1911 Cadillac Model 30 Roadster

Cadillac was under the guidance of its founder, Henry Martyn Leland, and his son Wilfred in 1909 and was in its second year as part of William Crapo Durant's General Motors. It was the first year of the four-cylinder Model 30 and would remain the sole model in Cadillac's catalog for the next six years. This was not the company's first four-cylinder model, as the four-cylinder Model D was had been introduced in 1905. The design of the engine featured four individual cylinders with copper water jackets and a variable valve lift throttle system that mimicked aspects of the company's singles' design and construction.

During the production lifespan of the Model 30, it would receive numerous improvements, including to the engine, with its stroke increasing in size by 1.25 inches, resulting in a larger engine displacement and an increase in brake horsepower (albeit, the calculated rating stayed the same). The Model 30 is famously remembered for introducing Delco's 'Self Starter' system in 1912.

Chassis 33567
This particular Cadillac Model 30 Three/Four Passenger Touring was delivered on May 5, 1911, to a customer in New York, New York. It has the enlarged 4 ½' 'square' bore and stroke dimensions, resulting in a 10 brake horsepower increase over the previous year.

The two-passenger coachwork with a mother-in-law seat is finished in dark blue livery with ivory wheels and chassis.

This Model 30 was once owned by Henry Austin Clark Jr., who discovered it on the farm behind the Big Duck, a Long Island landmark in Flanders, New York. The car was soon sold to Ken Rohl, who treated it to a restoration. Later, the car was traded back to Clark in exchange for a Thomas. It was shown in Clark's Long Island Automobile Museum until its closure in 1963.

At the museum's dispersion auction, the car was sold to Roger Feris Sr., who retained it until 2013.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2025