Vehicle Description
1909 Cadillac Model 30 Demi-Tonneau
Designer: Henry Leland
�
Estimate: $90,000 - $120,000
�
Chassis Number: �17108 ����Engine Number: 37706
Engine: 226 cid In-line 4-cylinder
1-barrel Carburetor/30 bhp
3-Speed "Sliding" Manual Transmission
Rear Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
�
Mileage: 20,604 Showing
�
First Year of Cadillac's Famous Model 30
Well Maintained Older Restoration
Operational and Ready to Tour
�
The Model: Just the year before this wonderful automobile was
produced, Cadillac had been awarded the prestigious Dewar Trophy
and had become the Standard of the World. Three identical 10 HP
Cadillacs had been sent to England, totally disassembled down to
every nut and bolt, had the parts scrambled into a big pile, then
randomly separated. Then the parts were reassembled into three
perfectly running automobiles, proving Cadillac's precision in
engineering was identical in each vehicle produced. While these
cars had been of the single-cylinder variety, in 1909, Cadillac
upgraded all of their models to a new 4-cylinder design that
produced triple the previous season's 10 HP output. Cadillac touted
its degree of tolerance to be within 1/1,000th of an inch. For
$1,600 the Cadillac customer received not only excellent coachwork
and superb mechanics, but also Delco electrical distributor system
and a Magneto, plus dry batteries, a taillight, oils side lamps,
Presto-Lite gas headlamps, tire repair kit and tire irons as well
as a tool kit, bulb horn, and a lap robe rail.
�
The Car: This outstanding example of the Model 30 Demi-Tonneau is
finished in Dark Forest Green with Ivory wood spoke wheels. The
seats have been finished in black leather crafted into a
comfortable and stylish Diamond tufting. It was retained by the
original owner for a number of years and in the second owner's
possession for 75 years! Treated to a full restoration several
decades ago, it has recently undergone a mechanical freshening at
which time the current owner installed an electric starter. As he
says, "you can still use the crank, but the starter is safer and
much more practical." Under the hood, the engines individually cast
cylinders are jacketed in highly polished copper with proper brass
fittings gleaming in the daylight. Brass is a major part of this
Cadillac's presentation with radiator shell, door handles, Gray &
Davis headlights, cowl lights, windshield frame, bulb horn
taillight and even the hubcaps looking radiant. With the upgrades
installed, this Cadillac will be welcomed at most any vintage
motoring event and will be able to participate giving the new owner
the same confidence that Henry Leland had when he brought this
beauty to market. � �