[ last update: 02.11.2009 ]

The (new) Cadillac Database©

The Cadillac V16

Series 452-452A
1930-1931

Part 3 (e)
The rare bodies by Fisher and the custom creations by
Fleetwood and other coach builders at home and abroad


Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
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FRFLAG.JPG (773 bytes)
(en bas de page se trouve un résumé en français)

 

In this section I will describe rare, custom bodies built on the V 16 chassis both by Fisher and Fleetwood, Cadillac's own, in-house coach-builders, as also by independent coach-builders both in the USA and abroad.

Many of these cars have job numbers with the prefix or suffix "X", "LX" or "LS" which identifies then as custom jobs by either Fisher or Fleetwood (apparently both coach builders used the same numbering system for custom jobs). The lowest custom job number I have seen thus far is 2651X,  identified by Carl Steig from factory records as a special V16 sedan for five passengers, built along the lines of regular Fisher job #159. 

For a time, I was convinced that the initial digits of these "LX" jobs were an indication of the year the special order was recorded; however, taking into account the additional research done by both Carl Steig and Carl Stoutenberg, it seems I may be completely off track.  Their research suggests that Fisher and Fleetwood may have built already 2600 custom jobs on the V 8 chassis (and possibly also the La Salle), even before the V16 came on the scene in December of 1929 or the V12 in September the following year.

By late 1933, for example, "LX" cars numbered in excess of 5500 units.   Considering that job #2651X was built in 1930 and #5514 in late 1933, this suggests a rate of production of some 1000 custom jobs a year on the three power trains (V8, V12 and V16) and possibly also on the La Salle chassis, although I see none listed in the recently published book by Ron Van Gelderen and Matt Larson on Cadillac's companion car, the La Salle.

I read somewhere that all custom jobs [i.e. those with an "LX" prefix or suffix?] were inspected by Larry Fisher himself, prior to delivery, e.g. style 3159LX, a custom V12 model that Fisher delivered to Don Lee for screen star Joe E. Brown. 

Carl Stoutenberg, another V16 aficionado was kind enough to give me his own theory about the origin of these "LX" prefixes and suffixes, based on our combined information about the following seven survivors on the V16 chassis for 1933: #5092LX on chassis/engine #5000024, #5266LX on #5000077,  #5270LX on #5000088, #LX5441 on #5000102, #LX5514  on #5000114 [or 5000116?], #LX5528 and #LX5577).  Let me share  Carl's thoughts with you:

Neil Nicastro's car is #LX5514. I call it the Crandell car as that is who it was originally built for. Crandell was an advertising executive in Chicago not a GM big shot. It was in the Warshawsky collection before Nicastro got it. #LX5528 is the Robert Montgomery car and #LX5577 the Theodore Case car.

The "LX" number is likely nothing to do with Livery and also likely nothing to do with special order V16's
[on the latter point, Carl, I still beg to differ]. The reason I say that is a 1933 V16 with a engine #5000028 has an LX number around #LX4471 (I don't have my notes in front of me right now). Neil's is #5000114 with #LX5514. I also know about "LX" numbers on engine/chassis units #5000077 [LX5266?] and #5000106; they are between the numbers I mention above although, again, I don't have them in front of me now.

If "LX" numbers are consecutive which the facts seem to indicate
[and I am becoming convinced that this is so] , by interpolation we can deduce there were 1381 "LX" numbers in 1933. But there were only 125 sixteens that year. In fact that number actually is more than the total of all 1933 twelves and sixteens put together [don't forget to include the eights, Carl]. But it is fewer than the total number of   Cadillacs built in 1933, so I don't think every car was assigned an "LX" number, while I also don't think only special orders got one [my own theory, Carl, is that all "LX" cars were somehow special order, including V8s; this would account for the high number of them recorded up to 1933, if in fact they were numbered consecutively numbered].

Besides "LX" numbers there is also the "SFBO" number on some build sheets (Special Fleetwood Body Order Number). It refers to the details of the body that made it special. 5000077 with "LX" (I think) #5266, has SFBO #69.

In your database you mention #LX2901
[in 1931]. Possibly the "LX" cars started with that number, but, just maybe, they started with LX0001 and go back to the early 20's. It could be, therefore, that #LX2901 number from '29 or '30 is related [in sequence] to the 1933 "LX" numbers and that they just kept getting larger and larger. I shall now see if I can find a '38 or so "LX" number to test that theory.

Right now it's a mystery that we trivia pursuit lovers are eager to crack.

The "LX" number is found on SOME, but, not all Fleetwood Body tags that go on the cowl of the car. I have not yet found it recorded on any paper documents,  which adds to the general mystery.

 

Sixteens with bodies by Fisher (USA)

There is no recorded reason why thirty-one V16 chassis got regular and custom bodies by Fisher in lieu of the more exclusive Fleetwood styles, many of which were designed exclusively for the great new power plant.  In my opinion, Fisher bodies were simply more readily available. Initially, I had believed that all the Fisher bodies were used on early sixteens; in fact, according to further research by Carl Steig of the CLC, close to half of them were built in 1931.

