Cadillac history 1906

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.

1906 Cadillac runabout

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 rear entrance tonneau

NEXT: History of the 1906 Cadillac Model K
NEXT: History of the 1906 Cadillac Model M
NEXT: History of the 1906 Cadillac Model H
NEXT: Overview of the History of the 1906 Cadillac
NEXT: History of the 1907 Cadillac

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