Origin: Detroit, MI
Engine: 1-Cylinder
Transmission: 2-Speed Planetary
The first Cadillacs were all single cylinder engines that began production in 1902 with the Model A and ended in 1908 with the Model T. Somewhere near the tail end, the Model K and the Model M were created together. They were similar to the Model E and the Model F from 1905, but with updated bodies. Between Model K and Model M, Model K was the cheaper of the two at $750 and had a shorter wheelbase. It could hit speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.
In 1908, the Model K won the prestigious Dewar Trophy, an award given by the Royal Automobile Club of the United Kingdom that recognized automotive performance and design excellence. Three Model Ks were taken apart and then put back together again, mixing and matching the parts. All three vehicles started up again immediately after reassembly, netting them the trophy. The win led to Cadillac’s early slogan of “The Standard of the World.” This still holds true today—this particular Model K won a Carl F. Benz Award at the 2008 Geneva Concours d’Elegance.