1912 Cadillac Model 30

1908 was a rather monumental year for Cadillac, as it had won the Dewar Trophy (the first-ever for an American car), adopted the famous 'Standard of the World' slogan, and was acquired by General Motors.

The Model 30 became the sole model within the Cadillac line for 1909 and was named for its horsepower rating. It was a refined version of the 1907 and 1908 Model G with a longer wheelbase and offered only in open-body styles. Priced at approximately two-thirds the price of the G, the new Model 30 sold nearly six times as many cars as all 1908 Cadillacs combined.

Available body styles included a tourer, demi-tonneau, and a roadster. The demi-tonneau had a detachable tonneau that could be converted to a runabout, and along with the roadster, had a sweeping cowl that presaged 'torpedo' styling. When the optional windshield was ordered, it was affixed to a wood dashboard fitted over the cowl. Closed bodies returned to the lineup in 1910, including a coupe and a limousine, and the 1911 model year brought a longer wheelbase and the last use of the 'Model 30' name, although the cars remained much the same through 1914.

The four-cylinder engine had an L-head design, cast-iron cylinders, five main bearings, a float feed carburetor built by Cadillac, and was backed by a three-speed selective sliding gear transmission with a leather-faced cone clutch. Stopping power was by mechanical brakes on two wheels with 10 and 12-spoke wood artillery wheels with quick detachable rims at all four corners.

Cadillac produced 5,903 vehicles in 1909, 8,008 the following year, and 10,019 in 1911. By 1912, body styles included a five-passenger touring, roadster, and phaeton priced at $1,800, a $1,900 torpedo, a coupe at $2,250, and a limousine at $3,250. The wheelbase measured 116-inches, the tires measured 36 x 4.5 (the following year, the tires measured 28-inches), and the 286.3 CID four-cylinder engine had 40 plus horsepower. Optional equipment included a clock, seat covers, trunk rack, electric horn, power tire pump, handy lamp, mohair tops, and a windshield.

The big news for 1912 was electric starting and lighting using a Delco system, developed by engineer Charles Kettering. This was not the first electric starter but was much simpler, smaller, and more practical than previous efforts. Mr. Kettering had worked at the National Cash Register Company, and he understood that an electric motor could be severely overloaded, provided that it was used only intermittently. Cadillac's system for 1912 used four six-volt batteries connected in series for 24-volt starting, while lighting and accessories ran at six volts. With the electrical system in place, Cadillac did away with gas- and oil-fueled lighting completely.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2020