1909 Cadillac Model 30

In 1905, Cadillac introduced its first four-cylinder automobile, the Model D. The engine had four individual cylinders with cooper water jackets and a variable lift throttle system. By 1908, the Cadillac catalog consisted of five different models with three of them single-cylinder and two being fours. A year later, there was only one - the Thirty.

The Dewar Trophy was awarded each year, beginning in 1906, by the Royal Automobile Club (R.A.C.) of the United Kingdom 'to the motor car which should successfully complete the most meritorious performance or test furthering the interests and advancement of the automobile industry'.

Three 1907 Cadillac Model Ks were selected from the Anglo-American Motor-car Company, the UK agent for Cadillac automobiles, at the Heedon Street showroom in London. The three cars were all registered in London under the numbers A2EO, A3EO, and A4EO and had engine numbers 23391, 24111, and 24118. They were driven to the Brooklands race track at Weybridge where they completed ten laps of the track. The total distance traveled (from the showroom to the track and around the track was around 55 miles). The cars were then locked away for about a month, then released and disassembled completely, using only hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, and wrenches. Each car consisted of exactly 721 component parts. The RAC then scrambled these parts into one head and then removed eight-nine parts and locked them away at the Brooklands clubhouse. These parts were then replaced with new parts from Anglo-American showroom stock. The parts were then sorted into three piles consisting of the parts needed to reassemble the cars.

The cars were reassembled by a mechanic named Mr. E.O. young and his assistant M.M. Gardner. Since the color of the original parts did not match the color of the new parts, the reassembled cars with their mismatched appearance were given the nickname 'harlequin cars.' The three cars then embarked on a mandatory 500-mile run. During the trial, only one point was lost due to a broken cotter pin in the ignition level. After the 500-mile test, the cars were located away until June of 1908 when the 2000-mile reliability trials began.

The Cadillac's won the 1908 R.A.C. Trophy for its class after having demonstrated parts interchangeability. (The award, however, was presented in 1909). Cadillac had become 'the Standard of the World,' having proven the company's precision in engineering being identical in each vehicle they produced.

For 1909, all Cadillac models were now powered by a new 4-cylinder design that offered triple the previous season's 10 horsepower output. Cadillac touted its degree of tolerance to be within 1/1,000th of an inch. The Model 30 had a 106-inch wheelbase, sold for approximately $1,600, and included a Delco electric distributor system and Magneto, plus dry batteries, oils side lamps, a taillight, Presto-Lite gas headlamps, bulb horn, and a lap robe rail. To assist with repairs, the cars came with a tire repair kit and tire irons as well as a tool kit.

1909 was only Cadillac's sixth year in business, and it had re-invented itself by consolidating its vast lineup into a single model. By doing this, they were able to streamline production which improved quality, saved time, and lowered prices by 30 percent. The Model 30 would remain Cadillac's sole model for the next six years although the model designation was changed and in 1913 an increase in the stroke of 1.25 inches increased displacement and brake horsepower (the calculated rating, however, remained the same).

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2020