The $15,000 Exhaust Manifold: Why This 1934 Cadillac V-16 Broke All the Rules Jay Leno's Garage

Jay Leno is joined by owner Steve Nannini to drive a true piece of automotive royalty: a magnificent 1934 Cadillac V-16 Club Sedan. This massive car, stretching over 20 feet long, represents the peak of American pre-war luxury and engineering. The Cadillac V-16 caused an earthquake when it debuted, challenging the most elite brands like Duesenberg and Rolls-Royce. In fact, a legendary story surrounds this engine: Rolls-Royce actually reverse-engineered the V-16 to inform the design of their own V12 Phantom III engine after W.O. Bentley (founder of Bentley Motors) test-drove it and declared it "one of the best cars" he had ever driven. Engineered for Royalty: The V-16: Cadillac’s goal was silence and refinement, not raw speed. Its torque is phenomenal, allowing it to glide from 5 MPH up to over 100 MPH in top gear. Art Deco Design: The engine bay itself is a piece of sculpture. Harley Earl and the Art & Color department styled the engine with a hidden central valley cover and porcelain-coated exhaust manifolds that reduced heat and noise. Innovation: This 1934 model includes innovations like hydraulic lifters, knee-action independent suspension, and a new air intake system that bumped horsepower from 180 to 200. Rarity: Only 206 V-16s were built, with only 53 surviving today. Jay drives the car and marvels at its incredibly smooth, turbine-like ride, solid walnut interior, and how effortlessly this nearly three-and-a-half-ton car handles the road. Shop car care and detailing supplies from Jay Leno’s Garage: https://www.lenosgarage.com/shine » Subscribe: http://bit.ly/JLGSubscribe THE BEST OF JAY LENO'S GARAGE » Exclusive First Looks: http://bit.ly/JLGExclusives » Ultra Rare Supercars: http://bit.ly/JLGSupercars » Jay's Book Club: http://bit.ly/JLGBookClub JAY LENO'S GARAGE ON SOCIAL Facebook: http://facebook.com/JayLenosGarage Twitter: http://twitter.com/LenosGarage Instagram: http://instagram.com/jaylenosgarage/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jaylenosgarageofficial ABOUT JAY LENO'S GARAGE A new video every Monday! Visit Jay Leno's Garage, the Emmy-winning series where Jay Leno gives car reviews, motorcycle reviews, compares cars, and shares his passion and expertise on anything that rolls, explodes, and makes noise. Classic cars, restomods, super cars like the McLaren P1, sports cars like Porsche 918 Spyder and Camaro Z28, cafe racers, vintage cars, and much, much more. #JayLenosGarage #Cadillac #V16 #PreWarCar #ClassicCars #LuxuryCar #HarleyEarl #RollsRoyce #Duesenberg #CadillacV16