My assumption is that the factory just pulled some regular Fisher styles from the production line and mounted them on the new, sixteen-cylinder chassis fur use as (a) test cars, (b) livery vehicles in and around the Cadillac compound, (c) complimentary vehicles for use by senior GM/Cadillac officials, (d) to make special custom jobs for special clients.

For many years it was believed that of the total number of Fisher-bodied "Sixteens" built (31 in all), none had survived ...and then this one turned up in a private collection in Rhode Island :

 

v6fshds2.jpg (8144 bytes)    v6fsh07.jpg (5611 bytes)    v6fshds.jpg (10064 bytes)

v6fshds3.jpg (13695 bytes)    v6shapf.jpg (8981 bytes)    v6fsh06.jpg (8691 bytes)
This Fisher style 30-16-158 was owned in 2006 by enthusiast, Bob Perry
[ Photos: Courtesy Dick Shappy ]

 

 

The line drawings (montages), below, are made up of parts of other factory designers' drawings by both Fisher and Fleetwood.  I am assuming that, with the exception of job #30-X, all the Fisher sixteens used the same hood and lower body as found on early, Pennsylvania-built sixteens, as well as the single-bar bumpers and special V16 tail-lights.  Before the above coupe turned up, the only photo available of a Fisher Sixteen was Job #30-X; this was a test car; it used the same hood and lower body as regular Fisher styles for the 1930 Cadillac models.

As to production numbers for 1930 and 1931, Carl Steig believed that engine number 702600 was the last one to have been built in 1930. Alan Merkel, another keen V-16 enthusiast, had indicated that the last chassis for 1930 was #702883.  As I had not examined factory records in person, I had given Carl the benefit of the doubt, based on his in-depth study of vee-sixteen prodution records that he began in the sixties.

Update and correction [July, 2008]: I was contacted by Alan who has supplied new, irrefutable evidence about V-16 production numbers for 1930 and 1931.  Alan said :  it is my understanding from correspondence with Mr. Roy Schneider [Roy wrote the definitive history of the Cadillac V-16 in his authoritative book, "Sixteen Cylinder Motor Cars", Heritage House, © 1974] that Mr. Steig chose #702600 as the cutoff for 1930 V-16 production based upon the fact that 1931 V-8 and V-12 production began in the fall of 1930. I believe that Mr. Steig's choice for the cutoff at that point was reasonable and good judgment based upon the best evidence available at the time;  additional information now available supports a different conclusion based upon the following:

-  Based upon the factory shipping ledger, #702600 was shipped on August 16, 1930, whereas 1931 V-8 shipments began on September 13,1930 and V-12 shipments began on October 15, 1930.  Nearly 200 additional V-16s had been shipped in 1930 by the time V-12 shipments began.

-  The "model year" concept did not begin until 1936.  1931 V-16s were shipped until the end of 1931 and into February of 1932.  Using the August, 1930 cutoff for 1930 V-16s, one would have to believe that 1930 V-16s were produced for 8 ½ months, 1931 models for 18½ months, and then V-16s were produced for 12 months in each of the years from 1932 through 1935.

-  The factory shipping ledger shows that #702887 was the highest engine number shipped in 1930.  True, two cars with lower engine numbers (702840 and 702883) were not shipped until 1931, but their production would have been in sequential order in 1930.

-  The factory shipping log contains a "1931" entry beside #702888 indicating the start of 1931 shipments at that point (I have attached a photo of that entry in the ledger).

-  Additional data published at the time we are discussing (1930s) supports the cutoff of 1930 V-16 production at #702887.  The BRANHAM AUTOMOBILE REFERENCE BOOK published by the Ben P. Branham Company of Chicago provided detailed data on all passenger cars and trucks showing serial number locations and listings by model year, along with other detailed information useful to insurance companies and agents, state authorities, dealers, law enforcement, and many others in need of accurate data.  In the forward to each issue the Publisher acknowledges indebtedness to the auto manufacturers who cooperated by supplying Branham with the information and checking the proofs of the printed matter to ensure reliability of the reference.  I have attached photos of the pages from the REFERENCE pertaining to the 1930 and 1931 V-16s showing that 1930 production included engines from 700001 to 702887, and that 1931 production of V-16s included engines starting with 702888 (the last being 703251).

Based upon the above, I hope you will agree that it is not necessary for us  to use conjecture as a means of determining the cutoff for 1930 V-16s.  Published documents from the period include the information, as supplied by the manufacturer, and provide the answer.  I am forwarding the above information to you in hopes that you will reflect it in a future revision to your web site where you refer to 1930 and 1931 V-16s.

