[ last update:  11.12.2014 ]

The (new) Cadillac Database^©

The Cadillac V16

Series 452B
1932

Part 2
First Generation
Production Records

Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or to the "V-16" index page

 

(le résumé en français se trouve en bas de page)

 

Front clip, 1932 [ grille badge says "V16" ] V-16 type 452-B on display during a Motor Show

 

Two detailed views of the superb vee-sixteen cars of   1932 [ These detail photos: courtesy "Jim", a great Cadillac enthusiast ]

 

Two different views of luxurious 1932 town car styles; both of these appeared in colorful ads of the time

In 1932, production of the V16 dropped dramatically in comparison with the banner years of 1930-31.  In the second year of production, the number of super-cars built - and named the Series 452-B models - was less than 10% of those built in the first two years, i.e. the Series 452-452A cars. 

The effects of the depression were starting to be felt, even in the stratosphere of the very rich ...or they just did not want the multitude of needy Americans to know that they, the rich, still had wealth sometimes unlimited. The superb product portfolio spoke thus of the 1932 models:

The glass of fashion and the mould of form,
The observ'd of all observers

Whereas Fleetwood had dressed around 98% of the sixteen-cylinder chassis built in 1930-31, in an effort to reduce production costs Fisher was assigned the task of creating the bodywork for almost one quarter of the 1932 V-16 production.  In my opinion, the Fisher-bodied V-16s of 1932 are no less breathtaking to look at than their Fleetwood counterparts.  They are equally valuable too.

In my opinion, the sixteens of 1932, whether with Fisher or Fleetwood coachwork, are the most beautiful and desirable of the entire V-16 line.  They number only 300, so if you want one, you had better hurry up.  Buy yours now!

If any user(s) have one (or more) of the cars listed here and would like me to show a photo of it in the V-16 section of The (New) Cadillac Database©, please drop me an e-Mail: 

 

The numbers of each body style are listed below, by wheel base and coach builder, in ascending order of rarity, i.e. the most prolific styles being shown first.

Special thanks to Z. Taylor Vinson of Washington, DC, for allowing me to copy, for your enjoyment, his breathtaking 1932 V16 product folder.  Most of the artist's renderings in color, below are from the ten folders included in that prestige portfolio of Fleetwood creations for 1932.  The latter portfolio is, in the opinion of many collectors, including me, one of the most beautiful pieces of automobile literature on which a car lover could ever wish to feast his eyes.  Each folder measures an astounding 11½ x 15 inches; all are adorned in the art deco style.   These folders come in a large presentation box measuring 12 x 16 inches marked Fleetwood Custom Coachwork; the box, and each folder inside, carries on the cover a circular medallion done in blue tones showing the various models in company with their obviously wealthy owners; each medallion is surrounded by the Fleetwood wreath.  An 8-page introductory brochure provides the general specifications and some of the common features of that year's sixteens.

 

Should you wish to acquire this Fleetwood marketing set today, you must be prepared to pay upwards of $1000 for it. The individual folders may occasionally be found separately; currently [1999] they command about $100 each.

 

Production numbers
of the 1932 Cadillac V-16
[in ascending order of rarity]

Style Number1	Body Type	Units Built	Notes
Standard Fleetwood bodies [149" wheel base V-16 chassis]
32-16-213 [5175]	5-pass limousine [$5445]	49	Bodies #1-36 and #38-502
32-16-212 [5175-S]	7-pass. sedan [$5245]	47	Bodies #1-30 and #32-482
32-16-209 [5130-S]	5-pass. sedan [$5095]	29	Bodies #1-29
32-16-222 [5181]	5-pass town coupe [$5095]	24	Bodies #1-22, 51 and 522
32-16-226 [5191]	7-pass. limousine brougham [$5945]	7	Bodies #1-5, 8 and 92
32-16-225 [5112]	5-pass town car [$5795]	4	Bodies #1-4
32-16-227 [5125]	7-pass. town car [$5945]	2	Bodies #1 and 32
	Sub-Total	162

Style Number	Body Type	Units Built	Notes
Standard Fisher bodies [143" wheel base V-16 chassis]
32-16-159	5-pass standard sedan [$4595]	56	Bodies #1-602
32-16-178	2-pass. coupe [$4495]	16	Bodies #1-15 and 352
32-16-168	2-pass. convertible coupe [$4645]	14	Bodies #1 and 3-152
32-16-155	2-pass roadster [$4595]	3	Bodies #1-3
	Sub-Total	89

Style Number	Body Type	Units Built	Notes
Special Fleetwood bodies [149" wheel base V-16 chassis]
5131	5-pass. limousine ("Madame X") [$5945]	5	Bodies #1-5
5155	5-pass. limousine ("Madame X") [circa $6100]	4	Bodies #1-4
5130-FL	5-pass. limousine [circa $5300]	2	Bodies #2 and 72
5131-S	5-pass sedan ("Madame X") [circa $5800]	2	Bodies #1 and 2
5125-C	7-pass. town landaulet [circa $6500]	1	Body #1
5125-Q	7-pass. town car with quarter windows [circa $6200]	1	Body #1
5129	5-pass. limousine [circa $5400]	1	Body #1
5140-B	5-pass. limousine with cloth top [circa $6200]	1	Body #1
5155-C	5-pass. landaulet ("Madame X") [circa $6600]	1	Body #1
5156-C	5-pass. landaulet [circa $6700]	1	Body #1
5165	7-pass. limousine ("Madame X") [circa $6800]	1	Body #22
5175-FL	7-pass. limousine [circa $5700]	1	Body #42
5175-H4	7-pass. limousine with 4" extra head room [circa $5900]	1	Body #37 in another series2
5185	5-pass. convertible Victoria [circa $6500]	1	Body #82
	Sub-Total	23

