Oldest Caddy in existence going up for auction
How come none of the Cadillacs we've bought for $850 have appreciated to bring millions at auction? First off, this 1903 Cadillac Model A runabout is going to be offered at Bonhams' Quail Lodge auction, part of Monterey Week in August. Our Caddys would've only been appropriate at a scrap metal auction. The 13th ever Cadillac, this car was on the stand at the New York Auto show in 1903, and was the first of the brand to be sold west of the Mississippi.
These brass era Cadillacs are what earned the brand its early tagline of "The Standard Of The World." The "Little Hercules" single-cylinder powerplant sits under the front seat and drives the rear wheels, and the cars were filled with solid engineering. Cadillac made mass-production possible by pioneering interchangeable parts. Nobody thought it was possible to ship a fully-disassembled car to Europe and bolt together a fully-operable automobile from parts that came off the shelf. Cadillac's uniform parts made that stunt possible, and burnished the reputation of the brand in those early days. This car predates that innovation, but if this is indeed the car that was at the New York show, it helped spur 2,000 orders with its precise build quality.
We've not caught wind of any conjecture about the sale price, but old #13 is believed to be the earliest surviving Caddy. Numbers 1-12 have been lost to the sands of time, so this car's unique history and status will likely lead to it trading hands for a considerable amount. Originally selling for $850 back in the day, we wouldn't be shocked to see lots of digits to the left of the decimal. Now, if we could get the same kind of return on that sub-$1000 Cimmaron, we'd be all set.
[Source: Motor Trend]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Barney 4:09PM (7/14/2007)
I guess anything built today will be worth more a hundred years from now. Somethings, only due to inflation. There were a lot of car makers in the past that never survived due to bad ideas. Those cars are expensive only because of their rarity. Cadillac was over-refined and a class of their own. "Built like a Cadillac".
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T.C. 4:23PM (7/14/2007)
I always thought this was funny
Henry Ford Company was the second company for Henry Ford, founded November 3, 1901. It resulted from the reorganization of the Detroit Automobile Company, his first unsuccessful attempt at automobile manufacture a year before. Henry M. Leland was brought in by the investors to appraise the plant and equipment prior to selling them. Instead, Leland persuaded them to continue in the automobile business. In a final settlement Henry Ford left in 1902, taking his name and 900 dollars; he went on to start the Ford Motor Company in 1903. The Henry Ford Company reorganized that year as Cadillac in honor of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Detroit.
Cadillac's first car was completed on October 17, 1902, the 10 horsepower (7 kW) Cadillac. Based on Henry Ford's design (except for the engine), it was practically identical to the 1903 Ford Model A.
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Barney 3:03PM (7/15/2007)
I wonder if Cadillac would have survived if it hadn't been sold to GMC.
Aetius 4:25PM (7/14/2007)
RWD, red-wheels, and one BIG cup holder made of whicker on the side. Damn :-)
Hear that Acura? Cadillac had an RWD platform back in 1903.
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bmoredlj 5:29PM (7/14/2007)
Kit it out with some smoked headlamps, black chrome 30" spinnahs, SatNav, a 830-watt Nakamichi, Blu-ray players in the back seat, neon tubes underneath, and custom exhaust, and it'll be ready for downtown!
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Gerard 5:50PM (7/14/2007)
It beats seeing another 427 Sting Ray or 'Cuda at Barrett-Jackson.
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Bonita 5:58PM (7/14/2007)
A 100-year-old Cadillac?? Geez, imagine how many thousands of recalls this P.O.S. has had!
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Taylor 6:05PM (7/14/2007)
Take the wheels and top off this car and add a bunch of reindeer to the front and you have Santa's sleigh. :-)
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... 6:31PM (7/14/2007)
So please MTV, pimp my ride!
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loriesaysxo 8:41PM (7/22/2007)
hahaha.... suhweeeeeet. :]
terry 9:50PM (7/22/2007)
Let's see....if I keep my mint 92 Eldorado like it is now...........my 10 month old grandson's great grandchild can maybe make a few bucks on it!
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Dawn 10:38PM (7/22/2007)
I wonder how many miles per gallon it gets?, with the price of gas the owner may make back the money spent on the car.
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Bob 10:49PM (7/22/2007)
Nice picture. Think I will make a nice print for my office!
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CTheBrain 12:13AM (7/23/2007)
I like my Caddy.
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Linda 11:44PM (7/22/2007)
Thats a really nice piece of history. The kids loved.
Swingers and third party people check out www.emarital.com.
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Mike N 11:47PM (7/22/2007)
I would be afraid to even have it outside just to take a photo of it.
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hypony98 11:59PM (7/22/2007)
HA HA THROW SOME 12'' JL SUBS IN THE BACK OF THAT CADDY AND IT WILL REALLY BE SLAMMIN
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Craig 11:59PM (7/22/2007)
There is a guy in Suffolk county new york who has this same caddy. it has a huge chain as the drive...I have pictures up on www-2fast2real-com ohh and the owner looks older then the car..
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dd 12:24AM (7/23/2007)
Maybe You Guys Can Bring Your Cimmarons, Allantes , & Devilles, To Auction Too.....
AINT NUTTIN BUILT LIKE A CATTLECRACK! EXCEPT MAYBE A CRAPALANCHE
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JoAnn Cummings 12:50AM (7/23/2007)
Wow!! What a sharp looking car. Where are you Jay Leno? I can see you behind the wheel of this car, with goggles and a sharp looking travel coat.
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