- Lovely Tulip-style Runabout
- Iconic Dewar Trophy model
- Formerly of the Harrah Collection
- Ideal for one- and two-cylinder touring
Cadillac introduced a four-cylinder Model D in 1905, but their
single-cylinder cars were sufficiently popular that they remained
in production through 1908. That year, a team of three Model K
Cadillacs triumphed in the Dewar competition in England, being
disassembled, their parts scrambled, reassembled, and easily
started. This demonstration of Henry Leland's precision manufacture
earned Cadillac the Dewar Trophy and led to the slogan "The
Standard of the World."
However, under-seat engines were becoming pass�, so Cadillac
disguised the fact by mounting a dummy hood over the front axle on
1905 models, with a vertical radiator at the front. New
single-cylinder models for 1906 were the K and M, which differed
only in wheelbase (the M was two inches longer). For 1907 the front
fender contour was flattened and a factory-installed Victoria top
was offered.
Cadillac's Victoria Runabout is often called "Tulip" because of the
shape of the seat.
This car was completed on 2 June 1906 and shipped to Foss Hughes
Motor Car Company, the Philadelphia dealer. Its early history is
not known, but in the 1980s it was in the famed Harrah's Collection
at Reno, as attested by a certificate in the car's file. It does
not seem to have been in any of the dispersal sales. It was
acquired by the Merrick Auto Museum in 1998 from Walter Cox of
Naples, Texas.
After an 1,100-hour-plus restoration, it appears now much as it did
when new, with a maroon body but with pinstriping of gold and
black, versus the original carmine. The black buttoned leather
seating is original, with new stuffing, and matches the black
Victoria top. Behind the tulip seat is a duck-tail compartment for
small items. Rushmore acetylene headlamps complement brass kerosene
side and taillamps. The undercarriage and wheels are a bright
crimson, the latter mounted with all-white tires.To view this car
and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf19.
