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2022 Shannons Winter Timed Online Auction
Lot
115

1919 Cadillac Type 57 Sedan (RHD)

$38,696

Sydney

Sold

Specifications

Engine V8, 314.5-cid
Gearbox 3-speed manual
Body Work Sedan
Colour Black on red
Interior Green
Trim Cloth
Wheels Wire-spoked
Brakes Drums

Auction
Notice (Form 11)

Description

This lot is no longer available

Cadillac’s luxurious new V8 Model 51 was introduced in late 1914, replacing the earlier four-cylinder Model 30 with a larger, more powerful automobile aimed squarely at rivals like the new Packard Twin Six.  Built on a 122-inch wheelbase chassis (a longer 145-inch wheelbase was also offered for custom bodywork), the new Model 51 was powered by an all-new L-head V8 engine, one of the earliest motors mass produced in this configuration.  Also notable was the switch from right-hand drive across to the left side, while the Model 53 of 1916 saw Cadillac adopt a more modern layout, with a central gear-change, the pedals for clutch, brake and accelerator where we still find them today and an electric key-starter.  The Type 57 of 1918 saw revamped styling with a smoother cowl, windscreen and bonnet louvres inclined for a sportier look, along with a taller radiator and bonnet line to aid cooling and a unique feature - tilt beam headlamps.  Cadillac catalogued no less than 17 different body styles, ranging from roadsters and open tourers through to fully enclosed limousines, while custom bodies were also available from coachbuilders like Brewster and Fleetwood.  Three different chassis lengths were available, the shortest being the 125-inch wheelbase, then the 132-inch and the longest 145-inch being reserved for limousines and custom coachwork.  The V8 was progressively improved, with a redesigned manifold and lighter pistons and a detachable cylinder head was adopted for 1918, along with an improved sliding gear transmission with stronger clutch plates.  The Type 57 remained in production from August 1917 to December 1919 and more than 45,000 were built in this period, including approximately 2,300 used by the US Army as staff cars during World War I.  However relatively few early Cadillacs survive today, most locked away in American collections and they rarely come on the open market here in Australia.