[ last update: 04.28.2014 ]

The (new) Cadillac Database^©

Photo Pages
Cadillac

1912

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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 big story for 1912 was the availability, for the first time in any production automobile, of the electric self-starter, which eliminated the need for the (sometimes dangerous) hand-operated crank.

The artist's drawings below are from the extremely rare, all-model catalog of new Cadillac models for 1912.  I was fortunate to be able to find one in near mint condition.

In addition to this catalog, Cadillac also continued to advertise its products in the press. Over the past 45 years of collecting these sometimes colorful advertisements, I have turned up only a dozen of them for this particular year, all of them in B&W.

Styling remained basically unchanged from the previous year, with the exception that all models now had full doors in front. Operating controls also were moved inside the driving compartment (with the exception of the hand brake lever on   open body styles. 

The easiest way to distinguish the Cadillacs of 1912 is by the rear fenders, of which the rear extremity curves away from the car into an almost horizontal plane.

A new phaeton style replaced the earlier demi-tonneau and 4-door touring car. The coupe incorporated a new folding seat and could carry a second passenger in addition to the driver.  This year, the limousine became a fully enclosed car; it was the only one of its kind on the market at that time.

Particularly wealthy buyers were in a position to acquire two bodies for a single chassis.  The product bulletin for 1912 asserts that "The user of a Cadillac limousine, however, is not necessarily confined to the use of the enclosed body.  With an extra touring car body, a change can be made from one to the other when desired, the bodies interchanging on the same chassis". 

Now there's an idea for today's moribund auto market: why not go back to the two-body, single-chassis idea? Who would not dream of having a big, roomy sedan for the winter months and throwing on a dashing convertible body as soon as Spring returned?

Additional information on the 1912 models and the related sales literature may be found  in The (New) Cadillac Database© sections entitled "Descriptions and Specifications of Cadillac Cars 1905-1912" and  "Cadillac and La Salle Sales Literature 1910-1914".  Further recommended reading:

"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].

Space-permitting, some photos of surviving cars may be added here, later. 

 

The Model Range for 1912

The ever-popular, open touring car which cost $1800 with all its standard equipment

The same car, shown here with its protective rain cover in place

Replacing last year's demi-tonneau and 4-door touring car was this new phaeton style costing also $1800

The phaeton is shown here with its rain cover in place

The racy new torpedo body style cost $1900 with its complement of standard equipment

Here, the torpedo is shown with top up

The Cadillac roadster continued as one of the most popular open body styles; it cost $1800	Here is the roadster with rain cover up
This interesting 1:3 scale toy is powered by the Kettering-designed, battery-operated electric self-starter; only a few were made; Wilfrid Leland Jr. had one; this survivor (in a Danish museum) belonged to the Norwegian Royal family

Many physician's liked this fully enclosed yet nimble coupe; this year it gained an extra, folding seat.  Costing $2250, it was out of reach of most would-be buyers

The rear-facing, folding auxiliary seat in this model increased occupant capacity to four persons; upholstery was imported  blue broadcloth; silk curtains were fitted

As in previous years, the most expensive car in the range was  the luxurious, fully enclosed limousine, costing $3250. It was characterised by rich trimmings and deep, soft upholstery; behind the car:  Henry Leland, founder of the Cadillac Automobile Co.

The 1912 limo and its luxurious interior weres equal to none

Mechanical Details

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© 1996, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club., Inc.
[ Background image:  1912 front clip - The Car that has no Crank ]