1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton Style 4260
- Engine
- V16
- Colour
- Emerald green with silver moldings and fenders striped in emerald green
A rare 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton (style 4260), one of only 75 built and the sole export example on a right-hand-drive chassis, originally commissioned by the Maharaja of Tikari, Gopal Saran Narain Singh, and delivered to India in February 1931. Subsequently owned by his son Maharajkumar Fateh Singh, the car passed to American enthusiast hands in the 1960s, underwent a meticulous restoration exceeding 4,800 hours, and won Best in Class at the 1981 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It later became the property of Ron Hickman, designer of the Lotus Elan, during whose ownership it achieved additional cultural recognition on the island of Jersey.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £522,500 (≈ $653K)
- 1931-02-14 → 1938Factory deliveryMaharaja of Tikari, Gopal Saran Narain Singhfull documentation
Car was ordered from Bombay and shipped to the Maharaja; reportedly the 152nd vehicle in his royal collection. Build sheet and shipping records survive.
- 1938 → 1965InheritanceMaharajkumar Fateh Singhfull documentation
Received the car as a gift from his father; drove it briefly before wartime storage, used occasionally post-war, then stored indefinitely due to difficulty obtaining correct tyres. Correspondence with a later owner survives.
- 1965 → 1965Private saleJohn J. Pikepartial documentation
Purchased via a contact of the Maharajkumar following enquiry; negotiated export from India over roughly 18 months before the car was shipped across the Pacific.
- → 1980Private saleJimmy Fillerpartial documentation
Alabama-based owner during whose tenure a major restoration was carried out by Robert Lonsdale of Montgomery; over 4,800 hours expended, original colour scheme retained, engine rebuilt.
- 1980 → 1984Private saleRussell Headfull documentation
Prominent West Coast collector who exhibited the car at Pebble Beach and was subject of a magazine feature; sold after approximately four years.
- 1984 → 2011Private saleRon Hickmanfull documentation
Designer of the original Lotus Elan and inventor of the Black & Decker Workmate; kept the car at his Jersey residence where it became widely recognised, appearing on a local postage stamp and in various publications.
- 2011 →Private saleCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Car has been kept in good condition throughout this ownership.
- Date unknownPrivate saleWayne Merrimanpartial documentation
Noted V-16 specialist who acquired the car on its US arrival before passing it on shortly afterward.
Competition
- 19811981 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceBest in Class
Entered by West Coast collector Russell Head following completion of the Lonsdale restoration.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2011Service
Ongoing maintenance performed to keep the car in good running order since acquisition by the present owner.
- —RestorationRobert Lonsdale
Comprehensive restoration to factory colour scheme and original specifications carried out by Robert Lonsdale of Montgomery, Alabama; over 4,800 hours of work were logged. All original body panels were retained apart from the wings, and only a single section of the inner ash frame required replacement. The engine was overhauled with new rings and pistons fitted.
Work was undertaken while the car was owned by Jimmy Filler, prior to the 1980 sale to Russell Head.
- —Engine rebuildRobert Lonsdale
Engine overhauled as part of the broader restoration, including fitting of new piston rings and pistons.
Carried out concurrently with the full restoration under Jimmy Filler's ownership.
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