1903 Cadillac Model A Runabout Rear Entry Tonneau

In 1902, the Detroit Automobile Company - a firm on the verge of bankruptcy - called upon engine builder Henry Martyn Leland to appraise the worth of their factory so they could sell it. Instead, Leland showed them his outstanding one-cylinder engine and they quickly changed their minds about closing down. Instead, they formed the Cadillac Automobile Company.

Cadillac's first automobile, the Model A, was completed two months later, and in January 1903, when an astonishing 2,286 orders for the new vehicle were taken at the New York Auto Show; the sales manager declared that the car was 'sold out.'

The Model A has a single-cylinder engine with a two-speed transmission and center-chain drive. The 1,370-pound vehicle boasted 6.5 to 8.25 horsepower, with a top speed of 31-34 mph, and sold new for $750. This model is an early production model and is one of five painted all-black with nickel trim. It was sold new in Kansas City, KS.