1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Fleetwood Convertible Coupe

A rare 1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Fleetwood Convertible Coupe is offered on Bring a Trailer, featuring a detailed ownership history and concours recognition. Learn more.

A 1930 Cadillac Series 452 V-16 Convertible Coupe is drawing attention on Bring a Trailer, and the listing leans on two things that collectors rarely get at once: an unusually detailed ownership story and a body style that was offered for only a single year. This Fleetwood-built style 4335 convertible coupe is described as one of roughly 100 made, placing it among the more elusive prewar Cadillacs to surface in public sale.

The timeline begins with factory-era specificity. The car was ordered on March 12, 1930 through Seattle dealer Nagelvoort-Stearns Cadillac and shipped there on May 21, 1930, after which it spent its early years in the Seattle area. By 1951 it was owned by a Portland World War II veteran; following his passing, it was sold in 1958 through a Portland used-car lot to its late owner, whose stewardship defines much of what the car is today.

A major refurbishment in 2002 returned the Cadillac to its original Tartan Tan and Heathcote Brown color combination, re-trimmed the interior in tan leather, and brought the mechanicals back into service. The 452ci 45-degree OHV V16 was disassembled and inspected during that work, and the car later received the Rotary President’s Award at the 2003 Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance. The seller notes it has not been shown since, leaving room for a new owner to reintroduce it to the concours circuit with a fresh narrative.

The specification reads like a snapshot of peak-era American engineering: dual updraft carburetors, a three-speed manual transmission, a 4.07:1 rear end, vacuum-assisted four-wheel mechanical drum brakes, double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers, 19-inch wire wheels, and dual side-mount spares. The odometer shows 59,000 miles (TMU), around 10 of which were added under the selling dealer’s care, and the listing flags that the speedometer is not working.

Preparation for sale is described as more than cosmetic. The car was recommissioned with a rebuild of one carburetor, fluid checks and changes, cleaning of the fuel system and vacuum tanks, and installation of a replacement Optima six-volt battery. It is offered on dealer consignment with a copy of its factory build sheet, historical photos, reproduction owner’s and service manuals, and a clean Oregon title.

With bidding shown at $202,000 and the auction set to end on Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00 p.m., the final result may hinge on how buyers weigh provenance, restoration quality, and the chance to own a flagship Cadillac from the moment the V-16 arrived—right as the world around luxury motoring was about to change.