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Powerful V16
1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood

While we all look for speed and performance when purchasing a car, with the environment as well as cost in mind we can’t ignore fuel efficiency as one of the key attributes to be considered. Back in the 1930s though, fuel efficiency wasn’t such an issue and larger and larger displacement engines were something that automakers dreamed off, which led to the birth of the 7.4-litre V16 engine found on this 1930 Cadillac V-16.

Cadillac’s V16 was the first true 16-cylinder engine built from scratch. It offered 185 bhp and could power the car to run in excess of 160 km/h, when most other cars had a top speed of no more than 100 km/h a 25 bhp-engine back then. This particular example’s V-16 chassis is paired with the beautiful Sport Phaeton body style as inspired by Gordon Buehrig’s tourster design for Duesenberg, It features a windshield mounted directly right behind the front seat that can be raised and lowered in and out of the seat. Further details have yet to be disclosed, but it is one of no more than 18 existing examples that bear the Sport Phaeton coachwork, and an early work of art with body number 42. The car has an estimate of US$750,000 to US$900,000 in today’s market, and will be offered by RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction on 17-18 January.

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