CADILLAC GASOLINE AUTOMOBILE, 1923 

 Gift of the Cadillac Motor Car Co. in 1923 (USNM 308218) 



This Cadillac chassis of 1923 (figs. 101 and 102) was 

 originally exhibited in the Museum in contrast with the 

 model-A Cadillac of 1903 (fig. 81) to indicate the many 

 changes made in the automobile in a 20-year period. It is 

 the model 61, which followed by 8 years the first Cadillac 

 with a V-8 engine, the model 51 of 1915. It illustrates 

 the construction of a quality car of its date. 



The V-shaped engine consists of two 4-cylinder blocks 

 with detachable cylinder heads placed at a 90° angle upon 

 an aluminum crankcase. The bore and stroke are 3Vs 

 inches and 5Vs inches, respectively, giving a total piston dis- 

 placement of 314.4 cubic inches. At 2,700 revolutions per 

 minute 60 horsepower was developed. The 16 valves are 

 mechanically operated by a single camshaft located in the 

 center of the engine above the crankshaft, which is sup- 

 ported in three bearings. 



At the front of the engine a Morse timing chain drives 

 the camshaft and also the Delco distributor of the battery 

 ignition system. A pivoted weight, turning with the shaft 

 of the distributor, automatically advanced the ignition tim- 

 ing as higher speeds were reached. The timing chain also 

 turns a shaft, lying in the V of the engine, to drive the 



Figure 101. — Photo, made in 1923, of 1923 Cadillac chassis in Transportation 

 Hall of National Museum. 









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