Cadillac History 1915

Cadillac Models & History 1915

TYPE 51

Similar to 1914 bodies except:

Bodies

• Side lights are smaller.
• Hood top panels blended smoothly into hood side panels.
• The shape of the doors changed.
• A three piece “Rain Vision” windshield was used on closed cars.
• The roof line of closed cars was raised at the front.
• The Cadillac “One-man” top with inside operating curtains which open with the doors was standard equipment.
• The top was fastened to the windshield, eliminating straps.
• The four passenger Phaeton was replaced by the two door Salon with passageway between individual front seats (right front seat revolves).
• The”Inside drive Limousine” of 1914 was now designated “Five Passenger Sedan.”
• The Berline enclosed drive limousine was added.
• The designation “Imperial” used with “Sedan” (or “Brougham,” “Suburban,” etc.) denoted a regular Sedan with a glass partition added between front and rear compartments.

Chassis:

• First left drive Cadillac (right drive available as an option).
• Tread 1422mm (1549mm optional wide tread still available).
• Wheelbase 3099mm (3683mm chassis available without body).
• Wood wheels with ten spokes in front, twelve spokes in rear.
• Speedometer drive changed to right steering spindle.
• Rear springs three-quarter platform, front springs half-elliptic, six inches longer than in 1914.
• Ladder type frame changed to six inch deep “H” frame with three cross members.

Drive Line:

• Multiple disc, dry plate clutch with 15 steel plates, 197mm dia. Alternate plates faced with wire mesh asbestos.
• Selective sliding gear transmission.
• Aluminum case in unit with engine.
• Tubular drive shaft with two universal joints.
• Torque arm.
• Spiral bevel drive in full floating rear axle.

Engine:

• Ninety degree L-Head V-8, 79.4mm x 130.2mm, 4.567 Liter
• Cast iron cylinders in two blocks of four located exactly opposite on Aluminum-Copper alloy crankcase.
• Water jackets and combustion chambers integral.
• Water circulation and temperature control is by an impeller type pump with thermostat for each block of cylinders.
• Three 47.6mm diameter bearings on crankshaft with four throws all in one plane.
• Fork and blade connecting rods.
• Rod bearings available standard, .005 in. under, and .020 in. under.
• Three rings, solid wall pistons and cylinder blocks available standard, first, and second oversize.
• Single camshaft with eight cams.
• Camshaft and generator shaft driven by silent chain.
• Motor/generator/distributor at rear, two cylinder power tire pump at front, inside engine Vee.
• Updraft carburetor, water-heated intake manifold, and log-type exhaust manifolds located inside Vee.
• Dual exhaust system with no balance pipe.
• Valves 39.7mm diameter, 7.9mm lift.
• Exhaust valves flat, intake valves tulip shape.
• Valves actuated by adjustable tappets which are activated by rocker arms with roller riding on cams.
• Firing order is: 1L-2R-3L-1R-4L-3R-2L-4R, where R(right) and L(left) are as viewed from the rear, and each bank is numbered one through four from the front.
• Valve chamber caps are stamped H, L, or LL for high or low compression ratios.
• Engine has three-point suspension.
• Ball and socket at front and solid at rear, forming an additional frame cross member.
• Before Engine No. A-7710, oil relief valve is cast integral with starter gear housing.
• Starting with Engine No. A-7710, oil relief valve is a separate unit mounted on angular face of crankcase.
• The lubrication system is recirculating, pressure fed from a gear type oil pump.
• The pump draws oil from the crankcase and forces it through a header pipe running inside the crankcase.
• Leads run from this pipe to the main bearings and then through drilled holes in the crankshaft to the connecting rod bearings.
• Pistons, cylinders, etc. are lubricated by oil thrown from the lower ends of the connecting rods.
• Oil from the rear end of the header pipe runs to the pressure relief valve.
• Overflow from this valve is gravity fed to the camshaft and chains, then drains back to the crankcase.

I.D. DATA

STYLE

Note: Through 1919, Cadillac sometimes referred to Touring Cars and Roadsters as “Seven Passenger Car,” “Five Passenger Car” or “Two Passenger Car.” The designations “Touring” and “Roadster” are used here for clarity.

ENGINE

CHASSIS

DRIVETRAIN

OPTIONS

HISTORICAL NOTES

1915 Cadillac Notes

• Introduced September, 1914.
• Innovations: High speed V-8 engine.
• Cadillac’s new engine is the first successful V-8 built in America. It initially developed 60 horsepower and lasts into 1927
• Cadillac features tilt-beam headlights
• Model year sales: 13002.
• Model year production: 20,404.
• Henry M. Leland was president and general manager
• D. McCall White was chief engineer
• Earl C. Howard was general sales manager

1915 Automotive Notes

• Industry production increases to 895,930 cars and 74,000 trucks
• Charles W. Nash was president of GM
• Thomas Neal was chairman of the board at GM until November when Pierre S. du Pont became chairman
• Packard announces a V-12
• Dodge cars go on sale
• The Saxon sells for $395
• Top model year production for 1915

Ford501,462 Willys-Overland91,904 Dodge45,000 Maxwell44,000 Buick43,946 Studebaker41,243 Cadillac20,404 Saxon19,000 Chevrolet13,605 Oakland11952

Keyword: Cadillac History 1915