[ last update: 11.22.2014 ]

The (new) Cadillac Database©

Photo Pages
Cadillac


1918-1919


Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or go back to the Cadillac photo index page to pick another year

 

Unless otherwise specified all photos and illustrations are from Yann Saunders'
collection of Cadillac photos, advertisements and product catalogs,
reproduced courtesy of the Cadillac Motor Car Division and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club

 

Introduced in August 1917, the Type 57 Cadillacs were similar in general appearance to the Type 55 models that had preceded them. The doors on some models were more square-cornered instead of rounded.  Radiators were taller, as were the motor hoods which were also longer and sloped up into a modified cowl. The former raised beading on the hood gave way to a new, smooth finish. Late in the year 1919, Cadillac adopted a new hood design with 25 more closely spaced louvers compared to only 9 on the earlier cars.

 

19newlou.jpg (9291 bytes)
Late-model Type 57 Cadillac (1919)
with new hood louvers

 

 

The Cadillacs of the late teens and early twenties are among the most difficult to date accurately at a simple glance.   As regards the Type 57 cars, look for the black-enameled headlights with the distinctive nickel trim, as well as the absence of the earlier hood beading.

 

18gril.jpg (7650 bytes)
Black-enameled headlights
with bright nickel trim

 

 

Look at this list of standard features and equipment for the Type 57 Cadillac (1918-19): "Gypsy"-type, one man top on open cars with  bevel glass window in rear; fully lined top; side curtains 75%   transparent, mounted on brackets to swing with doors; dust envelope for top; windshield with lower ventilation, outward swinging top portion on some models; full lamp equipment with tilt-beam headlights controlled by a lever on the steering column; headlights and side lights black enameled with nickel trim; tonneau lamp on open cars; dome and quarter lamps on enclosed cars; lighted eight-day clock; speedometer with large enough figures to be read by back-seat-drivers; trip reset odometer; gas gauge; electric horn; Kellogg electric tire pump (compressor); foot rest; robe hanger; license plate holders; tool kit, including pocket kit carried in driver's door of open cars; spare tire bracket in rear for two tires; universal key. English long-grain, hand-buffed black leather was used to upholster the open cars; it was laid in plaits. Enclosed cars used a variety of high quality, selected cloths.

Glasgow-born [like me] Cadillac engineer D. McCall-White, the who had been instrumental in designing the first ever mass-produced V8 motor, left Cadillac to form the Lafayette Automobile Co. Regrettably that new venture was to last only seven years.

Cars are listed below in two series and in ascending order of their 1918 list price.  First are those built on the 125" wheel base chassis, then come the top-of-the-line cars, built on the 132" wheel-base chassis. The prices shown below are indicative only; there were a number of price increases during the period 1918-19; these were due in part to Government imposed war taxes.

Additional information on the 1918-19 Cadillac Type 57, and the related sales literature, may be found  in The (New) Cadillac Database© sections entitled "Descriptions and Specifications of Cadillac Cars 1913-21", "Cadillac and La Salle Sales Literature 1915 - 1919" and "Dream Cars from 1903 to 1919".  Further recommended reading includes:

The "Standard Catalog of Cadillac, 1903-2000" edited by James T. Lenzke, © 2000, published by Krause Publications, Inc., 700 E. State Street, Iola, WI 54990 [ISBN #0-87341-925-1, Library of Congress #91-61301].

The Cadillac advertsing copy-writers had this to say about the new models for 1919: New light is being thrown on the economy of the Cadillac.  War tests have emphasized owners' experiences. Its ability to negotiate great distances, or heavy milaege, day after day, without overhauling or adjustment, stands out in bold reflief.  Given ordinary care, its beautiful driving and riding service  is delivered at an absolute minimum of maintenance cost.  A new spirit of discrimination animates America in motor car buying.  It is focusing on the Cadillac as the foremost exponent of known and permanent value in the world today.

 

Body styles on 125" wheel base chassis

 

The roadster

19rdstr.jpg (8040 bytes)    19rmbl.jpg (6416 bytes)

19rdsdg.JPG (7699 bytes)    19dgrdsi.JPG (6578 bytes)

 18rdvolo.jpg (7415 bytes)    18rdvolb.jpg (7063 bytes)
The roadster for 2 passengers ($2,590 in 1918, $3,220 in 1919)
The survivor, above, was (is?) located in the Volo Museum, IL

18rdsds.jpg (5330 bytes)
This other roadster is under restoration

 18RDSB.JPG (7379 bytes)    18RDSE.JPG (7445 bytes)

