Cadillac Models & History 1906
Cadillac fielded four models for 1906:
- two single cylinder models: K and M;
- two four cylinder models: L and H.
| Model K | Model L | Model M | Model H |
|---|
1906 CADILLAC MODEL K
MODEL K ENGINE
| Description | Single cylinder with cast iron cylinder to the rear and copper water jacket |
|---|---|
| Bore & Stroke | 5 x 5 in. (127 mm x 127 mm) |
| Displacement | 98.2 cu. in. (1.609 liters) |
| Brake H.P. | Advertised as 10 hp but probably higher |
| Engine description | Two main bearings and mechanical valve lifters |
| Carburetor | Updraft mixer, manufactured by Cadillac |
MODEL K CHASSIS
| Brakes | mechanical on two wheels contracting on inboard drums |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 22″ wood wheels with 12 spokes |
| Tires | 28×3 |
| Wheelbase | 74 in. |
| Overall length | 9′ 2″ |
| Height | 4′ 6″ |
| Front/Rear Tread | 56″ (61″ opt) |
| Weight | approx. 1100 lb (550 kg) |
MODEL K TECHNICAL
| Transmission type | Planetary transmission |
|---|---|
| Speeds | Two forward (3:1 and 1:1) and one reverse |
| Controls | Low: foot pedal; reverse and high: lever to the right |
| Clutch | Low and reverse: bands; High: disc clutch |
| Drive | Chain |
| Differential | Spur gear |
| Overall ratio | 3:1 to 5:1 |
MODEL K OPTIONS
| Bulb horn; lights. Rubber top with sides & storm apron | $30.00 |
| Leather top with sides & storm apron | $50.00 |
HISTORICAL NOTES ON MODEL K
The Model K sold for $750. Calendar year sales and production were 3650 units. The model year sales were the same number. The serial number was on a plate on the rear of body (with engine number). Engine numbers were stamped in two places on the crankcase: 1. Top, right edge of cylinder flange, near the water outlet. 2. Top surface of left, front mounting leg. It was also placed on a plate on the rear of the body (with serial number). (Blank spaces on patent plate are for additional patent dates, not engine or serial number.) Engine No.: 8350-10000.
The Model K was introduced on January, 1906. The chassis was the same as the 1905 models, except the spark control was now on the steering column and the oiler had a mechanical feed from a cam on the hub of the flywheel. Straight-side Dunlop tires were now standard equipment. The bodies were restyled. All 1906 one cylinder passenger car bodies were now the Victoria style. The dash was now pressed steel and the corners of the “hood” was rounded. This “hood” and dash treatment was used through 1908. 1906 cars can be identified by a long muffler and severe cant to the nose of the front fenders. The tops were not shown in catalogs but undoubtedly were available. Cadillac was setting up its own top department and would be offering Cadillac-made tops for 1907
1906 CADILLAC MODEL L
MODEL L ENGINE
| Engine type | Vertical, inline, L-head four cylinder, individual cast iron cylinders with copper water jacket |
|---|---|
| Bore & Stroke | 5 x 5 in (127 mm x 127 mm) |
| Displacement | 392.7 cu. in (6.435 liters) |
| Brake H.P. | 40 hp |
| Engine description | Five main bearings, mechanical valve lifters |
| Carburetor | Throttled, float feed, jet type made by Cadillac |
MODEL L CHASSIS
| Brakes | Mechanical on two wheels — service and emergency on rear drums |
|---|---|
| Wheels (touring) | 28″ front; 27″ rear 12 spoke wood artillery wheels |
| Wheels (limousine) | 28″ front; 26″ rear 12 spoke wood artillery wheels |
| Tires (touring) | 36 x 4 front; 36 x 4.5″ rear |
| Tires (limousine) | 36 x 4 front; 36 x 5″ rear |
| Wheelbase | 110″ |
| Overall length (touring) | 13′ 3″ |
| Overall length (limousine) | 13′ 6″ |
| Height (touring) | 6′ 3″ |
| Height (limousine) | 7′ 5″ |
| Front/Rear Tread | 56.5″ |
| Weight of 2-door Touring | 2850 lb (1295 kg) |
| Weight of 2-door Limousine | 3600 lb (1636 kg) |
MODEL L TECHNICAL
| Transmission type | Planetary transmission |
|---|---|
| Speeds | Three forward and one reverse |
| Controls | Right hand drive with controls to the right |
| Clutch | Twin disc in flywheel, disc and 3 bands on transmission |
| Drive | shaft |
| Differential | Live axle, bevel drive, bevel differential |
MODEL L OPTIONS
| Bulb horn. Lights. Touring top | $156.00 |
HISTORICAL NOTES ON MODEL L
The Model L 2-door Touring sold for $3750 and the 2-door Limousine sold for $5000. Calendar year sales and production are unknown, probably very limited. Model year sales are the same. Serial numbers were on a plate on the rear of the body or on the dash (with the engine number). Engine numbers were stamped on top surface of the crankcase – in front of and to the left of the number one (front) cylinder.
The Model L was introduced on January, 1906. It was based on 1905 Model D.
Bodies: Cadillac’s first offering of a limousine body. Cadillac’s first use of auxiliary (rear facing) seats in Touring tonneau to give seven passenger seating capacity.
