[ last update: 06.02.2013 ]

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Cadillac

1922-1923

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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

The models for these two combined years were designated the "Type 61". The basic line-up consisted of ten cars.   Three were open styles and seven were of the increasingly popular closed kind.   Two new cars were added to the line-up from the previous year: a coupe for 2 passengers - with a seating layout similar to that in the roadster - and a coupe for 5 passengers.  Two cars (the 4-passenger phaeton and 5-passenger sedan) had a couple of smart styling features which make them easy to identify as 1922-23 models; they had two "toe-plates" (scuff plates) mounted below the doors, to avoid scuffing the body sill on entering or alighting the car, and six vertical rubbing  strakes on the rear body, to prevent a removable trunk or other baggage from damaging the paint work.  A semi-custom model - the Cadillac "Landau" - was added to the range at the end of 1923; this car is sometimes referred to erroneously as a 1924 model.  All cars were mounted on the 132 inch chassis.  The standard finish was black. Three other colors were optionally available. 

The 1922 brochure tells us that "The lines of the new car are increasingly attractive while retaining the characteristics which have made a long succession of types distinctively Cadillac".  The hood was larger owing to a higher radiator; it had softly rounded "shoulders".  The center of gravity was lowered though the use of smaller diameter wheels.  Cars for five passengers or less had new seats; they were mounted on the 132-inch wheel base chassis.

Some additional descriptions of these cars  may be found in The (New) Cadillac Database© section giving full specifications and descriptions of the Cadillac Type 61 cars of 1922 and 1923.

The following illustrations are drawn from the factory product brochures on the new Cadillac "Type 61" for 1922 and 1923.  The same models were carried through to the end of 1923, basically unchanged. Cars are arranged in ascending order of purchase price. These ranged from $2885 for the sporty little roadster, up to almost $6000 for the upscale imperial limousine.  Unlike the "Type 59" models of the previous two years, the prices of the 1922-23 models decreased by almost $1000 as new designs emerged. 

 

The model line-up for 1922-23
[from the 1922 and 1923 product catalogs]

The roadster for 2 passengers ($3,100)
The phaeton for 4 passengers ($3,150 or $2,885 dep. on source) Photo from a period publication [Motor - ZTV coll.]     This fine-looking and solid-running survivor lives in New Zealand; the car belongs to Bill and Ningsih Datlen who kindly took Gita and me for an exciting spin around their home town of Ashburton, in March 2005; sadly, Bill was killed, later, in an air crash; our thoughts go out to Ningsih and family
Left: The touring car for 7 passengers ($3,150) Right: cutaway view of the 1923 version of the touring car         Left: a touring car (minus scuff  plates) in use in the twenties             Five survivors
The Victoria coupe for 4 passengers ($3,875) (Fisher designs #4420, 4430 and 5090) [ from the 1923 product catalog ]         Interior of the Victoria coupe [ note folding, front passenger seat ] [ these views are from two different catalogs ]     Factory publicity shot of the Victoria coupe
The new coupe for 2 passengers  ($3,875) (Fisher designs #4470 and 5080)
The new coupe for 5 passengers ($3,925) (Fisher designs #4440 and 5050)	Interior of the 5 pass. coupe with its folding occasional seat
The sedan for 5 passengers ($4,100) (Fisher designs #4430, and 5040) Interior view of the sedan for 5 passengers
The same car as above, from the 1923 catalog	Interior layout of the 5-pass. sedan (1923)
The Suburban for 7 passengers (1922) ($4,250) (Fisher designs #4400, 4410 and 5030) [ center image is interior of 5-pass. sedan ]         The Suburban for 7 passengers (1923) - almost no change     Two surviving Suburban models
The limousine for 7 passengers ($4,550) (Fisher designs #4450 and 5060)	The same car (from the 1923 product catalog)
This survivor resides in Germany (2007) and belongs to Thomas Borchers           This is another fine survivor [ Photos: © 2012 - and courtesy Hyman Classic Cars ]
The imperial limousine for 7 passengers ($4.600) (Fisher designs #4460 and 5070)	The same car (from the 1923 product catalog)
The new "Landau" model (1923 catalog) This stylish sedan was added to the line near the close of the 1923 production.  It may be regarded as the first semi-custom Cadillac.  Highlighting the padded, leather-covered rear quarters, reminiscent of traditional landau styling, were the decorative landau bows (Fisher design #5160)

 

Interiors

Upholstery was of the finest mohair velour.  Top and headlining colors harmonized with the seats and seat-back material; the same material was used also on the robe rail.

 

Details

All enclosed models had a  windshield wiper and a rear view mirror as standard equipment. Split windshield allowed upper or lower ventilation.   A new walnut steering wheel was included as was a new instrument panel. The dash equipment on enclosed cars included a combined clock and speedometer, with trip reset, combination ammeter, oil and fuel gauge, cowl vent (controlled from below the dash), combination switch for lights and ignition switch, dash lamp, auxiliary air pump, headlight tilt button, auxiliary air valve button on dash, cigar lighter with extension cord. 

 

Some Survivors

This fine 1923 sedan was offered for sale on eBay in 2004

 

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© 1996, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.
[ Background image:  1923 Cadillac advertisement ]