    18RDSF.JPG (10454 bytes)    18RDSC.JPG (7267 bytes)    18RDSD.JPG (7921 bytes)
Seen on the Internet, in 2000, the above two rows feature a custom 1918 roadster with a boat-tail rear body

 

 

 

The phaeton

18trg2.jpg (10491 bytes)    19pha.jpg (7706 bytes)

19phae4.jpg (9460 bytes)    19pha4in.jpg (9044 bytes)

     19dgpha4.JPG (7180 bytes)    19dgphai.JPG (6356 bytes)
The phaeton for 4 passengers ($2,590 in 1918, $3,220 in 1919)

19phae.jpg (8146 bytes)
A survivor in the fifties or sixties
[ Photo:  Internet, 3/2003 ]

 

 

 

The touring car

18trg.JPG (9820 bytes)    19trng7.jpg (8605 bytes)

19curtn.jpg (11766 bytes)

19dgtrg7.JPG (8269 bytes)    19dgtrgi.JPG (6472 bytes)
The touring car for 7 passengers ($2,590 in 1918, $3,220 in 1919)

18MILCAR.JPG (5623 bytes)
After grueling tests in Marfa, Texas, the 1918 Cadillac touring car
was picked by the U.S. army for use of its military personnel
[ this survivor was for sale on Internet in September, 2003 ]

    
See "Survivors", below, for further information about this car

 

 

 

The Victoria

19vicart.jpg (8603 bytes)    19vicar2.jpg (6923 bytes)

 19vic.jpg (8774 bytes)    19vicic.JPG (7775 bytes)    19viseat.jpg (5262 bytes)
At far right, the fourth seat collapses and folds under the instrument panel

 19dgvicc.JPG (8620 bytes)    19dgvico.JPG (7414 bytes)
The convertible Victoria,   style #2750, closed and open  ($3,075 in 1918, $$3,990 in 1919)
in 1919 the Victoria was no longer "convertible"; it got an aluminum roof in lieu of  the leather-covered steel top

 

 

 

The Brougham

18brgh.jpg (9730 bytes)    19brgh2.jpg (7670 bytes)

19brgart.JPG (7037 bytes)    19dgbrgh.JPG (9041 bytes)
The brougham, style #2730  ($3,535 in 1918)
Replaced by the new sedan model, style #3050, in 1919;
the latter car had a full-width front seat and no auxiliary seating in the rear

19pshing.jpg (7496 bytes)    19persh.JPG (8802 bytes)
On of these (photo, left) was presented by the Cadillac company to Gen. John J. Pershing for his distinguished
service to the country in WW1; the General is seen (right) alighting from another 1919 Cadillac, a limousine

A 7-passenger version may have been built ($4,145)

 

 

 

The sedan
[new for 1919 - replacing the brougham]


19sedan.jpg (9294 bytes)    19dgsdni.JPG (6362 bytes)
The sedan for 5 passengers, style #3050 ($4,215)

 

 

Body styles on 132" wheel base chassis

 

The town landaulet

 19tnlacl.JPG (8622 bytes)    19tnlaop.JPG (8577 bytes)

The town landaulet for 6 passengers, style #2840  ($4,295)

this model too was dropped during 1919

 

 

 

The standard limousine

18lim.jpg (7976 bytes)    18stafcr.jpg (6818 bytes)

19limo.jpg (9482 bytes)    19lim7ar.JPG (7839 bytes)

 19limcur.jpg (7234 bytes)    19limic.JPG (7551 bytes)    19limrob.jpg (6393 bytes)
Left: driver's compartment could be closed with storm curtains; a vertical opening allowed for hand signals
Right: privacy curtains and robe cord in luxurious, rear passenger compartment (center)


19lim7dg.JPG (9787 bytes)    19dglimi.JPG (6533 bytes)
The limousine for 7 passengers, style #2740   ($4,085 in 1918),
in 1919, style #3210 ($4,520)

 

 

 

The town limousine
[re-named the town brougham for 1919]


19tnliar.JPG (6872 bytes)    19tnlart.JPG (7844 bytes)

  19tnlar2.JPG (7409 bytes)    19tnliic.JPG (5969 bytes)

19tnlidg.JPG (9032 bytes)
The town limousine for 6 passengers, style #2680 ($4,160 in 1918)
in 1919 this was re-named the town brougham for 6 passengers ($4,520)

 

 

 

The landaulet
[this model was dropped during 1919]

18landt.jpg (10193 bytes)    19lndart.jpg (8020 bytes)

19limic.JPG (7551 bytes)

19dglacl.JPG (8780 bytes)    19landop.JPG (8787 bytes)
The landaulet for 7 passengers, style #2770 in 1918 (circa $4,235 in 1918)