Thank you, Alan, for your previous excellent reasearch on the Cadillac V-16 and for taking the time to send me the results of your more recent research into actual production figures for 1930 and 1931.   It is my pleasure to share the results of your work with all "Sixteen" fans who visit this site. Below are the images that Alan supplied with his above comments:

 

Merkel2.JPG (9275 bytes)
Excerpt from the factory production ledger for V-16 cars;
the manuscript date, "1931" appears opposite engine #702888

Merkel1.JPG (12802 bytes)    Merkel3.JPG (11883 bytes)
Excerpts from Branham Automobile Reference Book; these show the 1930 Series 452 cars as ranging
from #700001 up to #702887 and the 1931 Series 452-A cars as ranging from #702888 up to #703500;
that last figure is certainly a mistake since we know that the final Series 452-A model carried #703251

 

 

 

 

Regular bodies by Fisher
(no known survivors)

 

Job #168 [16 units, plus 1 custom job]   this is Fisher's regular convertible coupe style for 2 passengers, that could accommodate 2 more passengers in the rumble seat mounted in the trunk area;  a custom job derived from this basic Fisher style was also built; the latter car  (job #LX2903) is listed separately, below..

v6_168.JPG (7748 bytes)
Fisher job #168:  convertible coupe for two passengers   
(units built: 16 + 1 custom)

 

Job #152 [3 units]  this is a close-coupled sedan for 5-passengers in which the rear seat is located just ahead of the rear axle.

v6_152.JPG (8089 bytes)
Fisher job #152:  town sedan for five passengers
(units built: 3)

Job #159 [3 units,  plus two custom jobs]  this is a sedan for 5-passengers with light-weight auxiliary seating for 2 occasional passengers;  two custom jobs were derived from this regular Fisher sedan style;  the latter two cars (jobs #2651X and #2911LX) are listed below

v6_159.JPG (8649 bytes)
Fisher job #159:  sedan for five passengers
(units built: 3 + 2 custom)

Job #172 [2 units]  this is a regular 2-door "Victoria" coupe for 5-passengers

v6_172.JPG (8526 bytes)
Fisher job #172:  coupe for five passengers
(units built: 2)

Job #158 [unique - plus two custom jobs]  this is a regular coupe for 2-passengers, with a rumble seat in the trunk area for two more occasional passengers; two specially trimmed jobs built  in 1930 used the same basic body shell (jobs #2902LS and #LX2904); these are listed below: 

v6_158.JPG (8370 bytes)
Fisher job #158:  coupe for two passengers
(units built: 1 + 2 custom)

Job #162 [unique  - plus one custom job]  a sedan style for 7-passengers built on the 143-inch wheel base chassis; it was built in 1931; a second similar body was used for a custom job in 1930 (job #2951LX); it is listed below. 

v6_30x.JPG (30334 bytes)
Fisher job #162:  sedan for seven passengers
(units built: 1 + 1 custom)

 

The custom bodies by Fisher
(no known survivors)

Factory custom bodies were not uncommon; many were built for the personal use of GM/Cadillac executives.  At the same time, the company was able to test public reaction to novel styling ideas (this practice continued on into the fifties, on a lesser scale, with the Motorama dream cars and show cars).

Below are listed the special jobs by Fisher on the V16 chassis.

 

Job #2651X [unique]  This job number puts paid to my earlier theory that the initial two digits of the Fisher custom jobs probably indicated the year when they were commissioned.   This was a specially trimmed car derived from regular Fisher job #159, a sedan for 5 passengers that is described above.  Unfortunately I have no details about its special features or its initial destination.

v6_159.JPG (8649 bytes)
My own impression of Fisher custom job #2651X

 

Job #2901LX [unique] This was a special, unique Fisher-built 7-passenger sedan on the 1931 V16 chassis. As mentioned above, the custom jobs all were issued an "X", "LX" or "LS" number in numerical sequence - presumably starting with "1"; if that is the case, then this is the 2901st custom job built by Fisher or Fleetwood .  Its unique feature was its curved, "coach" sill.  The "montage" below shows how well a regular Fisher sedan for 7 passengers could be married to a V16 chassis in the "42..." group.

v62901lx.jpg (8738 bytes)
My own impression of Fisher custom job #2901LX
I am guessing that paint and trim were done to special order

 

Job #2902LS [unique]   This was a specially trimmed car derived from regular Fisher job #158, described above.  Unfortunately I have no details about its special features or its destination. I have no explanation either why this car was issued an "LS" suffix in lieu of the more common "LX" suffix;  I am guessing "Livery - Special" as opposed to "Livery - Extra Special"

v6_158.JPG (8370 bytes)
My own impression of Fisher custom job #2902LS;
I am guessing that paint and trim were done to special order

 

Job #LX2903 [unique]   This was a specially trimmed car derived from the regular Fisher convertible coupe style, #168, described above.  Unfortunately I have no details about its special features or its initial destination.

v6_168.JPG (7748 bytes)
My own impression of Fisher custom job #LX2903;
I am guessing that paint and trim were done to special order

 

Job #LX2904 [unique] Again, this was a specially trimmed car derived from regular Fisher job #158, described above.  Unfortunately I have no details about its special features or its destination. 

v6_158.JPG (8370 bytes)
My own impression of Fisher custom job #LX2904;
again, I am guessing that paint and trim were done to special order


