1918 Cadillac added to the Library of Congress archives

The Historic Vehicle Association’s new National Historic Vehicle Register and U.S. Department of the Interior’s Historic American Engineering Record have so far inducted only four vehicles into their rolls as being of historic significance to Americans. That fourth vehicle is a Cadillac Type 57 from 1918 that is not only a beautiful example of the top level vehicles being built in the day, but one that served in U.S. Army in World War I as well.

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The Cadillac touring car was used to support French and American troops near the front during the Second Battle of the Marne and later was used by Eleanor Butler Roosevelt, wife of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., during her two-month mission to find and create locations for soldiers to enjoy time off. Roosevelt, the son of President Theodore Roosevelt, served in both world wars. He earned a Medal of Honor for his heroics at Utah Beach on D-Day.

“The Cadillac Type 57 – U.S. 1257X is a great example of a rare survivor – a vehicle that saw extraordinary use during its active life yet has survived to the present day,” said Richard O’Connor, chief of Heritage Documentation Programs with the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. “Recognizing the Cadillac military vehicle at the 100th anniversary of WWI commemorates America’s participation in the Great War and illustrates one of the many contributions the automobile has made to U.S. history.”

The car’s current owner is Marc Lassen is responsible for tracking down the history of this car, which was nothing more than a “used car find in the classifieds” when he first acquired it. The car’s U.S. 1257X name was its designation in France. The story of the car is reproduced below.

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The Story of Cadillac Type 57 – U.S. 1257X

The Cadillac Type 57 – U.S. 1257X was purchased by the Rev. Dr. John H. Denison from Inglis M. Uppercu, the Cadillac distributor in New York City. Denison then entered the service with the Y.M.C.A. in August 1917 and turned the car over to that organization, along with his services as a driver, to support America’s war effort.

The Type 57 seven-passenger touring car arrived in Europe before the American Expeditionary Force under the leadership of Gen. John J. Pershing. It was used to transport soldiers and officers around the area, then was used by Roosevelt, who mentioned the vehicle in her 1959 autobiography.

At the end of the war, the AEF sold its motor pool equipment to France and other buyers in Europe. However, the Cadillac was returned to the U.S. HVA researchers are still investigating how the car was returned and more about its history in the U.S.

1918-Cadillac-Type57-003The HVA’s Historic Vehicle Register initiative was launched in January 2014 to document America’s historically significant vehicles and highlight their stories.

Additionally, the documentation of the Cadillac Type 57 – U.S. 1257X is being included in the permanent archives of the Library of Congress based on its historic association with important events and persons, its construction and the design value of the V-8 engine, and informational value as the only car that retains most of its original materials, components and craftsmanship.

“U.S. 1257X may well be the only complete and largely unrestored example of a WW1 military Cadillac known to exist,” said Mark Gessler, president of the Historic Vehicle Association. “As we approach the 100th Anniversary of WWI, the historic significance of this particular Cadillac should be recognized and memorialized as a national treasure.”

During the coming year, the HVA will document additional vehicles and work with the U.S. Department of the Interior to refine guidelines and processes to eventually allow the public to document vehicles for consideration.

The documentation process requires a fully referenced narrative and description of the vehicle, technical drawings, historic records, a line drawing generated from a 3-D scan, detailed photographs and film negatives for archival in the Library of Congress.

 

Aaron Turpen
An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.