Factory finish of OHV V-16s

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

Early V-16 experts, a question. How were the valve covers of OHV V-16s finished when shipped from the factory? All the restored cars Ive seen have them finished in gloss black paint with silver ribs across the top which is certainly the way they look best. However, Ive seen advertisements that show them that way as well as completely finished in the dull silver. Period pictures of display engines at Cadillacs exhibit at auto shows as well as those on display at Cadillac dealers show them both ways. My guess is that the first engines were all dull silver and later ones (probably still in the 1930 model year run)had the beautiful enamel finish. I dont remember seeing a picture of V-12 heads finished in all silver which, if there werent any, would bolster my hunch that only early 1930 cars had that style head.

[Robt.Vonheck -via SunDiego Calif.]

Hello dear Rusty:  -your insightful aprasial rearding the finishing of the first Cadillac-V16s seems to parallel my own observations, but someone else may have another notion about this;  --also, if these long valve-covers are cast-aluminum it would be great eye-candy to see them highly-polished (however their use of black certainly posed a truly elegant understatement effect)!  Since Cadillac was brave enough at the height of the depression to nevertheless introduce its splindid V-16 motorcar, perhaps they should endeavor to pull-it-off again now (stockholders be damned); --and charge a whooping if shocking $300k/ea., albeit limited to production of only say just 250-editions (yes, thats $75M generated toward the Generals-coffers, which should be a break-even target, and should be 100percent/American-made and strictly faithful to the Showcar in every respect).   Believe this marketing-ploy would add great needed prestigue, plus generate a huge amount of free-advertising publicity, --that would daringly rock their international-competitors back on their heels, while thereby moving Cadillac ahead (--damn the torpedos, full-speed ahead!)!!  Heres a super-website showing of the Cadillacs spectactular 2003 V-16 revelation; --noting that since they employ the retro-black look on the valve-covers, --it would seem to lend even further credance to the original oem-black belief, owing that they were likely styled after the inception 1930-V16...
~Bob vH
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[Ed Dougher]

I couldnt agree with you more completely!

Its a nice dream, and I think it would have enough impact to unequivocally resurrect Cadillacs "Standard of the World" position in the pecking order of the automotive universe - which is where Cadillac should be - different and above everything else on the planet!!!

Unfortunately, I doubt that the reactionary committee management at GM will do it.  Theyre far too entrenched in their torturously slow, myopic march to oblivion to see the value of the statement that car would make in the way their predecessors saw the value of the statement the original V-16 made.

Worse yet, theyll bounce it around their committes for the next 5 years, and the car that sees production will be built with all off-the-shelf parts, like they did with the Fiero.  Since itll be such low production, theyll probably have enough left-over Iron Duke 4 cylinder engines to bolt together to make 16s!

[Robt.Vonheck]

-bravo, well said; -hey, i say  Ed Dougher  should be GMs-Pres. as he has a +#@3$percent#&@ -handle on the situation!! ~Bob vH