Job #LX2905 [unique]  This was a 5-passenger special town sedan mounted on the V16 chassis. It was built for a GM executive. The official order number in Fisher records is 7877. Details about this special car are included in an article entitled "The mysterious and elusive Madam X" by New Zealand's Maurice Hendry, an authority on the Cadillac; the story appeared in Car Collector in June 1981. Presumably it was ordered before the car below [LX2913] although the body was mounted on a later V16 chassis (#702388) and completed in July 1930. This was a special 5-passenger town sedan with many "Madame X" features such as chrome window reveals and a flat, 18° slanting windshield. Two-tone gray in color, the moldings, fenders and chassis were painted "Desert Sand". Striping and wheels were Tokio ivory (white). The car was delivered to the executive garage in July 1930 for the private use of C.H. Clise, a top-notch GM official.

v6lx2905.JPG (8727 bytes)
My own impression of Fisher custom job #LX2905

 

Job #2911LX [unique]  This was a specially trimmed car derived from regular Fisher job #159, described above.   Unfortunately I have no details about its special features or its destination.

v6_159.JPG (8649 bytes)
My own impression of Fisher custom job #2911LX;
again, I am guessing that paint and trim were done to special order

 

Job #LX2913 [unique] Although a higher number than job #2905, above, this car was built on a V16 chassis for 1930, whereas the latter car was built on a 1931 chassis.  As related by Maurice Hendry, this car was a special 2-door, 5-passenger coupe also with lots of "Madame X" features. In addition it had chrome wire wheels, including the two side-mounted spares. The body was mounted on V16 chassis #702117 in June 1930; the Fisher body order was #7878. The fact that it was built for one De Witt Page would seen to belie my theory about a car for GM livery service, unless Mr. Page was a GM VIP or the car was placed at his disposal for another reason. Trimmed in plain Wiese upholstery piped with silver leather, the car featured a radio and spotlight. The color was two-tone green with silver leaf striping, the chassis being the same color as the fenders. It was shipped on 21 June 1930 to Tabor Cadillac in Hartford, CT.

v6lx2913.JPG (8329 bytes)
My own impression of Fisher custom job #LX2913

 

Special style 2951LX [unique] This custom Fisher job is derived from regular Fisher style #162, a sedan style for 7-passenger sedan;it was built in 1931. Old factory photographs of these custom jobs by Fisher and Fleetwood on the V16 chassis  may have gone unnoticed owing to the possible absence of any V16 distinguishing characteristics.

 

v6_30x.JPG (30334 bytes)
My own impression of Fisher custom job #LX2951LX
I am guessing that only the paint and trim were done to special order

 

Job #30-X [unique]  This car was a standard Fisher 7-passenger sedan mounted for test and demonstration purposes on the V-16 chassis; the o.a. length was 211", o.a. width: 74¾".  That body style featured side cowl ventilators, a cord-type robe rail, adjustable foot rail, vanity set with upholstery inset, folding arm rest in the center of the rear seat back, dome lights with a toggle switch in both front and rear compartments (which also lighted when the doors were opened), assist cords, ¼-windows, curtains on the back light (rear window) and the ¼-windows, full lowering glass division, a telephone to chauffeur, Fisher "VV" windshield, a leather trimmed front compartment, flush-fitting broad auxiliary seats in the separate rear compartment folding flat against the partition when not in use.

v6_30x2.JPG (8448 bytes)
Unique Fisher job #30X: sedan for seven passengers [factory test car]
(units built: 1)

v6p30x.JPG (10406 bytes)
This factory photo of Fisher Job #30X seems to counter
my theory about the Fisher sixteens having the
regular Fleetwood hood with the five louver doors!

On the other hand, it may be the only exception.

 

 

 

The custom bodies Fleetwood
(no known survivors)

 

Special style 2950X [unique]: This was a unique Fleetwood styled 7-passenger sedan built in 1931. I have no indication about its special features and assume that it may have been another test car.  I am guessing that the basic car (prior to any custom modifications)  was a regular 7-pass. sedan in the "43..." group (image, below)

V6d375.jpg (9838 bytes)
My guess as that this unique style was derived from
Fleetwood style #4375S, the regular 7-pass. sedan. 
(the image used here, therefore, is the same as for style #4375S)

 

Special style 3289B [unique]: It seems my initial assumptions about this rare, custom model were wrong. I had seen three other Fleetwood styles starting with digits "32" and these were built in 1928 on the 152" wheel base chassis.  My hunch, therefore, was that this body was built on a 152" wheel base chassis, although records indicate it was built in 1931. In March 2001, I acquired from Cadillac V16 aficionado, Craig Watrous, a set of Fleetwood designer's drawings of special designs for the 1930-31 V16.  One of these portrayed style #3289A, which I assume to be the closest to 3289B as I could ever hope to find.  My opinion now is that this design was adapted in 1930-31 from a town brougham style that may have been proposed by Fleetwood in 1928.  The Master Parts list describes it is having a chrome finished, solid bronze, "V"-type windshield frame, wide auxiliary seats and a leather covered roof. In the absence of any factory photo my new guess, therefore, is that unique style #3289-B was a variation on Fleetwood style #3289-A, below; as stated before, it was not unusual for Fleetwood to use digits very close to a regular styling code digits for bodies in the same basic "family", in this case the town brougham identified by final digits "91". Final digits "89" are just two down from "91", the regular brougham with ¼-windows and painted metal roof. Fleetwood proposed style #3289-A is shown on the first row, below, right. Below it is my impression of actual Fleetwood style #3289-B, in which the flat windshield has been replaced with a "V"-shaped one.

