1904 Cadillac Rear Entry Touring
Early Cadillacs, thirty years apart. Seen, and photographed at the 2025 Greenwich Concours Show.
THE EARLY CADILLAC
Founded by Henry Leland and Robert Faulconer, the Cadillac Automobile Company, of Detroit, Michigan completed its first car in October 1902, the firm's superior manufacturing technology - precision gear cutting was Leland and Faulconer's first speciality - soon establishing it as the foremost builder of quality cars in the USA. In 1901, Olds Motor Works contracted for the supply of Leland-built engines and, when unforeseen circumstances frustrated the plan, Leland and Faulconer formed their own company using funds supplied by two of Henry Ford's ex-backers. The company took its name from the great French 17th century explorer who had founded Detriot in 1701.
The first Cadillac automobile was completed and test driven in October 1902, and the following January made a triumphal debut at the New York Automobile Show where sales manager William E Metzger took orders for no fewer than 2,286 cars, famously declaring mid-week that the Cadillac was 'sold out'. An exemplary performer by the standards of the day, the Cadillac's 98ci (1.6-liter) 10hp single-cylinder engine - known as 'Little Hercules' - was mounted horizontally on the left beneath the front seat and drove via a conventional two-speeds-plus-reverse planetary transmission, with center chain drive to the rear axle. Keenly priced at only $750, the Model A was available with either two- or four-seat coachwork and had a maximum speed of around 30-35mph.
That first 1903 curved-dash Cadillac was re-designated as the Model A after the Model B's introduction for 1904, the 'B' being a more expensive version with box-shaped 'bonnet', pressed-steel frame, 'I'-beam front axle and single transverse front spring. At first Leland & Faulconer supplied only engines, transmissions and steering mechanisms for the Cadillac before taking responsibility for its entire construction in 1905.
1904 Cadillac Rear Entry Touring
Early Cadillacs, thirty years apart. Seen, and photographed at the 2025 Greenwich Concours Show.
THE EARLY CADILLAC
Founded by Henry Leland and Robert Faulconer, the Cadillac Automobile Company, of Detroit, Michigan completed its first car in October 1902, the firm's superior manufacturing technology - precision gear cutting was Leland and Faulconer's first speciality - soon establishing it as the foremost builder of quality cars in the USA. In 1901, Olds Motor Works contracted for the supply of Leland-built engines and, when unforeseen circumstances frustrated the plan, Leland and Faulconer formed their own company using funds supplied by two of Henry Ford's ex-backers. The company took its name from the great French 17th century explorer who had founded Detriot in 1701.
The first Cadillac automobile was completed and test driven in October 1902, and the following January made a triumphal debut at the New York Automobile Show where sales manager William E Metzger took orders for no fewer than 2,286 cars, famously declaring mid-week that the Cadillac was 'sold out'. An exemplary performer by the standards of the day, the Cadillac's 98ci (1.6-liter) 10hp single-cylinder engine - known as 'Little Hercules' - was mounted horizontally on the left beneath the front seat and drove via a conventional two-speeds-plus-reverse planetary transmission, with center chain drive to the rear axle. Keenly priced at only $750, the Model A was available with either two- or four-seat coachwork and had a maximum speed of around 30-35mph.
That first 1903 curved-dash Cadillac was re-designated as the Model A after the Model B's introduction for 1904, the 'B' being a more expensive version with box-shaped 'bonnet', pressed-steel frame, 'I'-beam front axle and single transverse front spring. At first Leland & Faulconer supplied only engines, transmissions and steering mechanisms for the Cadillac before taking responsibility for its entire construction in 1905.