, it has been driven only for maintenance purposes and should certainly still be a contender for the top honors at any concours event. In fact, the condition is so good that it could perhaps still win its class at Pebble Beach and is eligible to compete there again since ten years have passed since it was last entered.
The 1930/31 V16 Sport Phaeton is the ultimate Cadillac of the Classic Era, and in many collectors' opinions, it is one of the greatest classic cars of all time. Very few original bodied examples exist and this particular one ranks as one of the very best in the world.
1931 CADILLAC MODEL 452-A SPORT PHAETON
COACHWORK BY FLEETWOOD
Engine No. 703249
Dark blue with blue leather interior and beige top
Engine: V16, 456.6ci., 165bhp at 3,400rpm; Gearbox: three-speed manual; Suspension: semi-elliptic leaf springs with hydraulic dampers front and rear; Brakes: four wheel drum. Left hand drive.
As the 1920s drew to a close, General Motors, under Alfred P. Sloan, had only one field left to conquer - the luxury end of the market. The roaring twenties were times of opulence and excess for many, and America's rich and famous were looking toward Packard and Duesenberg to fulfill their needs.
Cadillac's dilemma was how to overcome their rivals. A V8 would not do. Cadillac had pioneered the V8 and it already lived up to the firm's slogan 'Standard of the World' by being the smoothest, most refined V8 in production anywhere. Likewise, Cadillac would not introduce a V12 that would merely flatter Packard by imitation. Therefore, chief engineer, Ernest Seaholm, and a designer, Owen Nacker, were left with little choice but to go for a V16.
A sixteen cylinder engine, for all its perfect balance and smooth power that would propel a car weighing 6,000 pounds swiftly to 100mph, was an extravagant gesture to say the least. The V16 set a standard of refinement unequalled by any manufacturer in the world. Its silence in operation has never been matched and its synchromesh transmission, vacuum-assisted servo brakes and the powerful engine gave it performance that could be equalled only by the noisy, comparatively rough and more expensive Duesenberg.
By 1931 Cadillac had reached the pinnacle of automotive styling. The 1931 model line offered four separate passenger car choices powered by eight, twelve or sixteen cylinder engines. Despite the overall lower automotive sales brought on by the pandemic mood set by the Depression, Cadillac managed to run its competitors into the ground, staking outright claim on the bulk of luxury car sales in America. There were a total of twelve body styles available and they included customer specified designs carried out by the prestigious American coachbuilders, Fleetwood and Fisher. General Motors employed an Art and Color styling department led by one of the most famous automotive designers, Harley J. Earl. An automotive engineer, Earl was hired in 1926 to make the most of DuPont's newly developed synthetic paints, and made such a success of the LaSalle in 1929 that he was put in charge of the newest and grandest Cadillac. Earl worked his magic on the V16 and it was one of the most ravishing classics ever. Even the engine compartment was highly stylized. Owen Nacker's engine had been designed to have almost no visible extraneous components, accordingly all wiring was almost completely hidden from view and its overall appearance was finished in true elegant fashion with a polished aluminum block.
This V16 from the Patrick S. Ryan Collection is understood to be a very genuine car that has its original body (No.71) and frame. This car was built in 1931 but unsold until 1932 when the Columbus, OH, Cadillac dealer Don Cole purchased it and sold it the same year to Joseph Vanmeter of Piketon, OH. He sold the car to Raymond Jones of Birmingham, MI in the early 1950's. In 1969, William A. Johnson of Woodbury, NY purchased the V16. He kept it until 1984 and finally sold the car to Fred Weber of St. Louis, MO. In 1985 Steve Nanini of Tuscon, AZ purchased the car and he commissioned a full restoration by the highly respected specialist Tom Sparks of Hollywood, CA. He undertook a complete, no expense spared, frame-up restoration. When it was stripped down, the original structural wood and body sheet metal were found to be in sound, rust free condition and there was no need to replace any of the original work during the restoration. The engine and running gear were all rebuilt as necessary and, at the same time, high speed touring gears were fitted to the differential.
The Cadillac was repainted in dark blue and trimmed with blue leather upholstery throughout. The beige top is edged with blue leather to complement the coachwork and interior. The dashboard instruments include a Jaeger eight day clock, while the rear compartment has its own speedometer and Jaeger chronometer.
The car was premiered at Pebble Beach after the restoration where it won its class in the famous Concours d'Elegance and subsequently went on to win Best of Show at the Santa Barbara and Newport Beach concours. The following year this V16 took top honors and won Best of Show at Meadowbrook. It has also scored 100 points in both the Automobile Club of America and the Classic Car Club of America national events. Later, Steve Nanini sold the car back to Fred Weber who in turn sold it to Pat Ryan.
Since its restoration, it has been driven only for maintenance purposes and should certainly still be a contender for the top honors at any concours event. In fact, the condition is so good that it could perhaps still win its class at Pebble Beach and is eligible to compete there again since ten years have passed since it was last entered.
The 1930/31 V16 Sport Phaeton is the ultimate Cadillac of the Classic Era, and in many collectors' opinions, it is one of the greatest classic cars of all time. Very few original bodied examples exist and this particular one ranks as one of the very best in the world.