v6d391x.JPG (5604 bytes)     V63289a.jpg (9127 bytes)
My initial guess was that this unique style was derived from Fleetwood's regular town brougham style #4391 (left); 
however, records indicate that style #3289-B  had a leather roof covering whereas style #4391 had a plain painted metal roof;
in March 2001 I was fortunate to acquire a Fleetwood drawing of a proposed style #3289-A (above), which leads me to think
that style #3289-B was very similar, except for its recorded "V"-type windshield (see modified drawing immediately above)

v63289b.JPG (9203 bytes)
The coach lamps add a touch of aristocratic elegance to this cane-bodied town brougham

 

Special style 3981 [unique on V16 chassis]: Initial digits "39" identify the Fleetwood custom styles on the 140" wheel base V8 Cadillac chassis for 1930. Final digits "81" identify the 1930 Cadillac "Fleetwind" [seen spelled as "Fleetwing"] sedanette, a regular Fleetwood styling proposal for the V8 chassis that year. Features include Burbank top with headlining, enclosed rear quarters, no partition, collapsible center pillars, stationary top, stationary front seat, foot cushions, robe strap,  folding arm rests front and rear. This model is best described as a closed, 5-passenger car with the look of a phaeton with top up (e.g. V16 style #4380).  It was a popular model on both the Cadillac and LaSalle V8 chassis in 1930. I assume that one of these airy, so-called "sedanette" bodies was mounted on a V16 chassis to satisfy the whim of a wealthy buyer.  In lieu of the dipped belt molding of a regular sixteen phaeton (e.g. style #4380) this custom job had a horizontal molding all round, as there was no need to accommodate a folding top.

V63981.jpg (9813 bytes)
Cadillac "Fleetwind" sedanette on the V16 chassis for 1930

 

Special style 3991 [unique on V16 chassis]: Initial digits "39" identify the Fleetwood custom styles on the 140" wheel base V8 Cadillac chassis for 1930. Final digits "81" identify the 1930 Cadillac "Fleetwind"

v6a3991.JPG (9084 bytes)
Artist's rendering of Cadillac style #3991 on the V8 chassis

 

 

 

Some "oddities" from Fleetwood

v630mah5.jpg (13598 bytes)
Cadillac did not offer the sixteen with right-hand drive, yet a few early
examples, bound for foreign lands, were so equipped at the factory. This
one was commissioned by an Indian potentate, the Maharajah of Tikari. 
It was fitted with RH drive for export to India, where driving is on the left
because that country was a part of the British Empire until independence in 1947


 
V629leba.jpg (8660 bytes)   v6longis.jpg (9350 bytes)
Once again, I am responsible for the montage (left) made up of  bits and pieces of other Fleetwood drawings
excerpted from the 1930 V16 catalog. To date, however, I have not been able to resolve the mystery of
this car.  It is a sixteen-cylinder model of 1930-31, but the body is that of a Fleetwood sport phaeton from
1929, to which a "Le Baronesque" sweep panel has been added.  I have seen no reference to this car in 
any Cadillac archival records, and yet it exists.   It is rumored that a sixteen was returned to the plant
by its owner, with a request to Fleetwood to replace the body [which style?] with this sport phaeton type.

V629flt.jpg (11347 bytes)   V629phae.jpg (10239 bytes)
  The photo on the left was taken in New Jersey [by my estimation,  in the late sixties] where the car was for many years an
attraction of the Long Island Motor Museum.  It reappeared some twenty years later on the classic car auction circuit
(RH Photo) but I have not been able to determine its present whereabouts. If anyone recognizes the car [that Le Baron
hood is unmistakable, right?] I shall be glad to update this Database entry.   A car like this can not go unnoticed!

 

 

 

Custom bodies, domestic and foreign
(
in alphabetical order by coach builder)

 

Bronkhorst (Hilversum, Netherlands)

I doubt if many V16 fans have seen this car before. I found the pictures, initially, in 1995, in an old, French coach-building magazine from the thirties entitled "La Carrosserie Automobile" [#92]; better ones were supplied later by Frans Vrijaldenhoven of the Netherlands. Only few details were provided in the French magazine, including the name of the coach builder, Bronkhorst.  From that name, I guessed that the origin was Holland [i.e. the Netherlands]; this was confirmed in April 2001 by Frans, a fellow member of the Society of Automotive Historians [SAH]; Frans sent also a short history of the company that was started in the 19th century by J. Bronkhorst, Sr., a Hilversum blacksmith.   Bronkhorst began repairing horse-drawn carriages and went on to design and build them too; in 1905, the company obtained a commission from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands to build such vehicles also for the Royal Dutch carriage house.  Later, the brothers Bronkhorst  made custom bodies for wealthy clients on imported automobile chassis; they acquired also a considerable reputation for commercial vehicles built in the retro style (with square cornered roofs, silver door handles and opera lights) for the funeral trade; these were, built on the 1933 Buick chassis1.  Similar funeral cars were built later on the 1939 Chevrolet Master-Imperial chassis on 124-inch wheel base; these were sold through GM Continental in Antwerp, Belgium.  In the thirties, the brothers built also convertible bodies on Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Graham chassis; later, ambulance bodies and town car styles were added to the program. The factory premises were severely damaged during WW2.  As neither brother had any successor, the business finally was closed down in 1948. 