 

 

 

The suburban
[new, added mid-year 1918]


19subart.JPG (7209 bytes)    19subar2.jpg (9052 bytes)

19subur.jpg (9502 bytes)    19subin.jpg (9355 bytes)

19subdg.JPG (9759 bytes)    19dgsubi.JPG (6771 bytes)
The suburban for 7 passengers, style #2910 ($4,090 in 1918)
,
in 1919, style #3140 ($4,465)

18limo.jpg (11970 bytes)
A rare survivor

 

 

 

The imperial limousine

    19impli7.jpg (7245 bytes)
The imperial limousine for 7 passengers, style #2760 in 1918  ($4,285 in 1918, $4,620 in 1919)

 

 

Other styles built in 1918 include a police patrol vehicle, listing for $3,850, an ambulance for $4,350 and a hearse for $$4,685.  A police patrol vehicle was offered again in 1919, for $$4,050; there was also a new ambulance for $4,550. No hearse was offered in 1919.

 

Details

 

18engn.jpg (5260 bytes)    18chass.jpg (9297 bytes)
Left:  the engine, seen from the front, with cover removed
Right:  the chassis of the 1918-19 Cadillac Type 57


19tools1.jpg (9388 bytes)    19tools2.jpg (5434 bytes)
Left:  typical 1918-19 tool compartment and tools
Right: open cars had hand tools in convenient fold-out panel on driver's door

  19tiltb.jpg (4292 bytes)    19tiltb2.JPG (8023 bytes)
Mechanical tilt-beam headlights operated by lever on steering column

19wshld.JPG (6243 bytes)    19rrtire.jpg (7472 bytes)
Left:  swing-out upper windshield afforded plentiful ventilation
Right: two spare tires were carried on special rear-mounted holder

19inflat.jpg (8096 bytes)
Flat tire was not a problem with this electric inflator

19dash.jpg (7907 bytes)    19detl1.jpg (5199 bytes)    19detl2.jpg (5900 bytes)
Left: instrument panel;  center: folding steering wheel; right: other misc. body details (inside and out)

 

 

Survivors

 


19dash.jpg (7907 bytes)    19detl1.jpg (5199 bytes)    19detl2.jpg (5900 bytes)
Last month my husband bought me a 1918 Cadillac for my 55th Birthday.  We purchased the car while competing in the Great American Race (www.greatrace.com) with no knowledge of old V-8 Cadillacs - only a knowledge that my mother who had recently died learned to drive on an early Cad touring and it would be a suitable use of my inheritance.  Now we have the car and are having a trouble identifying it and my husband Pat suggested I write to you.  (He is the lucky "custodian" of Jack Frank's 1935 V12 Town Cabriolet.) Here's the story:  We bought the Cad thinking it was a 1917 Phaeton.  When we picked it up we discovered it is actually a very early 1918 Model 57 originally titled in 1917.  The data plate reads "A-57-675" which is of interest as we thought it should read "57 - A - 675".  The car is very authentic and in many cases original so we feel fairly confident it is genuine.  After we picked up the car in Flagstaff (the previous owner had it for 38 years and never belonged to a club) we stopped by a friend of my brother's who owns a 1917 Phaeton.  When we put the two cars side-by-side our '18 was quite a bit larger than the Phaeton and has more elaborate coachwork.  The gentleman with the '17 and the Title for the car call our '18 a "Touring Sedan" - however I do not see a Touring Sedan listed in any of the Cadillac literature.   The car is missing some "jewelry" details, the fender-mounted horn, the clock, the face & bezel for the speedometer, tail light, side curtains, etc. for which we are starting our search to find. I can hardly wait to receive the new tires for the car so I can take her out for a spin (It has old Western Auto tires that are very checked).  She runs like a top!  Any information or direction to information you can give us will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks! Pat Pat Brothers. 503-313-1956 (cell); PS:  My father was a collector and during his last 35 years must have owned 10-12 Cadillacs from 1926-1962 - Both Pat and I have "the bug".

 

The car below is NOT the one described above /and for which I have no photo)
but ANOTHER erqually rare survivor I discovered on the Internet in 2014
The VIN is 57 - A - 704, just 29 units after the car owned by the Pat brothers, above
 

    

    
This period photo is undated but I was able to identify the location as being the Hotel Ruhl and des Anglais, in Nice, France

    
From the style of cars visible in the street, I'm guessing this PC is from the mid- to late 20s

 

 

Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or go back to the Cadillac photo index page to pick another year

 

© 1996, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.
[ Background image:  1918 touring car for 7 passengers ]