1930 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Coupe

In the 1920s Packard and Cadillac were locked in fierce competition to make the largest engine possible. Packard had released a V-12, prompting Cadillac to work in secrecy to develop a V-16. The final design called for two V-8s fused together with separate fuel and ignition systems for each side. Cadillac debuted their new, powerful engine at the New York Auto Show on January 4, 1930, just a few months after the stock market crash that brought on the Great Depression.

The car was a hit with the press and the public. People described the engine as a work of art in itself. With an elegant engine and quality coachwork, this car is now considered one of the finest autos produced in the pre-war era.

The small square doors located at the back of each side open to a compartment often used to store golf clubs!

More from our automobile collection:

In our current exhibit, From Carriage to Classic: How Automobiles Transformed America, we present the origin story of the American automobile through 23 cars from Heritage’s permanent collection of antique and classic automobiles. Come along for a ride from the late 1800s to the 1960s and watch the car evolve from a horseless carriage to a streamlined symbol of freedom and independence.