1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton
- Colour
- Two-tone gray-green
Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton (body number 2, chassis 701554) is among the earliest of only 85 examples built across 1930–1931, and carries a uniquely documented history. Shipped to Copenhagen in June 1930 as one of five V-16 models on a nine-country promotional tour, it was subsequently rebodied by Saoutchik before being restored to its original Fleetwood Sport Phaeton configuration using the surviving firewall, cowl, and original body tag. It achieved Premier status in Classic Car Club of America competition.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$423,500
- Date unknownPrivate saleMrs. Fritz von Opelpartial documentation
Acquired the car following its European promotional tour; at some later point the original Fleetwood body was replaced by a Saoutchik convertible sedan body.
- Date unknownUnspecified European custodiansnone documentation
Multiple European owners held the car between the von Opel period and its eventual acquisition in the United States; no individual names or dates are provided.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFred Weberpartial documentation
St. Louis-based collector and leading V-16 Cadillac enthusiast who purchased the car in the mid-1980s; identified surviving original components and commissioned restorer Wayne Merriman to reconstruct the Sport Phaeton body around the retained firewall and cowl.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownSteve Nanninipartial documentation
Arizona-based V-16 specialist who received the car during the restoration process and saw it through to completion in the early 1990s, finishing it in two-tone gray-green with period-correct accessories.
- Date unknownPrivate saleDr. Joseph Murphyfull documentation
New Hope, Pennsylvania collector who added the car to a select group of top-tier Full Classics; his ownership is documented in Dennis Adler's book on outstanding collector cars.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJohn Groendykepartial documentation
Oklahoma-based collector recognized for specializing in V-16 Cadillacs; the car passed from him to the current consignor's family.
- Date unknownPrivate saleConsignor's late fatherpartial documentation
Acquired the car from Groendyke at an unspecified point; the family maintained it well and continued to exhibit it in CCCA events, eventually reaching Premier status.
Competition
- —Classic Car Club of AmericaClassic Car Club of America concours (multiple)Premier status achieved
The vehicle was shown intermittently in CCCA judged events after the consignor's family acquired it, ultimately attaining the highest Premier recognition level.
Maintenance & restoration
- —ModificationSaoutchik
Original Fleetwood Sport Phaeton body was replaced with a custom convertible sedan body constructed by the French coachbuilder Saoutchik; the original firewall, cowl, instrument panel, and body tag were retained.
Rebodying occurred during European ownership; retention of key original structural components later enabled re-restoration to factory specification.
- —RestorationWayne Merriman
Restoration of the original Sport Phaeton body was initiated under Weber's ownership, with restorer Wayne Merriman recreating the Fleetwood bodywork around the surviving original firewall and cowl.
Work began while the car was in Weber's ownership and was completed after the car passed to Steve Nannini.
- —RestorationSteve Nannini
Restoration completed under Nannini's stewardship; finished in two-tone gray-green with green leather upholstery, tan cloth hood, painted wire wheels with polished spokes, and numerous period accessories.
Completed in the early 1990s; the quality of this work remained evident at the time of cataloguing.
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