UPCOMING CARS FROM JAY'S GARAGE:
Suzuki GSX R1000 Coming July 6!
MainThe GarageThe CarsVideosPhotosArticlesGamesCommunityThe Tonight Show
1930 Cadillac V16 Tiger Hunting Car by Pinin Farina
Previous
Next
1930 Cadillac V16 Tiger Hunting Car by Pinin Farina | February 9, 2008
This gorgeous car’s strange odyssey began in 1930 when 29 year-old Maharajah Vir Singh claimed his ancestral throne in the ancient city of Orccha, India. Vir Singh's ascendancy placed at his disposal annual tax revenues of 31 million rupees, some of which was used to commission this specialized one-of-a-kind Cadillac. - Only months before, Cadillac had unveiled its new V16 engine, a silent-running powerhouse designed in secrecy to gain a competitive edge over Packard, Pierce-Arrow and Marmon. That first year, Cadillac shipped 32 of its bare chassis overseas. This car’s chassis eventually made it’s way to Bombay by way of Turin. - Meanwhile the man who would later become Italy's most renowned automotive designer was setting out on his own. Pinin Farina, then 35 year, left his brother's firm, to open his own shop. From that shop, this Cadillac, the Maharajah's tiger-hunting car, was one of Farina’s first masterpieces. Forsaking traditional fenders and running boards, Farina achieved a sportier look by adding cycle fenders and applying louvered dust shields over the frame. In the boat-tailed deck he installed small doors which opened onto a throne compartment raised 12 inches above the front seats. This innovation enabled the Maharajah to be conveyed around Orccha at an elevation befitting his rank. It also gave him a free field of fire when his beaters drove a tiger from the bush.
Average Rating Rate It!
Your Email Friend's Email



Previous
Next
YOUR GARAGEUpload a photo and share specs of your ride.
More
More
Related Articles
Jay Leno's Garage - Ceramics Class Porsche has made a really worthwhile contribution to the supercar genre. The Carrera GT's multiplate clutch is lighter and smaller than any comparable unit.
Jay Leno's Garage - For The Record Just out for a drive--in a Porsche Carrera GT on the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway.
An Art Form Lost Owner's manuals once were more than a collection of warnings and cautions. They used to enhance ownership.
An Under-Appreciated Classic: the Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S A strange, pistonless engine in a strange-looking sports car proves to be an irresistible combination.
More
Copyright NBC Studio, Inc. 2009
All Rights Reserved. The Tonight Show.
Main | The Garage | The Cars | Videos | Photos | Articles | Games | Community | The Tonight Show | Privacy & Terms of Use | NBC.COM