1902 Cadillac: The First Cadillac to be Produced.

The 1902 Cadillac was the first car the company produced after it was formed from the Detroit Automobile Company. These cars were called the Roundabout and the Tonneau, and they were known as “horseless carriages.”

The first 1902 Cadillac was the Model A, and this article will detail the various models of the car (which went all the way to the Model T). Interestingly, the car was influenced by Henry Ford’s Model A, but every Cadillac was standardized to one thousandth of an inch. Did you think such precision was possible so long ago?

1902 Cadillac Models

Model A

These cars required a $10 deposit, and there were just under 2,500 of them built and they cost $750. The car was ready for the 1902 Auto Show. It is sometimes referred to as the Roundabout or the Tonneau. The front of the car had a sloping, with a curved, false hood and radiator. The car had 6.5 horsepower. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels by chain-drive through a so-called planetary transmission. The car had pedal-operated brakes on the rear axles, which were supplemented by engaging reverse gear. The 22-inch wood wheels had 12 spokes, and the car’s wheelbase was 72 inches.

Model B

Introduced in January 1904, Cadillac’s Model B was basically the same as the Model A, but it had a longer 76-inch wheelbase. So, the 1902 Cadillac was a template for this car. The cost of the car was increased by $50, and the car had 8 and a quarter horsepower.

Model C

The Model C replaced the 1902 Cadillac Model A. This version was shorter with a 72-inch wheelbase. Model C had only a $750 price, although a touring-car version was available for $850. The Model C was lightweight, weighing just 1,330 pounds, 120 pounds less than the touring model.

Model D

The Model D was the first version of the car with a four-cylinder engine. It was more powerful than the 1902 Cadillac Model A.

Model E

The Model E was released in 1905. It was smaller and very lightweight. It weighed only 1,100 pounds. The Model E had slightly more horsepower than the 1902 Cadillac. It had 9 horsepower.

Model F

The Model F was only available as a touring car, but it had the same wheelbase as the Model B. It cost $950 in 1905.

Model G, H, and L

These versions, unlike the 1902 Cadillac, had a four-cylinder engine.

Model K and M

Image of 1906 Cadillac Model K Runabout, Courtesy of Sicnag under Creative Commons License

These models were produced for the 1906 model year. They were priced between $750 and $950, and 3,650 cars were sold. This was a lot more than the 1902 Model A. The model M had a long wheelbase, and the model K had a short wheelbase. Both of these cars were otherwise similar to the Models E and F.

Models S and T

The Model S and the Model T were produced for the 1908 model year. They were both essentially versions of the models K and M with an extended wheelbase of 82 inches. These would be the last single-cylinder Cadillacs. There was a substantial redesign for 1909 the included running boards.

Parting Shots

These early Cadillac models, starting with the 1902 Cadillac Model A, skipped a few letters in the alphabet. However, there is no denying they set the standard for modern automobiles. One can even see how the car progressed from the first model produced in 1902 to the last produced in 1908; it got bigger, had more horsepower, and was more expensive.