Cadillac Model L 1906

TheModel L 2-door Touring sold for $3750 and the 2-door Limousine sold for $5000. Calendar year sales and production are unknown, probably very limited. Model year sales are the same. Serial numbers were on a plate on the rear of the body or on the dash (with the engine number). Engine numbers were stamped on top surface of the crankcase – in front of and to the left of the number one (front) cylinder.

The Model L was introduced on January, 1906. It was based on 1905 Model D.

Click to supersize
1906 Cadillac runabout

Bodies: Cadillac’s first offering of a limousine body. Cadillac’s first use of auxiliary (rear facing) seats in Touring tonneau to give seven passenger seating capacity.

Engine: Bore increased from 4-3/8 to 5 in.; mixer replaced by throttled, float feed, jet type carburetor; hydraulic governor replaced by centrifugal ring-type governor linked to carburetor throttle butterfly; variable lift inlet valve feature dropped; commutator shaft changed from horizontal to vertical.

Chassis: Change in commutator drive allowed for shorter hood; dash now pressed steel; wheelbase lengthened to 110 in.; service and emergency brakes both act on rear drums. Except for the V-16’s, the Model L engine displacement was not equaled in a production Cadillac engine until 1964. Wm. K. Vanderbilt, Jr. owned a Model L Cadillac, but this type of customer was rare. Cadillac needed high production to make the concept of interchangeable parts pay off.