Cadillac V-12 Price Guide

The Cadillac V-12 of 1931 and 1932 was the middle child in Cadillac’s extraordinary multi-cylinder hierarchy of the early Depression era. It sits between the eight-cylinder standard models and the flagship V-16 in a range that saw Cadillac offering three distinct engine configurations simultaneously. It was an act of engineering ambition remarkable even by the extravagant standards of the period.

The Car

The Cadillac V-12 used a 368 cubic inch (6,029cc) 45-degree V12 producing around 135bhp. On the 140-inch wheelbase chassis, coachbuilders including Fleetwood, Fisher, and numerous independent firms created sedan, convertible, coupe, roadster, and limousine bodies. Just 5,733 V-12s were built across 1931 and 1932 before the model was discontinued as the Depression made three distinct engine families economically untenable. The V-12 was the most technically sophisticated car available at any price in most world markets when it was introduced.

Buying

The V-12 is rarer and less celebrated than the V-16 above it but shares its coachbuilt character. Open body styles command the largest premiums. The Cadillac Heritage Centre and the Cadillac & LaSalle Club hold records for all surviving cars.