A Brief Cadillac ‘V’ Engine History
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Once upon a time, Cadillac had a reputation for its smooth, refined and powerful V-type engines.
The automaker introduced its first V-type engine in 1915, when it debuted its 5.1-liter V8 engine. This engine, which was the first mass produced V8 ever, produced about 70 hp and was developed by Cadillac’s chief engineer D’Orsay McCall White. The Scottish-born engineer emigrated to the United States to work for Cadillac after serving as the chief engineer for All British Motor Car Co. of Glasgow. He went on to work for Nash after developing the Cadillac V8 and also helped develop the V12 Liberty Aircraft engine, which powered various tanks and aircraft in World War I and World War II.
Cadillac sold 13,000 V8 cars in the first model year, with the eight-cylinder V-type engine layout quickly becoming the automaker’s mainstay motor. It refined the engine in 1923, introducing a 90-degree version with a split crankshaft, which produced 83.5 hp. It kept refining the V8 engine over the years and in 1928, it paired its newly updated V8 engine with the first-ever synchromesh manual transmission – a technology that General Motors pioneered.
1915 Cadillac V8
The innovation didn’t stop at V8s and synchromesh transmissions. In 1930, the automaker introduced its V16 engine, designed my Michigan native Owen Nacker. The V16 was born out of GM’s desire to create an engine that was both more powerful and smoother than anything else on sale, with the automaker introducing it in the range-topping Series 452. It had a narrow 45-degree V angle and a displacement of 7.4-liters and set Cadillac apart from the competition. Not surprisingly, sales of the V16 Cadillacs were insignificant and GM lost money on every one it sold.
The V16 found its way into various Cadillac models over its 10 years of production before GM killed it off in 1940.
Cadillac also introduced a V12 shortly after the V16. The V12 was also developed by Nacker and shared many components and design similarities with the sixteen cylinder. The V12, with its lower price and similar driving characteristics, vastly outsold the V16. But neither of the engines stayed in production for very long, with the V12 being axed in 1937.
Cadillac 4.2L Twin Turbo V8
Cadillac says the adoption of the V-type engine was a defining moment for the brand “that brought about a steep change in performance” that has continued to guide and shape, its engineering and design to this day.
The automaker may not have a V12 or V16 in production today, but it recently rolled out its new twin-turbocharged Blackwing 4.2-liter DOHC V8 engine, which makes 550 hp and will appear in the forthcoming CT6-V. While not as groundbreaking as its other powertrains, this DOHC engine is intended to represent a step forward for GM in the modern era.
(Cadillac V16 and V8 engine images via Wikimedia Commons)
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Cadillac then and Cadillac now. What a fall from grace.
It is a different world. Some adapted and are still here and others went the way of Packard.
None are he same. Rolls went bankrupt and is a big BMW. Bently an expensive VW. BMW is looking for partners to save cost to survive.
None of them are what they used to be.
Duesenberg only a memory.
Scott3
I understand what you are saying and realize thing have changed. My question to you do you think Cadillac is truly abled to compete in its class or is doing the right thing to be able to compete in the near or far future?
I wasent expecting Cadillac to be what it was in the early days. I just feel they are falling short in being competitive in their stageted class let alone being the leader. I am not anti GM or Cadillac just anti mediocre. Way too many GM products are just that.
The honest answer is yes, Cadillac is able to but is GM? I personally think, if their new, latest and greatest “plan” doesn’t work, they should send Cadillac to the land of Bentley and Rolls. Then they could take Buick up a notch. My guess is if they shoot for Bentley, they might hit Mercedes. Of course, the whole electric thing kinda throws a wrench in it…
I don’t think it has to do withGM’s ability to. I think it has more to do with their desire to. Their idea of competition is to put as little into the product and price it to get the most out of it. Then they set back and wonder why these things are not selling.
My idea especially with their suspect reputation be that real or perceived. engineer,design and build the best performing best equipped best styled (inside and outside) vehicles in their class and slightly undercut the competition in price.
Give the people something to think about when car shopping. If I can get equal or better product for a better price from GM why not give them a chance. By better I mean across the board. You can’t good in some areas and bad in others unless you want to fail which too many of their products are doing.
I get where you are coming from.
But too many here look only at the small picture not the big.
The real problem is all automakers are in trouble. They face a challenging and greatly unknown future. Development cost today are such if they put all their chips on one number and miss they will be out of the game.
VW had a close call on Diesels today they are now all in electric and hope they chose correctly. For a company as large as VW to cheat on Diesels shows the desperation of the largest.
Toyota has gotten so conservative now they are becoming stagnant. Just look at the Taco. It is leading sales just by loyalty but falling way behind in all areas.
Yes the Colorado may have too much plastic inside but it has a 4 wheel disc brake system with 4 piston calipers on the front. The Taco they still have drums.
GM May cut corners in the interior but under the skin you often get a better vehicle. Most of their engines have chain driven cams vs the rubber belts that need changed on the others regularly.
The greatest issue has been one vision for Cadillac. We had that under JDN. That is what got us the Blackwing etc.
I am not too worried on the XT4 or XT5 as these are entry level vehicles much like Audi sells that are just fancier VW models.
The higher in class we get the more they need to put more into the details. The engine is a great start. As for the rest we just have to see if they execute to a realistic expectation.
To condemn then now is short sighted as we have yet to see hpjust what they are bringing.
The real issue is they need to be what they need to be and not try to cater to everyone.
Some think this game is won on one model in one year but it’s not. A mid engine or V16 will not fix this. They need to earn customer trust and change the image.
To do this the core product needs to be right and 5hat is the CT4-5 and Escala. The CUV models will be fine as they will make money. If they change the image they will just make more.
Even if they are not #1 in sales they just need to show continued improvement. In these segments profits out weigh volume outside the low end CUV models.
The truth is all the products from BMW and Benz are not what they used to be. Many think they are leading edge but the value disappears fast as they get older. High maintenance cost vs Cadilkac are real killers. If you ever worked on a BMW you would wonder what were they thinking much too often.
Trust me I know they have a lot of room for improvement but they are not as bad as off as some make it.
How could you not mention the 346 Flathead V8 or the 1949 OHV engine?
I forgot to mention be consitant. Don’t go telling people you are going to keep sedans around then turn around a couple of months to announce you are getting rid of the majority of your sedans. Especially a sedan that you finally bring up to the standard that many wanted to see upon it introduction. That’s just wrong.
Too bad they screwed up so bad in the 80’s and 90’s with such messes as the 8-6-4 and the underdeveloped and rushed to market HT4100 followed by the Northstar that quickly earned the reputation of a head gasket popping leaker. Now they have an all new V8 and soon no car to put it in. Yes we are committed to sedans!
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