1914 Cadillac Model 30 Speedster

1914 Cadillac Model 30 Speedster

After working for both Henry Ford and R.E. Olds, Henry Leland founded the Cadillac company, and by 1913, slightly over a decade since the first Cadillac was produced, had built a reputation as a builder of quality automobiles. It was formed from the remnants of one of Henry Ford's early car manufacturing ventures, and its 1902 birth date makes it the second oldest car company in the United States. Rather than dissolve the defunct Henry Ford Company, Leland became a partner in a new car making enterprise contributing his design of a one-cylinder engine to power a new car. The new car company was called 'Cadillac' after the 17th-century explorer credited with founding Detroit.

Cadillac was awarded the prestigious Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club of England in 1908 when three Model Ks were driven at England's Brooklands track, then dismantled and painstakingly reassembled after their parts were scrambled into one large pile. This proved the Cadillacs interchangeable parts and the precision in which they were created.

Cadillac began building the Model 30 in 1908, the same year they were acquired by William Crapo Durant's General Motors and adopted the famous slogan, 'Standard of the World.' The Model 30 was not Cadillac's four-cylinder model, that honor resides with the Model D of 1905. With the arrival of the 'Thirty,' all previous models were dropped, and it became the company's sole offering. The Model 30 was produced from 1908 to 1914 and was a modestly priced, quality, and innovative automobile. Pricing began at $1,400 and came in a Roadster, five-passenger Touring, and Demi-Tonneau. The 226 cubic-inch L-head four-cylinder engine delivered 30 horsepower - hence the Model 30 designation.

Cadillac was awarded another Dewar Cup after the introduction of the self-starter. Cadillac had recognized that crank starting a car exposed the operator to potential injury and made it difficult for women to operate. Dayton Electric Laboratories was contracted to develop the electric starting and generating system for the 1912 Cadillac models. Along with ease of staring, this system became a source of electricity for lighting and other systems.

In 1913, the engine stroke was increased by 1.25-inches substantially increasing displacement size and brake horsepower even though the calculated rating stayed the same. The L-Head unit now displaced 366 cubic-inches and delivered 45 horsepower at 2,300 RPM. It was backed by a three-speed sliding gear transmission and braking was handled by two-wheel mechanical brakes. The suspension was a leaf spring setup.

The Model 30 was updated again in 1914, the final year of production, with a switch to left-hand drive, a new floor-hinged steering wheel, and an optional electrically engaged two-speed direct-drive axle to further boost performance. This feature made high-speed motoring quiet and less stressful on the motor. Seven different body styles were offered, and the 366 cubic-inch engine continued to develop 40-50 hp. They rode on 27-inch wheels with 34x4.5 tires. The large stance and potent engine mimicked some of the elite cars of the period at a fraction of the price.

Descriptions & Pictures by conceptcarz & classicargarage & flickr