Cadillac Models & History 1916

TYPE 53

The 1916 Type 53 was similar to the 1915 Type 51 Bodies: Similar to the 1915 Type 51 except:

  • Hood line raised so that transition in cowl is less abrupt.
  • Roof line of closed bodies raised again at front so that entire roof line is one gentle curve.
  • Door shape changed.
  • Five passenger Touring dropped.
  • Salon now has four doors.
  • Victoria body replaces Landaulet Coupe.
  • Four passenger Coupe built by Cadillac added in mid-year.
  • Five/seven (5/7p) Brougham replaces two door Sedan.
  • The seating arrangement 7P denotes two folding auxiliary seats facing forward in the rear compartment. The seating arrangement 5/7P denotes two emergency “seats” in the rear compartment. These “seats” are rear-facing upholstered shelves hinged down out of the back of the front seat.)
  • Touring body on special 3353mm chassis offered.
  • Police Patrol, Ambulance, and Hearse bodies on special 3683mm chassis offered.

 

Click to supersize
1916 Cadillac Landaulet

Chassis:

  • Same as Type 51 plus 3353mm chassis also available.

Drive Line:

  • Power tire pump moved from engine to transmission.

Engine:

  • Power tire pump moved from engine to transmission.
  • Distributor moved from rear to front of engine.
  • Fan blades curved.
  • Exhaust manifolds redesigned with curved connector pipes feeding into collector.

I.D. DATA

Serial numbers were not used.

Engine numbers were stamped on the crankcase just back of the right hand bank of cylinders and on a plate on the dash.

Starting A-20000
Ending: A-38003

STYLE

Model Number Body Type Style Seating Price
NA 4-dr. Touring 7 $2080
NA 4-dr. Salon 5 $2080
NA 2-dr. Roadster 2/4 $2080
1517 2-dr. Victoria 3 $2400
NA 2-dr. Coupe 4 $2800
1518 4-dr. Brougham 5/7 $2950
1744 4-dr. Limousine 7 $3450
1519 4-dr. Berline 7 $3600
NA 4-dr. 3353mm Touring $-
NA Ambulance $3455
NA Police Patrol $2955
NA Hearse $3880

ENGINE

Description Ninety degree V-8 L-head. Heads not detachable. Cast iron blocks of four on Aluminum crankcase
Bore & Stroke 79.4mm x 130.2mm
Displacement 5.155 Liters
Compression ratio 4.25:1
Brake Horsepower 77 @ 2600 R.P.M. (60+ advertised)
S.A.E./N.A.C.C. Horsepower 31.25
Main bearings Three
Valve lifters Rockers with roller cam follower acting on mechanical lifters
Carburetor float feed with auxiliary air control; manufactured by Cadillac under C. F. Johnson patents
Torque (Compression) 180 lbs.-ft. @ 2000 R.P.M.

CHASSIS

Type 53 Special Chassis
Wheelbase 3099mm 3683mm
Optional Wheelbase 3353mm
Front/Rear Tread 1422mm 1422mm
Optional Front/Rear Tread 1549mm 1549mm
Tires 36 x 4-1/2 36 x 4-1/2

DRIVETRAIN

Transmission Selective, sliding gear transmission. Case in unit with engine
Speeds 3 Forward and one Reverse
Steering position Left drive, center control (Right hand drive optional)
Clutch Multiple disc, dry plate, 15 discs
Drive Shaft drive
Axle Spiral bevel, full floating rear axle
Overall ratio 4.44:1
Brakes Mechanical brakes on two wheels, one external, one internal
Wheels Wood artillery wheels, demountable rims (R-W wire wheels optional)
Wheel size 27 in.
Optional Final drive ratios 3.94:1, 5.07:1

OPTIONS

Seat covers $35.00 – 65.00

HISTORICAL NOTES

1916 Cadillac Notes

  • Introduced July, 1915.
  • Model year sales: 18,004.
  • Calendar year production: 16,323.
  • Cadillac becomes a division of GM
  • Henry M. Leland was president and general manager
  • D. McCall White was chief engineer
  • Earl C. Howard was general sales manager
  • In May, 1916, Erwin G. “Cannonball” Baker and Wm. F. Sturm drove a V-8 Cadillac Roadster from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 days, 11 hours, 52 minutes. They bettered their previous time, driven in another make of car, by 3 days, 19 hours, 23 minutes.

1916 Automotive Notes

  • Industry production increases to 1,525,578 cars and 92,130 trucks
  • Charles W. Nash was president of GM until June when William C. Durant became president
  • Pierre S. du Pont was chairman of the board at GM
  • V-12 engines appear on five cars including the Packard
  • V-8 engines appear on 18 cars including Cadillac, Oakland, Oldsmobile, and Peerless
  • Ford cuts the price of the Model T to $345
  • Chevrolet’s four-cylinder sells for $490
  • Charles W. Nash leaves GM to head up Thomas B. Jeffery Company which will become Nash Motors Company
  • William C. Durant replaces Nash as GM president
  • Alvan Macauley is president of Packard Motor Car Company
  • United Motors Corporation is established with Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. as president
  • Top model year production for 1916
Ford734,811
Willys-Overland140,111
Buick124,834
Dodge71,400
Chevrolet70,701
Maxwell69,000
Studebaker65,536
Saxon27,800
Oakland25,675
Cadillac16,323