At the New York Auto Show on January 4, 1930, Cadillac stunned the motoring world with the introduction of its breathtaking new V-16. While Bugatti had already produced a 16-cylinder engine by pairing two inline 8-cylinder units together, Cadillac’s was the first true 16-cylinder automobile engine designed and built from scratch. Working under legendary GM engineering chief Charles Kettering, Owen Nacker led V-16 development beginning in 1926, under strict secrecy, including cover stories claiming the V-16 Cadillac’s contribution to a new GM bus design. As the first automobile engine to be coherently styled and finished, the V-16 was conservatively rated at 175 HP and delivered incredible torque, rated at 320 lb-ft at just 1,200 to 1,500 engine revolutions, capably propelling Cadillac’s massive long-wheelbase chassis and luxuriously appointed bodies by Fisher and Fleetwood with authority. The “Sixteen” was also renowned for its incredible smoothness, remarkable silence, and ability to be driven in high gear just above idle without stalling. The Sixteen crowned the Cadillac lineup with its original overhead-valve engine through 1937, followed by a simpler and less costly-to-produce L-head version for 1938-39. The Sixteen was followed by Cadillac’s V-12 for 1931, making Cadillac the true “Standard of the World” as the sole luxury automaker to offer a complete range of V-8, V-12 and V-16 model lines. The bulk of V-16 production took place following introduction, with 3,251 of the 4,378 total cars built for 1930. Just 85 Sport Phaeton bodies—defined by a hand-cranked rear windshield mounted directly behind the front seat—were built for the V-16 chassis in 1930 and 1931 combined. According to Cadillac historians, as few as 17 authentic survivors remain in existence. This Sport Phaeton, bearing Engine No. 702515, was delivered new by the Towell Cadillac Company of Cleveland with the notation “Tag P.W. Harvey.” Perry Williams Harvey was a multimillionaire and influential businessman in Cleveland, Ohio, who died in 1932. The Sixteen’s next known owner was Bennett Hammond of Nicasio, California, from whom Joseph Runyan of Pasadena purchased it in 1952. As later stated by Runyan, he paid a princely $25 for the car. He subsequently restored the car for a reported $2,500 and won prizes at numerous West Coast shows with it. This was among the first V-16 Cadillacs to be treated as something unique, different and special. As the great classics began to achieve collectability, the finest examples were the first to be noticed, and Runyan had the best V-16 Sport Phaeton around. Accordingly, it was featured in the October 1967 issue of Car Classics magazine, followed by Maurice Hendry’s “Cadillac, Standard of the World: A Complete History” (published in 1973) and Roy A. Schneider’s “Sixteen Cylinder Motorcars: An Illustrated History” (published in 1974). Runyan retained the Sixteen V-16 for the rest of his life. A restoration was performed in the early 1990s and completed shortly before his passing in 1995, including an exterior color change to Bottle Green. When the Runyan family parted with the Cadillac, legendary sportsman, Los Angeles Times publisher and classic-vehicle collector Otis Chandler acquired the Cadillac and commissioned a sympathetic refresh, resulting in a 95.25 score and 2nd in Class at the June 1997 CCCA (Classic Car Club of America) Grand Classic. It was invited to the 1998 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, earning 3rd in Class. It subsequently appeared at Pebble Beach in 2009 and is once again eligible to be displayed there under a new owner. Following Chandler’s passing, the V-16 was acquired in 2006 by Keith Crain and retained until it was purchased by another Cadillac V-16 connoisseur in 2020, who had the vehicle serviced and fitted with a new soft top and six new tires. Professional engine and exterior detailing was performed before its showing at the 2021 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Among the many noteworthy highlights of this exceedingly rare V-16 are the green leather upholstery, color-matched luggage trunk, and the rear-passenger compartment, including birdseye maple trim and stylized metal panels framing an additional speedometer and Jaeger chronometer. Rare and steeped in excellent provenance, this Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton is a testament to its maker’s excellence and the vision of its roster of owner-collectors. Recognized as a CCCA Full Classic, it is more than worthy of continued appreciation and exhibition as an exemplar of Cadillac’s status as the “Standard of the World.”
