1914 Cadillac Model 30 - The JBS Collection

1914 Cadillac Model 30

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Cadillac built the Model 30, or the “Thirty” as it was called, from 1908 to 1914. With the “Thirty” in production, all prior models were discontinued and it became the company’s only offering for a time. The Model 30 was available as a three-passenger Roadster, two-door Demi-Tonneau with seating for four, or a two-door, five-passenger Tourer.

Cadillac upgraded the Model 30 over the course of the vehicle’s production lifetime. During the vehicle’s last year of manufacture in 1914, the Model 30 transitioned to left-hand drive, a new floor-hinged steering wheel, and an optional electrically engaged two-speed direct-drive axle. This last component made high-speed driving a quieter experience and put less stress on the motor.

About the Name…

Initially, the vehicle’s 226 cubic-inch L-head four-cylinder engine yielded 30 horsepower, thus the Model 30 moniker. Later on, the Model 30’s upgraded 366 cubic-inch engine provided 40 to 50 horsepower.

The “Fat Man” and a Great Start

Recognizing the potential problems with crank-starting an automobile, Cadillac introduced the self-starter for its 1912 vehicles. Dayton Electric Laboratories developed the electric starting and generating system for the cars. In addition to easier starting, the system produced electricity for lighting and other components. Cadillac’s electric starter and electric lights earned it the prestigious Dewar Trophy in 1912. The Dewar Trophy was the automotive equivalent of a Nobel Prize in its time.

The hinged steering wheel featured on the Model 30 was dubbed the “Fat Man.” It allowed larger drivers to move the steering wheel away from their bodies giving more space for a driver to climb into and out of the vehicle with a greater measure of comfort and grace.