1930 Cadillac V16 Imperial Sedan by IXO

The Cadillac V-16 was Cadillac's top-of-the-line car from its January 1930
launch until production ceased in 1940 as the war in Europe killed sales. All
were finished to custom order, and the car was built in very small numbers; only
4076 cars were constructed in the eleven years the model was offered. The
majority of these were built in the single year of 1930, before the Great
Depression really took hold. This was the first V16 powered car to reach
production status in the United States.
In 1926, Cadillac began the development of a new, "multi-cylinder" car. A
customer requirement was seen for a car powered by an engine simultaneously more
powerful and smoother than any hitherto available. Development proceeded in
great secrecy over the next few years; a number of prototype cars were built and
tested as the new engine was developed, while at the same time Cadillac chief
Lawrence Fisher and GM's stylist Harley Earl toured Europe in search of
inspiration from Europe's finest coachbuilders. Unlike many builders of luxury
cars, who sold bare chassis to be clothed by outside coachbuilding firms,
General Motors had purchased the coachbuilders Fleetwood and Fisher Body to keep
all the business in-house. Bare Cadillac chassis could be purchased if a buyer
insisted, but the intention was that few would do so.
It was not until after the stock market crash of 1929 that Cadillac announced to
the world the availability of the costliest Cadillac yet, the new V-16. The new
vehicle was first displayed at New York's automobile show on January 4, 1930.
From Wikipedia.