The particular car we see here looks very much like Fleetwood style #4264-B [version 2, with French canework applied to the rear body]. I wondered if this might be a modified version of that Fleetwood town brougham; indeed, the first of the six units built [only three had the cane] was sent to Europe, in June 1930, along with five other sixteens, to promote the new models.  I had some doubts, later, when I noticed that the body was longer than the regular Fleetwood creation [see interior views below]. In addition, the Bronkhorst car is fitted with large, rear quarter windows as well as what appear to be regular Fleetwood double throw-back auxiliary seats. Unfortunately, the low resolution, diminutive photos do not reveal details such as the two inner corner lights, the Fleetwood designed chrome-plated hardware, the smoking set in the division panel, the concealed pocket in side arm rests, the telephone in the slash pocket on the RH ¼-panel,  above the arm rest, the "porthole" in the division glass, the silk curtains on all the windows in rear compartment including the division, the folding arm rest in the center of the rear seat back, the two arm slings, the additional slash pocket on RH ¼-panel, above the arm rest for a hand mirror and the clock on the division header bar.  It is possible, however, to make out the finish panels on the rear doors.  

v6bkhs3.jpg (7987 bytes)   v6bkhrs1.JPG (5234 bytes) 
Brick buildings like the one housing the J. Bronkhorst coach works [right] are typical of those found in many
Dutch towns.  The custom V16 town brougham dwarfs the entrance to the tunnel passing under the building
[these two photos are published here courtesy Frans Vrijaldenhoven, a Dutch automotive historian and writer]

Bkhrstin.jpg (6270 bytes)    v6bronkc.jpg (7405 bytes)    v6bkhrse.jpg (4516 bytes)
Frans also supplied the image on the left, above; the one in the center is from an old issue of the French
trade magazine "Auto Carrosserie" from April 1931; in that magazine there is a reference to an earlier issue
in which this car is also described; unfortunately, I do not have a copy; I took the photo (right) of the interior
of a re-bodied Fleetwood style 4264-B; the Bronkhorst car is longer, as witnessed by the position of the
rear seat and the presence of full, double throw-back jump seats in lieu of the opera seats seen at the right

1  Three such cars found their way to the USA where they were mistakenly described as having come from
     the Royal Dutch carriage house

 

Duvivier (USA)

This one was brought to my attention in January, 2009, by Belgian enthusiast, Philippe Hulet de Limal, who found the illustration in an old French magazine.   It shows the car participating in a Councours d'Elégance (I guess in Paris), circa 1930-31.  Unfortunately, there was no accompanying text to tell us more apout this splendid creation. The car appears to have the curved or "coach" sill of Fleetwood cars identified by a styling code with initial digits "42..."; however, the design of the tool and battery compartments below the sill resemble more closely Fleetwood designs with initial digits "41..." or "43...".

v630_Duviv.jpg (8524 bytes)

 

Eureka (USA)

The Eureka Company of Rock Falls, IL, is believed to have built at least one funeral car on the V16 chassis for 1930-31. From the photo, below, it would appear to have been a conversion of a regular Fleetwood town car style (probably #4325)

 v630hrse.jpg (13868 bytes)
Eureka,  Rock Falls, IN
[probably a conversion on a town car body]
[not known to have survived]

 

Farina (Italy)

Gian-Battista Farina [1895-1966] a.k.a Pinin or "the little guy", younger brother of Giovanni, Italian automobile designer and coach-builder, started working for his brother then branched off on his own. In 1920, at the age of 25 he spent 2 months in the USA, of which 50 days in Detroit. Fifteen years later, in 1930, at the age of 35 he founded the Stabilimenti Pinin Farina located on Corso Trapani in Milan. Farina designed many bodies for the Cadillac chassis including, in the first year of operation, a unique boat-tail speedster on the Series 452 V16 chassis - largely inspired by a Hispano Suiza speedster with a boat-tail body by Gallé - for the Maharajah of Orccha; that car has survived and is presently (2000) in the USA where, in my opinion, it was unfortunately over-restored.

v6pf30b.jpg (20674 bytes)
Above:  factory photo of the Farina speedster in 1931
Below:  the 1928 boat-tailed Hispano-Suiza  by Gallé that
probably inspired the Farina car, 2-3 years later

V6pfcopy.jpg (5950 bytes)   v6pfgall.jpg (5510 bytes)

The Farina car was commissioned by the Maharaja of Orccha, one of the princely
Indian states before the country freed itself from  British rule in 1947

v6muktr2.jpg (7687 bytes)   v6muktr1.jpg (4242 bytes)
The two photos, above, were taken in Pakistan, in the early sixties