Engine: Bore increased from 4-3/8 to 5 in.; mixer replaced by throttled, float feed, jet type carburetor; hydraulic governor replaced by centrifugal ring-type governor linked to carburetor throttle butterfly; variable lift inlet valve feature dropped; commutator shaft changed from horizontal to vertical.
Chassis: Change in commutator drive allowed for shorter hood; dash now pressed steel; wheelbase lengthened to 110 in.; service and emergency brakes both act on rear drums. Except for the V-16’s, the Model L engine displacement was not equalled in a production Cadillac engine until 1964. Wm. K. Vanderbilt, Jr. owned a Model L Cadillac, but this type of customer was rare. Cadillac needed high production to make the concept of interchangeable parts pay off.
1906 CADILLAC MODEL M
MODEL M ENGINE
| Engine type | Single cylinder with cast iron cylinder to the rear and copper water jacket |
|---|---|
| Bore & Stroke | 5 x 5 in. (127 mm x 127 mm) |
| Displacement | 98.2 cu. in. (1.609 liters) |
| Brake H.P. | Advertised as 10 hp but probably higher |
| Engine description | Two main bearings and mechanical valve lifters |
| Carburetor | Updraft mixer, manufactured by Cadillac |
MODEL M CHASSIS
| Brakes | mechanical on two wheels contracting on inboard drums | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 23″ wood wheels with 12 spokes | |
| Tires | 30 x 3.5 | |
| Wheelbase | 76 in. | |
| Overall length | 9′ 7″ | |
| Height | 5′ 6″ | |
| Front/Rear Tread | 56″ | |
| Weight | approx. 1100 lb (550 kg) |
MODEL M TECHNICAL
| Transmission type | Planetary transmission |
|---|---|
| Speeds | Two forward (3:1 and 1:1) and one reverse |
| Controls | Low: foot pedal; reverse and high: lever to the right |
| Clutch | Low and reverse: bands; High: disc clutch |
| Drive | Chain |
| Differential | Spur gear |
| Overall ratio | 3:1 to 5:1 |
MODEL M OPTIONS
| Bulb horn. Lights. Cape cart top for Touring | $75.00 |
HISTORICAL NOTES ON MODEL M
The Model M sold for $950. Calendar year sales and production were 3650. Model year sales were the same number. Serial number were on a plate on the rear of the body (with engine number). Engine numbers were stamped in two places on the crankcase: 1. Top, right edge of the cylinder flange, near the water outlet. 2. Top surface of left, front mounting leg. Also on plate on rear of body (with serial number). (Blank spaces on the patent plate are for additional patent dates, not engine or serial number.) Engine No.: 8350-10000 with M, 20001-21850 with M, 21851-22150 with M (1906-1907).
The Model M was introduced January, 1906. The Model M was the same as the 1906 Model K except for body styles and two inch longer wheelbase.
1906 CADILLAC MODEL H
MODEL H ENGINE
| Engine type | Vertical, inline, L-head four cylinder, individual cast iron cylinders with copper water jacket |
|---|---|
| Bore & Stroke | 4.375 x 5 in (111mm x 127mm) |
| Displacement | 300.7 cu. in (4.927 liters) |
| Brake H.P. | 30 hp |
| Engine description | Five main bearings, mechanical lifters |
| Carburetor | Throttled, float feed, jet type made by Cadillac |
MODEL H CHASSIS
| Brakes | Mechanical on two wheels — service and emergency on rear drums |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 24″– 12 spoke wood artillery wheels |
| Tires | 32 x 4 |
| Wheelbase | 102″ |
| Front/Rear Tread | 56.5″ |
| Weight of 2-door Touring | 2400 lb (1091 kg) |
| Weight of 2-door Coupe | 2500 lb (1136 kg) |
MODEL H TECHNICAL
| Transmission type | Planetary transmission |
|---|---|
| Speeds | Three forward and one reverse |
| Controls | Right hand drive with controls to the right |
| Clutch | Twin disc in flywheel, disc and 3 bands on transmission |
| Drive | shaft |
| Differential | Live axle, bevel drive, bevel differential |
MODEL H OPTIONS
| Bulb horn. Lights. Touring top | $125.00 |
| Runabout top | $50.00 |
HISTORICAL NOTES ON MODEL H
The price of the 2-door Touring was $2500; the Runabout was $2400; and the 2-door Coupe was $3000. Calendar year sales and production (1906-1908) was 509 units. Model year sales were the same number. The serial number was on a plate on the rear of the body or on the dash (with engine number). The engine number was stamped on the top surface of the crankcase — in front of and to the left of the number one (front) cylinder. Engine No.: 10201-10709 (1906-1908).
The Model H was introduced January, 1906
Notes: Same as Model L except no limousine offered. The Touring was a five-passenger. The Runabout and first production Cadillac Coupe offered. The wheelbase was 102 in., tires 32 x 4; rear springs 3/4 elliptic. Early ads, advance catalogs, and the 1906 ALAM Handbook listed the wheelbase of the Model H as 100 in. rather than the actual 102 in.
The president of Cadillac was C. A. Black. The purge of Alanson Brush design features was started. The mixe and variable inlet valve opening were no longer used on four-cylinder Cadillacs. The real start of the purge was the design of the Model G for 1907.
Keyword: Cadillac History 1906