Style Number	Body Type	Units Built	Notes
Standard Fisher bodies [149" wheel base V-16 chassis]
32-16-273	5-pass all-weather phaeton [$5195]	13	Included in range #1-162
32-16-280	5-pass. special phaeton [$4795]	3	Bodies #1, 3 and 42
32-16-279	5-pass. dual-cowl sport phaeton [$4945]	2	Bodies #1 and 2
32-16-256	5-pass standard phaeton [$4695]	1	Body #1
	Sub-Total	19

Style Number	Body Type	Units Built	Notes
Special Fisher bodies [149" wheel base V-16 chassis]
32-16-252	5-pass town sedan [circa $4700]	2	Bodies #1 and 2
32-16-259	5-pass. factory demo sedan [circa $4500]	1	Body #31 in another series2
32-16-262	7-pass. sedan (factory test car) [circa $4700]	1	Body #57 in another series2
32-16-272	5-pass coupe [circa $4600]	1	Body #1
	Sub-Total	5

Style Number	Body Type	Units Built	Notes
Special Fleetwood body [165" wheel base V-16 chassis]
5177	8-pass. limousine [circa $6000]	1	Body #1
	Sub-Total	1

Style Number	Body Type	Units Built	Notes
Remainder of 1933 V-16 Production
--	Blank data sheet in factory records3 (possibly a test engine, or a chassis transferred to the 1933 production)	1	1933 VIN 5000051 apparently was a carry-over from the 1932 production run; it got a 1933 7-pass limousine body
	Sub-Total	1

¹   Fisher styling codes consist of 1 to 4 digits;  however, in the thirties, it was customary for Fisher to include also the
     year [in this case "32"] and, sometimes also, the number of cylinders [i.e. "16"].  Therefore, a typical body tag on the 1932
     will show the style or job number  as "32-16-159".  In the section devoted to the Fisher body coding system I have chosen to show only the final 3-4 digits
²   Where a sequence of body numbers is broken; the missing bodies may have been mounted on V8 or V12 chassis
³  The Cadillac Master Parts List shows at least one job #32-16-263 to have been built on the V-16 chassis; that model is not
      shown in the preceding table; it is described as an imperial sedan [limousine] for 7 passengers, with metal back, quarter
      windows, auxilary seats and a central division glass.

 

Picture Book
of the 1932 Cadillac V-16
Production
[in ascending order of rarity]

 

Unique V16 Styles
on the 1932 Series 452-B chassis

Details

Left:  1932 V16 engine;  right: 1932 V16 instrument panel

Custom Creations
on the V16 chassis for 1932

The photo, above (with an enlargement, right) - courtesy of the Ford Motor Company - is from the magazine American Heritage for November 1996; it is said to show the Emperor of Manchuria leaving his Imperial Palace aboard a Ford automobile; don't you think that car looks strangely like the 1:18 scale toy below? Could this be a Ford with a Cadillac V-16 engine, or is it a Cadillac V-16 on which the body of the Emperor's Ford has been mounted?          Described as The State Limousine of Puyi the last emperor of China, this model by Sunstar features a miniature Cadillac V-16 engine.  Nothing else about the car resembles a Cadillac other than the general limousine body shape. The skirted front and rear fenders are more reminiscent of a 1933 model than one from 1932. The front grille looks like it came off a Ford and the front bumpers off a Duesenberg.   I certainly  would like  to hear from anyone who has seen or heard of the original car from which this 1:18 scale model is derived.  We must assume that the toy manufacturer had access to either the car itself or to some authentic documentation and photos of it. Another source asserts that the car was ordered from GM, in 1932, by the Maunchurian Government; the car was used for the ceremonies during which Pu Yi became puppet emperor of Manchuria. The hood mascot is the "Dragon Seal" of the emperor

 

Kellner & Gygax of   Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, are said to have built this sporty-elegant convertible Victoria on the V16 chassis for 1932; however,  as no bare chassis were shipped abroad in 1932, it is more likely it was built in 1932 on the 1930-31 V16 chassis -perhaps on one of the six European tour cars?).   The artist's view, above, was supplied kindly by Harry Wohlgroth, a Swiss friend.  Harry found the illustration in the annual Swiss Automobil Revue for 1932.  Any complementary information or photos of this Swiss creation would be greatly appreciated

 

One V-16 engine (left) from the 1932-33   production run was used to power this streamlined Clark "AutoTram" shown at Chicago's "Century of Progress" fair, circa 1933-34

 

Master Parts List Irregularity?

The MPL shows at least one job #32-16-263 to have been built on the V-16 chassis [not shown in the preceding table].  It is described as an imperial sedan [limousine] for 7 passengers, with metal back, quarter windows, auxiliary seats and central division glass.

The following accessory groups were available in 1932:

#7 was for 5-wheel jobs (spare wheel mounted in the rear):  it included a hood ornament, a tire cover, bar (?), hinge-mounted rear-view mirror, license plate frames, tire chains and a handy repair kit. It cost $72.50.

#8 was for 6-wheel jobs (two spare wheels in special fender wells): it included black painted fenders, a hood ornament, two metal spare wheel covers, rear-view mirrors mounted on these covers, license plate frames, tire chains and a handy repair kit.   It cost $110.00.

#8A was for 6-wheel jobs (two spare wheels in special fender wells): it included fenders painted any color but black, a hood ornament, two metal spare wheel covers painted to match the fenders, rear-view mirrors mounted on these covers, license plate frames, tire chains and a handy repair kit.  It cost $115.00 [i.e. there was a $5 charge to paint the fenders and spare wheel covers!]

 

Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or to the "V-16" index page

© 1996, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.
[ Background image: the powerful frontal image of the 1932 Cadillacs; only the grille badge gave a clue to the number of cylinders under the hood ]