1915 Cadillac Model 51 V8
Cadillac’s reputation for technical precision had already earned it two Royal Automobile Club Dewar Trophies (for absolute interchangeability of parts in 1908 and for the first practical electric starting, lighting, and ignition system in 1912) when the company introduced its first V8 for the 1915 season.
Introduced in September 1914, the Model 51’s new 314 cubic inch L-head V8 was developed under British engineer D. McCall White in strict secrecy, and it proved so successful that the V8 became the hallmark of Cadillac for decades to come.
This remarkable example was commissioned in March of 1915 by W.J. Moore of Caro, Michigan, a cousin of Elisha Gray, who in 1876 filed a telephone patent caveat just hours after Alexander Graham Bell submitted his patent application.
Moore specified the special 145-inch long-wheelbase chassis (priced at $1,850 versus the standard 122-inch chassis) and had C.P. Kimball of Chicago (founded in 1877) construct a unique limousine body to his exacting requirements.
Moore ordered several non-standard mechanical features, including oversize cylinders, a low final drive ratio, 37×5 tires (standard was 36×4.5), and Universal demountable rims. The car was also equipped with air springs for improved comfort.
Moore’s inventive nature extended to the car’s amenities: a unique heating system concealed in a specially extended hood cover funneled warm air from the radiator into the cabin, supplemented by a stove that could even be used for cooking when the car was stationary.
Electric fans above the rear seats circulated air inside, and a candlestick telephone could be connected to overhead lines using a 16-foot telescopic pole when stopped.
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