V6pfstar.jpg (10777 bytes)
In the early sixties the car was acquired by a Pakistani film director, Sheikh Mukhtar. 
He had the car starring in a movie (photo above) in which he played the role of an Indian Maharaja

  V6pf_us1.jpg (13105 bytes)
In the above photo and in the five shots below, you can see the car as it looked in the late sixties
when it was acquired by Akron, OH, Cadillac dealer Dave Towell.  He did not believe
this was the original color scheme but was unable to determine what the latter had been

    V6pinin4.jpg (5228 bytes)    V6pinin2.jpg (6602 bytes)    v6pfr7.JPG (3894 bytes)

v6pfr6.JPG (5682 bytes)    V6pinin3.jpg (9139 bytes)

V630pfin.jpg (8310 bytes)    V630pfpq.jpg (7240 bytes)
Above:  before restoration in the eighties
Below (4 photos) "over-restoration" by Fran Roxas, Chicago, IL


v630pfi.jpg (7570 bytes)    v6pfr8.JPG (10131 bytes)

v630pfcl.JPG (9207 bytes)    V6pf_us2.jpg (8402 bytes)
This car survives and has been (at least) twice restored

V6pf30.jpg (17476 bytes)    v6Orccha.jpg (22375 bytes)    v6Orccha2.jpg (8813 bytes)
This is how the car looked at Pebble Beach, in 2005; it appears to have been repainted closer to the Farina original;
in addition, the scarlet  velour seat material installed by Fran Roxas (?) appears to have been replaced  by more plausible, dark brown leather

 

Kellner (France)

The Parisian coach-builder, Alexis Kellner is believed to have built this town landaulet on the V16 chassis for 1930.  This is the only known photo of that car

V630klnr.jpg (6403 bytes)
V16 town landaulet for 7-passengers
by Paris' Alexis Kellner
[this one apparently did not survive]

 

Murphy (USA)

Walter Montgomery Murphy, since 1917 in Pasadena CA  Designed by Franklin Q. Hershey. One of Murphy's notable styling features in the thirties were large, chrome-plated hinges.  Owned by Charles and Anita Howard, the beautifully restored car got an award at 1995 Meadowbrook. Current owner is John McMullen [???]

v6mphy.jpg (8277 bytes)   v6murp2.JPG (9442 bytes)

V630mrph.jpg (11183 bytes) 
Murphy, Pasadena, CA:  sport phaeton for 4 passengers [this car survives]

 

Nordberg (Sweden)

As recalled to me by Swedish V16 aficionado, Olle Ljungstrom, the Swedish coach-builder, Gustaf Nordberg, built this town landaulet on the V16 chassis for 1930.  It was acquired by Swedish publishing magnate, Vetus Peterson who bought it right off the showroom floor, to the amazement of the Cadillac dealer who thought he was "just looking".

v630nrb2.JPG (8113 bytes)   v630nrbg.JPG (12273 bytes)

V6nbrg2.jpg (8058 bytes)
Interior of the Nordberg car, which has survived

 

Rollston (USA)

Rollston built at least two roadsters on the Cadillac chassis, including this racy one with the V16 power train for 1930-31.  It has survived.   The photo on the right was taken by the late Gene Babow on the occasion of a car meet in the seventies.

v6rllstn.jpg (9882 bytes)
In the sixties, before restoration

V6rlst1.jpg (7156 bytes)   V630rlst.jpg (13293 bytes)
Rollston, 1930-31 V16 roadster [this car has survived]

 

Saoutchik (France) #1

Jacques Saoutchik was an avant-garde Parisian coach-builder who loved to apply vast expanses of chrome to his custom creations.  He built this nicely-proportioned convertible Victoria on the V16 chassis for 1930-31.

 V6sa_vic.jpg (7973 bytes)
This line drawing is made up of parts of
Fleetwood designer's drawings

V6savic2.jpg (9390 bytes)   V630sa2.jpg (8626 bytes)
Saoutchik, Paris, designed and built this 5-pass, convertible Victoria
Note the broad, chrome belt molding running from the radiator to the rear quarter

panel, as well as the "sunburst" design on the inner door panel
[this car is not known to have survived]

 

Saoutchik (France) #2

Saoutchik somehow was able to acquired the special Fleetwood phaeton (style #4260) that was one of six cars sent on a promotional tour of Europe in June of 1930.  He removed the original body and replaced it with a hard-top sedan body that features an ingenious sliding top;  the latter has a skylight which, when it is "folded" back, aligns with the rear window.  The car has an interesting story that I shall relate one of these days.

V6saorig.jpg (5722 bytes)   V6sa_bef.jpg (7092 bytes)
Left:  Fleetwood style #4260, the European tour car
Right: the Saoutchik conversion undergoing repairs
in the Francis workshops in Paris, in 1964.

