TYPE 55 is similar to Type 53 except:

• Bodies
  
  • New crown fenders and elimination of molding on hood panels and around doors give smoother appearance overall.
  • Phaeton and Roadster have six degree slope to windshield.
  • Salon replaced by Phaeton with bench seat in front.
  • Club Roadster added.
  • Convertible Touring (a four door hardtop) manufactured by Cadillac and having a Vee windshield is introduced.
  • Coupe with cast Aluminum body is also manufactured by Cadillac.
  • Victoria is now five window with fixed top and removable pillars.
  • Berlin/Berline is now called Imperial (undoubtedly due to nasty connotation of "Berlin" at the time).
  • Landaulet body style added.
  • One listing of closed body styles by Fisher mentions "Touring Couplet," with no description.
  • Previous round, plain door (rim) of headlights now embellished with stylized outline of shield and crown.
  
  
  
  
  
• Chassis
  • Frame depth increased to eight inches
  • two tubular cross members added
  • Wide tread no longer available.
• Drive Line: Number of clutch plates increased to 17.
• Engine
  • Lighter pistons of "belted" design with large oil return holes in the piston walls.
  • Exhaust manifolds have shorter connector pipes.
  • Split, tapered collars used to retain valve spring feet.

I. D. DATA

Serial numbers were not used. Engine numbers were stamped on the crankcase just back of the right hand bank of cylinders, and on a plate on the dash. Engine No.: 55-A-1 through 55-A-1000; 55-B-1 through 55-B-1000; etc., through 66-S-2.
 
 

Model Number	Body	Series	Seating	Price
NA	4-dr.	Touring	7	$2250
NA	4-dr.	Phaeton	4	$2240
NA	2-dr.	Roadster	2/4	$2240
NA	2-dr.	Club Roadster	4	$2240
NA	2-dr.	Convertible Victoria	4	$2710
NA	2-dr.	Coupe	4	$2960
NA	4-dr.	Convertible Touring	7	$2835
2460	4-dr.	Brougham	5/7	$3110
2450	4-dr.	Limousine	7	$3760
2440	4-dr.	Imperial	7	$3910
2620	4-dr.	Landaulet	7	$3910
2470	-	Touring Couplet	-	$-
NA	-	Ambulance	-	$3760
NA	-	Police Patrol	-	$3160
NA	-	Hearse	-	$4040

Note: Prices $160 less previous to 14 December 1916.
Note: Touring Couplet may be same as Convertible Victoria.

ENGINE

Description	Ninety degree V-8 L-head. Heads not detachable. Cast iron blocks of four on Aluminum crankcase
Bore & Stroke	3-1/8 x 5-1/8 in.
Displacement	314.5 cu. in.
Compression ratio	4.25:1
S.A.E./N.A.C.C. Horsepower	31.25
Main bearings	Three
Valve lifters	Rockers with roller cam follower acting on mechanical lifters
Carburetor	float feed with auxiliary air control; manufactured by Cadillac under C. F. Johnson patents
Torque (Compression)	180 lbs.-ft. @ 2000 R.P.M.

CHASSIS

-	Type 55	Type 55 Limo, Land, Imp	Special Chassis
Wheelbase	125 in.	132 in.	145 in.
Front/Rear Tread	56 in.
Tires	36 x 4-1/2	37 x 5

TECHNICAL

Transmission	Selective, sliding gear transmission. Case in unit with engine
Speeds	3 Forward and one Reverse
Steering position	Left drive, center control (Right hand drive optional)
Clutch	Multiple disc, dry plate, 15 discs
Drive	Shaft drive
Axle	Spiral bevel, full floating rear axle
Overall ratio	4.44:1
Brakes	Mechanical brakes on two wheels, one external, one internal
Wheels	Wood artillery wheels, demountable rims (R-W or Houk wire wheels optional)
Wheel size	27 in.
Optional Final drive ratios	3.94:1, 5.07:1

HISTORICAL

• Introduced August, 1916.
• Model year sales: 18,002.
• Model year production: 18,002.
• General Motors Corp. was incorporated Oct. 13, 1916 in Delaware.
• General Motors Co. was taken over by General Motors Corp. Aug. 1, 1917.
• General Motors Corp. was then an "operating" company and Cadillac Motor Car Co. became a Division of General Motors.
• Henry Leland left Cadillac in June, 1917 and Richard H. Collins became president and general manager.

NEXT: History of the 1918 Cadillac

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May 11, 2000; March 8/03