Istorie
The 1912 Model was the first car to have electric starting and lighting, popularly known as the ‘Delco’ system. The 1912 Cadillac ranked number two on the list of “Top Ten Production Vehicles” released by General Motors while celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2008. This attractive example has been subject to a complete restoration at Tiriac Collection, both mechanically and cosmetically.
Full description
Cadillac was founded in 1902 by Henry Leland. Six years later, in the same year Cadillac was acquired by General Motors, the company had launched the Model 30, named for its 30 horsepower engine. All previous models were dropped, and the ‘Thirty’ became Cadillac’s sole offering from August of 1908 through September of 1914.
A tragic accident that occurred in 1910 caused the Model 30 to make its greatest contribution to the history of the automotive world. The accident, in which a female motorist lost her friend while cranking her car, eventually resulted in Charles F. Kettering developing an electrical starter. The 1912 Model was the first car to have electric starting and lighting, popularly known as the ‘Delco’ system.
The 1912 model was awarded the Dewar Trophy for its electrical system, including its electric starter. The Dewar Trophy was a cup donated in the early years of the twentieth century by Sir Thomas R. Dewar, M.P. a member of parliament of the United Kingdom (UK), to be awarded each year by the Royal Automobile Club (R. A .C.) of the United Kingdom "to the motor car which should successfully complete the most meritorious performance or test furthering the interests and advancement of the [automobile] industry". The electric starter, known as a ‘World Wonder’, revolutionized the automotive industry, attracting more female motorists to take to the wheel, with the ease of starting up and driving away without the complicated crank start.
The 1912 Cadillac Model 30 ranked number two on the list of “Top Ten Production Vehicles” released by General Motors while celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2008. Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 says that ‘model year production for the 1912 Cadillac was 13,995 cars’.
1912 also saw the introduction of a variety of attractive new coachwork designs, such as the sporting open Torpedo Touring version shown here - a sleek and sporty four passenger tourer that took full advantage of the Cadillac's good performance. The Torpedo was able to keep a sporting look while integrating front doors for better weather protection and passenger security.
This attractive example has been subject to a complete restoration at Tiriac Collection, both mechanically and cosmetically. The result is a wonderful machine, evocative of its period, and taken to a level rarely seen on one of these cars. The car has beautiful and correct leather work done by noted upholsterer and early Cadillac expert Loren Birch. The electric self-starting system works perfectly and the car starts and runs well. The trademark copper jacketed cylinders are fully polished.
This car has covered 29,370 miles.
