Mega Rare 1939 Cadillac V16 Coupe, one of only six built

£75,000

1939 Cadillac Series 90 V16 Coupe "project"

This is one mega rare hand built Cadillac, one of only six Coupes built in 1939, this Coupe was the last vehicle to be built in 1939, Ex Ronnie Barker owned it for many years, the car is half way through its restoration, I have media blasted the chassis and painted it satin black, Interior is in mid Tan hide and although it was fully re-trimmed some years ago, it still in superb condition, the interior will require a new west of England headliner and new beige Wilton carpet, engine has been pulled apart, ultra-seal dipped, a lot of new machining carried out, new engine rebuild kit purchased except for pistons, (waiting on them to be manufactured) Inlet manifolds welded and re-enameled, both water pumps fully rebuilt, all of the Coupes metal work has has all rust removed (of which there was very little) new coach built made panels fitted, the bodywork is now fully rust free and in a Zinc etch primer, all of the interior's woodwork is being restored to show standard, the car is totally complete.

The 431-cubic-inch displacement 1938-40 Cadillac V16 was one of the last new American auto engine designs prior to World War Two. As such, it incorporated some of the latest thinking. Nine main bearings provided a crankshaft main bearing support between each 135 degree opposing pair of cylinders. The square bore and stroke lowered piston speed and promoted crankshaft rigidity, no small matter for an engine with eight cylinders in line per cylinder bank. The side valve engine design was no handicap for the time because the era's typical top engine speed of 3400-3700 rpm provided little opportunity to exploit the high speed breathing efficiency of overhead valves. Luxury car drivers presumably valued smoothness and silence more than high speed power. Hydraulic valve lifters promoted silent running and an absence of periodic adjustment. Unlike most cars of the era, an external oil filter safeguarded the precision valve lifters. Despite the use of side valves, the engine produced as much power as the prior 45 degree V16, and with much less complexity. The earliest engines produced featured an innovative friction wheel drive to the generator. This was soon replaced by a conventional V belt drive. Cadillac claimed that the 1938, 1939, and 1940 Series 90 Sixteen had the best performance of any production car in the world at the time and would accelerate 10-60 in high gear only in 16 seconds. The definitive engineering report on the 135 degree Cadillac V16 engine is "The Evolution of the Cadillac Sixteen engine," by E.W. Seaholm. 

This extremely rare V16 Cadillac has had a lot of money spent already by my Company, I have to many other projects on the go, so, its with great regret that his fab old Cadillac has to be sold, 

I have owned this classic since August 2009 and i love it !

£75,000