While we all love classic gems, there are very few automobiles that have remained relevant years after their reign. And Madam X is one of those rare gems. When an automobile designer as good as Chip Foose admits that he is in awe of a classic car, it has to be something special. Here’s what Foose had to say about the Madam X model that he built a few years back: “The Madam X Cadillac is turning out to be one of the most stylish cars I’ve ever built. It’s a great combination of modern technology and old-school coachbuilding tradition. I can’t wait to reveal it.”

Madam X became extremely popular back in the ’30s and decades later, remains one of the most iconic cars of all time. Let’s have a detailed look at this rare “Caddy” gem.

Named After A Stage Play

Like every iconic car, there is an interesting story behind the Cadillac Madam X. For all its popularity within the automobile sphere and among automobile lovers, the name “Madam X” was never used by Cadillac. The name Madam X gained popularity back in the ’30s after a vintage Caddy featured in a famous stage play, back in the day. The Madam X models were particularly characterized by their Fleetwood body style. Though the majority of Madam X models were Cadillac V-16 models, collectors over the years have also stumbled upon some rare V8 models. A super-rare V8 Madam X was among 15 rare gems that the American Pickers crew got their hands on. As soon as the crew discovered this V8 classic, they knew they might have struck gold. The crew knew right away that this was a super rare Madam X model. However, after digging a bit about the model’s history, they found out that it could have been the first-ever V8 Madam X model. The rare gem went on to fetch a mouth-watering $90,000 – expensive but a fitting price for a car as special as the Madam X.

Cadillac V-16

While rare V8 models boast a unique legacy, it is after all the Cadillac V-16 that is most commonly associated with Madam X. The Cadillac V-16 was a special car and features among the greatest Cadillac cars ever produced. Launched in 1930, it was a beacon of exclusivity and luxury. It was among the most expensive cars back in the ’30s and only 4076 V-16 models were ever produced during a reign that lasted 11 years. Buyers were given the option to select from over 50 different body styles. The stunning body design attracted plenty of attention, particularly from the elite. The company built two exclusive right-hand drive V-16 models for buyers in England and Belgium. Another exclusive V-16 model with unusual cycle fenders and retractable step plates in lieu of running board was sent over to the young Nawab of Bahawalpur. Another RHD chassis was ordered by the Indian Maharaja of Orchha (Bhopal) and sent to Farina in Italy, in July 1931, for a boat tail body.

For all its stunning looks and unique design attributes, the V-16 was more than just eye candy. It boasted super impressive performance features for a ’30s automobile. The full-size luxury automobile was touted as a “multi-cylinder car” upon launch. At the heart of this rare gem was a very, very special V16 engine (more on this later) that boasted a cubic inch displacement and produced 185 horsepower. The powerful and efficient engine worked in tandem with a 3-speed synchromesh manual transmission, to deliver smooth performance. The impressive performance features propelled the Caddy V-16 to a top speed of 100 miles per hour. It could go from 0 to 60 miles per hour. The interiors of this classic gem were posh and super comfy, befitting of its impressive design and performance features and attributes.

The Iconic V16 Engine

The best part about owning a V-16 Madame X (or simply, Madam X) model is arguably the V16 engine that it boasts. The birth of the V16 engine coincided with the Madam X models. Safe to say, that the ’30s was the birth of two automobile icons. The V16 engine was a reply to Cadillac’s chief competitor Packard’s V12 engine. Lawrence Fisher, Cadillac General Manager, leaked to the press that the company would also build a V12, hoping to keep the real engine secret. The well-kept secret was the yet-to-be-unveiled V16 engine. The V16 was designed with two, separate, eight-cylinder engine blocks that were topped with overhead valve cylinder heads. Each cylinder block was carbureted with a separate carburetor and a separate fuel delivery system. The company produced only two of three gasoline-fueled V16 engine models. The engine was used exclusively for the Cadillac V-16 models during two separate phases. General Motors did attempt to build a new V16 engine, once in the 1980s and again in 2003, but these have yet to be put into production. Just like the Madam X, the V16 engine is regarding as an icon by automobile lovers. In fact, many consider the V16 engine to be the best engine ever produced.