In January of 1904 Cadillac offered the Model B and at the time they were producing more cars than any other manufacturer in the country. Like the Model A, it used a single-cylinder engine that sat under the driver’s seat, but it was easily identified by its updated front end which repositioned the radiator down low.
The Model B introduced a new pressed steel frame with axles. The front was suspended by twin half-elliptic units. Like the Model A this car was largely the product of Henry Martyn Leland from Leland and Faulconer. They produced the single-cylinder engine, transmissions, and steering gears for Cadillac.
Model B chassis and bodies were all produced in house at Cadillac. The car was held together by a steel frame that was suspended on leaf springs and rigid axles. The engine sat under the driver’s seat and sent power to the rear wheels through a 2-speed transmission and Brown-Lipe differential. Braking was handled only on the rear wheels by applying friction to the half-shafts.
Leland & Faulconer produced the engine which was called the “Little Hercules.” The valvetrain was fully actuated and acceleration controlled by sliding cam on the intake valve. With a square bore and stroke of 5 inches, 8.5 horsepower was the advertised rate.
The Model B was sold as a Runabout, Touring, Surrey or Delivery bodies and remained almost identical for 1905 production.
See the 1904 Cadillac Model B Image Gallery
In Detail
| type | Series Production Car |
| production years | 1904 – 1905 |
| built at | Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| production | 2497 |
| price $ | $ 750 |
| engine | Leland & Faulconer Single Cylinder |
| position | Under Front Seat |
| aspiration | Natural |
| block material | Cast Iron w/Copper Water Jacket |
| fuel feed | Updraft Mixer |
| displacement | 1609 cc / 98.2 in³ |
| bore | 127.0 mm / 5.0 in |
| stroke | 127.0 mm / 5.0 in |
| power | 6.3 kw / 8.5 bhp |
| specific output | 5.28 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 13.67 bhp per tonne |
| body / frame | Steel Body over Steel Frame |
| driven wheels | RWD |
| wheel type | Wooden 12-Spoke |
| curb weight | 622 kg / 1370 lbs |
| wheelbase | 1930 mm / 76 in |
| front track | 1384 mm / 54.5 in |
| rear track | 1384 mm / 54.5 in |
| length | 2844 mm / 112 in |
| height | 1524 mm / 60 in |
| transmission | 2-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | 3.00:1, 1.00:1 |
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