1904 Cadillac Model B

The year 1904 sees a number of changes industry wide in the consensus view of how to build a car.  One such feature is the steering wheel.  A popular and needed approach, it allowed far better control of directing the destination of what is becoming a larger, heavier, sturdier vehicle capable of navigating America’s roads.  Cadilac is now in its second year of production and would make 2300 cars this year having 17 dealerships worldwide.  It was a very popular choice of those willing to pay a significant amount of money to be able to traverse the countryside sans dependance on organic propulsion. (horse)  The basic chassis now sports a full-length frame and can support several body styles with varying numbers of travelers.  There was even a light duty delivery vehicle that employed the same chassis.  The model “B” weighs in at around 1400 pounds and offers room for two adults in front and two in the rear.  The entrance door was strategically placed in the center of the back so the car could reverse up to the sidewalk for the convenience of its passengers. Keep in mind the road was dirt and often muddy!  It has a modest (8 HP) single cylinder of 5 inch bore and stroke (98 cu in) which could move the car at a clip of 28 to 30 MPH which was plenty fast for the time.  It has a two-speed transmission of the planetary type which was fairly easy for a newbie to master.  The gear ratios would equate to first and third of a modern 3 speed car today.  You will note the radiator hangs precariously low in the front which was industry standard and would soon be raised up out of harm's way in the 1905 models.  The engine and transmission are still under the body which made access tough, but with all floor, toe, and heel boards removed, it could be serviced.  The car has a unique means of fuel/air mixing in that rather than a carburetor, it has a mixing valve and that throttling was done not by a butterfly gate but rather by modifying the duration of the inlet valve.  It all sounds crazy but it is surprisingly effective and Cadillac retained this configuration for the entirety of their 1-cylinder car production.  (1903 – 1908)

While out of the range of most, at $800 to $900 it was a comparatively practical choice for a forward-thinking and fairly well to do individual.