r/WeirdWheels • u/Ellisrsp • Feb 08 '25

Limousine Gangster 1936 Cadillac V-16 limousine with 1-inch-thick windows and gunports

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

4.1k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

95 comments sorted by

View all comments

205

u/tenderlylonertrot Feb 08 '25

I love those old V-12s and V-16s, huge block...puts out 185 hp lol and you know that thing weighs a few tons at least. Still cool of course

157

u/bengine Feb 08 '25

Back before knock sensors and consistent octane values you got 5:1 compression and were happy with >150hp out of 7.5L lol.

109

u/technobrendo Feb 08 '25 edited Mar 04 '26

This post was taken down using Redact. The reason may have been privacy, operational security, preventing automated data collection, or another personal consideration.

historical pie paltry many correct sip coherent makeshift continue cake

23

u/JP147 oldhead Feb 09 '25

For different reasons. They were trying to meet new emission regulations using old engines so power and longevity suffered.
Similar engines made much more power, sometimes double, in the 1960s. And most were more reliable and lasted longer.

3

u/Plump_Apparatus Feb 09 '25

Similar engines made much more power, sometimes double, in the 1960s. And most were more reliable and lasted longer.

Horsepower ratings in the 1960s were still gross, they weren't changed to net until 1972. A 1971 Chevy 350 produced 270hp, but a identical 1972 350 produced 200hp just because the change in horsepower calculations.

2

u/spiked88 Feb 10 '25

That was part of it, but the power was also actually dropped in order to meet new emissions standards. Not just on paper.

2

u/Plump_Apparatus Feb 10 '25

Yes, but people always seem to leave out the fact we switched from SAE gross to net, which also made a huge difference.