1905 Cadillac Model F Four-Passenger Touring

One advantage Cadillacs had over virtually all other automobiles of the day was precision engineering, which allowed the complete interchangeability of all parts from one similar model to another. In 1908, just three years after this Model F Four-Passenger Tourer was built, three brand new single-cylinder Cadillac Model K Runabouts were randomly selected and dismantled down to the last nut and bolt under the scrutiny of Royal Automobile Club observers in the UK. The mechanics were restricted to basic hand tools, and the parts from the three cars were intermingled. Additional components were removed and replaced with new spares. When the three Model Ks were reassembled, they all started quickly and covered 500 miles at full throttle on the new Brooklands racetrack. The proof of the Cadillac's parts interchangeability became front page news at a time when parts from most car manufacturers could not be interchanged between similar examples. Cadillac was subsequently awarded the Dewar Trophy for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the Automotive Industry, which led to adopting "Standard of the World" as the company's slogan.

This lovely Model F benefits from a high-quality older restoration and was delivered new to the Cadillac showroom in New York City on October 18, 1905. According to a copy of its original Cadillac order record, it was specified in the same shade of green it wears today. Contrasting cream-painted coachlines adorn the body, along with the cream-colored chassis and beige top to complete the look. A set of black cycle fenders terminate in a much-appreciated set of functional mudguards, while a set of 12-spoke wheels with hand-painted red detailing are wrapped in period-correct Firestone tires. Highly polished brass adornments are plentiful, including cowl lamps and body trim, all playing brilliantly against the green and cream livery. The canvas top features a front storm shield and protects an interior upholstered in button-tufted black leather.

On the technical side, this Model F differs from the Dewar Trophy-winning Cadillacs by having a two-inch longer chassis to accommodate the Tourer body instead of the runabout coachwork used by the Dewar cars. The 9-horsepower, 98.2-cubic-inch single-cylinder horizontal engine is essentially the same specification as the award-winning Model Ks. This car has remained in excellent mechanical order since its restoration, with the same attention paid to details beneath the surface.

This charming four-passenger side entrance tourer is a wonderful example of Cadillac's famous Model F. It will be an ideal car for a wide variety of events and tours organized by the Horseless Carriage Club of America, providing the kind of joyful motoring that only an early horseless carriage can bring, and based on Frederick Stanley Bennett's experience of more than 115 years ago, it should also prove extremely reliable.