V12 and V16 era?

[TJ Hopland]

Just curious how did Cadillac sales of V12 and V16 cars compare to others that had similar offerings in the same era?  I'm not an all any kind of expert on this era but it seems like Pakard had decent sales and a couple V12's?  If that is one of the comparisons was the pricing and features similar? 

Who had them first in any kind of real numbers? Did Cadillac even sell enough to be considered a lot of sales?  Who had the highest production/sales numbers?   Were they all even considered in the same era or were there some outliers? 

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

As I recall, Cadillac was able to conceal their introduction of the V-16 by referring to any correspondence/whatever as a "bus." Despite it's introduction during the Depression, sales were adequate enough for them to go ahead with the V-12 for 1931, which was done by simply "chopping off" four cylinders.

Art work in such magazines as Fortune were side views in color of various body styles. My absolute favorite is the V-12 in mauve, medium dark blue, and crimson showing the engine and a phaeton below. I framed it and it resides in our bedroom.

I sent several to Agnes Uhlir back in the mimeograph days of the S/S for use as front covers.

Production in the mid-30s was quite low, but evidently enough for GM to allow a completely new V-16 in 1938. Final production was in 1940. It was possible that Packard outsold them, but Cadillac had the rest of GM to help them soldier on for so long.

[Warren Rauch #4286]

  The " Fine Car Market " is what Cadillac referred to as its place in the market .  In a Details of Construction (Cadillac Pub) from 1935, Cadillac claimed a 50% share based on R.K.Polk figures for new Car Registrations Jan-Oct 1934. They claimed 1st in registrations in 45 states and DC(Packard led Minn,SC and New Hamp). Packard was 2nd in most,but Pierce-Arrow and Lincoln were 2nd in some states. In most states Chrysler was in the top 5.
  Looking at the figures closely Cadillac was including LaSalle in its numbers.  Packard also had some expensive but lower priced models. In 1935 they brought out the 120 (Buick price range)and blew the market wide open. IN 1937 came the 110 a 6 cylinder, even cheaper. Lincoln stayed in the upper prices,until the Zepher in 1938. Pierce-Arrow always stayed in the top of the line,even when Studebaker owned them in the early 30s.
  There were other players with only a few  sales in these markets, The Classic Car club has its list. Not all Cadillacs even make it.
  You ask for numbers. The Hendley book The Complete Cadillac is good for Cadillac. Jerry Heasley 's "The Production Figure Book For U.S. Cars"(1977). Has break downs ,when available for all of them. You will need to draw the line on which models to include. For prices  Try Old NADA  books or Old Car Price Guides from about 1990. Between when they went from 5 to 6 prices for each car.


New car registrations      Cadillac     LaSalle         Packard     Lincoln  Pierce-arrow

1930                      12,078         11.262          28,318        4,356           6,795

1931                      11,135        6,883           16,252       3,465               4,522             

1932                        6,269       3,848           11,058          3,179              2,692

1933                       3,903        3,709            9,081            2,112             2,152                 

1934                       4,899        5,182            6,552             2,061             1,740

1935                       6,692        11,775           37,653          2,370                875

1936                       11,766       13,992           68,772       15,567                787

1937                       11,231       28,909           95,455       25,243                 167

1938                       10,639       15,732           49,163       16,991

From 1939 Wards Automotive Yearbook

Warren
 

[bcroe]

I see the Generals later engine as a drastic cost
reduction effort, so they could afford to claim they
had a V16.  The original had about anything you might
want in an expensive engine, the later lost its
overhead  valves and compact bank angle.  More like
trying to use as many straight 8 parts as possible
to make a V16.  Bruce Roe

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Despite reverting to older technology and sacrifice to aesthetics, the 1938-1940 V16 was a superior engine mechanically and quieter.