1938 Cadillac Fleetwood *$549 PER MONTH* Series 9023 Sixteen Touring Sedan

Description

Represents #22 of 65 built! These rare Fleetwood Sixteen sedans really showcase the power of the V-16’s legacy! Finished in factory code correct Black with dual covered side-mounted spares and first year 3-speed column-shifted manual transmission! CCCA Full Classic and seating for 7 passengers make it perfect for company on CARavan Tours!

Cadillac stunned the automotive world at the Detroit Auto Show in 1937 when it announced it would be introducing a new V-16 engine for the 1938 model year! Fiscally, it did not make a ton of sense for Cadillac as the past versions weren’t huge sellers, but it did have a lot to do with Cadillac wanting to position itself to potential buyers as being an advanced luxury brand. The new V-16 engine design was a rather monumental piece of automotive history all by itself anyway. The redesigned cylinder bank angle grew from 45 degrees to 135 degrees making them nearly horizontal. The bore & stroke were equally matched, and each bank of cylinders received its own Delco distributer versus previously having only one. The air/fuel mixture now delivered through twin Carter downdraft carburetors and newly designed intake manifolds. The engine size overall resulted in measuring 431ci, as well as being 6” shorter, 13” lower, and a whopping 250 pounds lighter due to fewer parts to operate it! Even with all this ingenuity and smaller displacement, it had no reduction in power output, still rated at 185 horsepower that was now smoother & quieter! Unfortunately, the post-Depression era was hard for many American luxury automakers. Peerless closed its doors in 1931, Marmon in 1933, Franklin in 1934, Stutz in 1935, with even the mighty Duesenberg by 1937. Difficulty selling high end luxury cars in the 1930’s was obvious, and the onset of yet another recession in 1938 didn’t help. Even Cadillac suffered the lowest production totals since 1929 this year, making the 1938 Cadillac and their new Series 90 Fleetwood Sixteen a rare car to find these days, and highly sought after amongst Cadillac enthusiasts and collectors!

We are excited to bring our 1938 Cadillac Series 9023 Fleetwood Sixteen Touring Sedan to your attention. Finished in classic Black with Tan ribbed cloth interior, it’s accented nicely with its original natural burled walnut window moldings. Under the hood remains the number’s matching 431ci V-16 engine mated to a 3-speed column-shifted manual transmission. Large Fleetwood doors open to a spacious interior offering 7-passenger seating with two fold out jump seats. Amenities include 6-wheel exterior appointments, full wheel discs, Denman Super Safety 6-ply polyester cord tube type wide whitewall tires measuring 7.50×16, full dash instrumentation, dash clock, rear seat grab handles & assist ropes, foot rest, and rear bench armrest. Up front, an overhead speaker and passenger cowl-mounted antenna are left as evidence it once had a factory radio. This wonderfully solid example shows clearly that it has led a sympathetic, garage-protected lifestyle from new. It received a comprehensive professional restoration in approximately 1995 that included new exterior paint, all new interior upholstery & carpet, re-plated exterior chrome, and mild mechanical work. It was part of the late John O’Quinn’s historic collection of vehicles for many years and remains absolutely presentable in very good condition today. Once it arrived at St. Louis Car Museum, it seemed this 68,273 mile had not been exercised very recently, so the passenger side head gasket was replaced, along with having both original water pumps rebuilt just for good measure. All new spark plugs, new points, and distributor condensers were installed, fresh oil & oil filter installed, new coolant, along with new front steering arm bushings. It runs wonderfully and starts easily once again.

This exact vehicle, Body #22 of the 65 Series 9023’s built, was said to have been owned by the famous child star Shirley Temple for her travels throughout the United States including frequent visits to the White House to meet with President Roosevelt! Sadly, no strong evidence is available to collaborate these claims other than pictures of her standing next to a black Cadillac V16 Touring Sedan just like ours. Should anyone in the Cadillac clubs or members of the Cadillac Database have more knowledge of this history, please contact us directly. Today, Cadillac V16’s are quite rare, and in 1938 just 314 units left the factory as Sixteens in various body styles. They remained largely unchanged until their final run in 1940, and will remain legendary forever. This example is Classic Car Club of America Full Classic status eligible for CCCA events and CARavan tours. Please feel welcome to call with additional questions of schedule an appointment to view in person. Thanks for looking!

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Please call 1-800-957-5707 or 314-993-7104 with any questions or to discuss financing or transportation arrangements.

• Price: $69,900
• VIN: 5270101
• Cylinders: V16
• Title: Clear
• Exterior Color: Black

• Carfax:
• Engine: 431ci
• Transmission: 3-Speed Manual
• Mileage: 68,273
• Interior Color: Tan Ribbed Cloth

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