  V6sa_cvs.jpg (9215 bytes)
Parading in Paris in the seventies

V630sa1.jpg (11496 bytes)   V6sa_cv2.jpg (15406 bytes)     
The Saoutchik car following its "over-restoration" in the USA, in the eighties.
The original Marchal headlights were replaced with Grebels, to match the cowl-mounted spotlights;
other modifications included chrome-plating the hood ventilator doors

 

[Unknown (Spain)]

These photos were sent to me by a Spanish Cadillac enthusiast who acquired this odd-looking V16 recer in Argentina.  The engine is #701530; it was initially put in a Fleetwood town car, style #4220 that was shipped to Buenos Aires in 1930.  I have yet to find out if the current body was built in Argentina or in Spain.  The current owner informs me that the car has a faulty distribution cap;  he is desperately looking for a replacement unit to get the car running again.  Across the radiator grille are the words "Cadillac V16" in script; I assume this was a later add-on.

  v630spa4.JPG (7325 bytes)   v630spa3.JPG (6508 bytes)
This scratch-built Cadillac V16 racing car is located in Alicante (Spain)
The engine (# 701530) was first installed in a town car (Fleetwood style #4220)

that found its way to Argentina (two V16s were exported to that country)

v630spai.JPG (6034 bytes)   v630spa2.JPG (6206 bytes)
Diagonally across the front of the grille is the name "Cadillac V16"
(unfortunately it is not visible in this small, low resolution digital image)

The car survives and is undergoing restoration (a distributor cap is needed!)

 

Van den Plas (Belgium and UK) #1

Cadillac chassis were popular with the Belgian coach-builder, who also had part of his operations in England.  This RH drive V16, described as a sports saloon (close-coupled sedan) is believed to be a Van den Plas design built in England, possibly by the British coach-builders Lancefield (any confirmation from England would be appreciated). Styling features include step plates in lieu of  regular running boards, and large, exposed, chrome-plated door hinges.  This rare car has survived and was last heard of in Pakistan in 2004.

drlfld30.JPG (8587 bytes)    V6vdp00.jpg (9384 bytes)
Van den Plas, B/UK
Sports saloon [sedan] for 5 passengers
This body may have been built by Lancefield, in the UK,  to VdP specs:

the final car (right)  differs somewhat from the designer's drawing (left)

 

Van den Plas (Belgium and UK) #2

V6vdpdr.jpg (8491 bytes)
This car was on display on stand #36 at the London Motor Show, Olympia, in October 1930;
it was put there by General Motors Ltd., The Hyde, Hendon, London, N.W. 9; it was
described as a 57.5 HP Cadillac with 16 cylinders, having a bore and stroke of 77x102mm
(6799cc), coil ignition, pump cooling, disc clutch, 3-speed unit gear box, spiral bevel,
½E [elliptic?] front and rear springs, 7.50x19in. tires on wire heels with four-wheel
vacuum servo brakes.  Annual tax was given as £58 and the price of the chassis as £1500

(the line-drawing is my own, using parts of other Fleetwood drawings).


V6vdp01.jpg (10395 bytes)
This is an artist's rendering of the same car from a Van den Plas
product catalog published in the UK [ZTV collection, Washington]
   
  V6vdp04.jpg (9505 bytes)   V6vdp03.jpg (8291 bytes)
Here is the same car after a full restoration in the J.C. Leake workshops, Tulsa, OK ,
in the seventies; I took many photos of this car during the restoration process

V630vpnl.jpg (8107 bytes)
The instrument panel of the Van den Plas V16 landaulet is like
this one used in the Pennsylvania-built Madame X sixteens

 

Voll &Ruhrbeck (Germany)

Before such operations largely disappeared, with the onslaught of WW2, many independent German coach-builders like Erdmann & Rossi, Kellner, Voll & Ruhrbeck created fine coachwork on many domestic and foreign chassis, including the Cadillac.  This rare example of a sharp-looking roadster by Voll & Ruhrbeck, with dual, rear-mounted spares, was built on the V16 chassis. 

The chances of it having survived the rigors of war are slim.   Such was the unfortunate fate also of a number of French custom jobs that were "requisitioned" by the German occupational forces in the early forties and promptly dispatched to Berlin (the spoils of war!). I know of one custom job, a town car with body by Paris' Fernandez and Darrin, on the V8 chassis, that actually survived WW2 and is currently back in the USA.

 V6vollru.jpg (7051 bytes)
Voll & Ruhrbeck, Berlin, D
roadster for 2 passengers
[not known to have survived]

 

Waterhouse (USA)

Waterhouse was rarely commissioned to build any coachwork for Cadillac.  According to Roy Schneider, to whom we owe the definitive history of the Cadillac V 16 models, this may be the only Cadillac ever done by them. It is a town car   landaulet, i.e. a style that features a fully collapsible roof behind the rear seat passengers.

 V630whou.jpg (9965 bytes)
Waterhouse, USA:  7-pass touring town landaulet
[is not known to have survived]

 

 

 

FRFLAG.JPG (773 bytes)
(résumé en français)

Dans cette page se trouve la liste des Cadillac à moteur seize cylindres habillées de carrosseries spéciales par les deux carrossiers attitrés de la firme (Fisher et Fleetwood), de même que celles qui furent habillées par des carrossiers indépendents, aussi bien aux Etats-Unis qu'en Europe.

 

 

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or go back to the V16 index page


© 1996, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.
[ Background image: Grille badge from the 1930-31 Cadillac V16 models ]