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The Cadillac
Model 30 was presented in the year 1908 with a phenomenal price tag of
$1400. The chassis with 106 inch wheelbase was available with various
bodywork styles. Motorists were offered a three seat Roadster, a
two-door 'Demi-Tonneau' with four seats and a two-door Tourer with ample
room for five passengers. Through the years engines with increasing
capacities were fitted, the ultimate and last presented in 1914: 6 Litre
water cooled four cylinder in-line type featuring a 5-bearing
crankshaft. After this last four cylinder engine Cadillac introduced the
V8 engine! To prove the quality of the Cadillac cars and the interchangeability of their parts Cadillac had three 1907 Cadillac Model K cars taken from the British agents London showroom in February 1908... The cars were driven 25 miles to the famous Brooklands race course in Weybridge. There the cars were parked in three brick sheds and they were disassembled into about 720 pieces... After that the parts were scrambled together in one big pile. 89 crucial parts needing utmost precision were taken from the pile and replaced by NEW spare parts from the London dealer stock. The parts were then randomly chosen from the pile to build three cars again using each others components... The rebuild succeeded and all three cars were able to start and drive! After this feat the cars were driven for 500 miles on Brooklands race course. This run was completed successfully by all three Cadillacs! This standardisation of parts was a first in the auto industry and an important step leading to the development of the modern assembly line. In 1910 they were the first to introduce a chassis with fully closed bodywork. In 1912 they were the first to present an integral electrical system, electric starter motor and electric lights! The Cadillac Model 30 is therefore the worlds first car incorporating these innovations! Four cylinder
in-line engine (L-head) |
