Page 25 - Car South Africa (February 2020)

insight

THE The cars we drive today were

INNOVATORS influenced by these pioneers

By: Marius Boonzaier
Marius_CARmag

First production vehicle with Cadillac Model 30 1912
an electric ignition system Touring Edition

clutch and fewer cogs between
the starter and crankshaft.
Cadillac improved on Ketter-
ing’s (who then joined General
Motors) design and, in 1912,
revealed the Model 30 Touring
Edition, advertising it as “the car
with no crank”.
To start the Model 30, drivers
had to press a cylindrical pedal
in the oorboard to engage the

self-starter. Upon ignition, they
had to release the pedal and
press the clutch. A gear of the
electric motor would interlock
with the ywheel and a con-

nection was made between the
electronic starter and oil-pump.
According to the car’s original
brochure, this setup did “exactly
what otherwise would be done
by hand” but more gradually.
Within the following decade,
ight foot rmly on the anism that required patience South of Cadillac’s headquar- most production cars were

brake, initiate igni- and brawn to operate, and swift ters in Detroit, engineer Charles equipped with this technology.
R tion and voilà, subtle re exes to prevent serious or Kettering and his colleagues at The US automaker was award-

vibrations lter through the even fatal injury in the event of the Ohio-based Delco electrical ed the prestigious Dewar Trophy

cabin. Starting an engine is an a back re. Following the death plant completed their latest for innovating the self-starter
effortless task, warranting just a of his friend, Cadillac founder invention: an electric ignition and electric headlamps. The
turn of a key or push of a button. Henry Leland reportedly decided system. This setup comprised Model 30’s 4,7-litre inline-four
Easy. However, at the start of the to do away with this crank. a compact yet powerful starter engine was available with various
20th century, this was done by Fortunately, Leland didn’t have to motor-generator unit located body styles, including phaeton
a hand-operated crank, a mech- search far for a replacement. next to the engine, a freewheel and torpedo guise.

1916 1985 2001 2004
THEY ALSO PAVED THE WAY
CADILLAC TYPE 53 VW POLO FORMEL E RENAULT LAGUNA CHEVROLET MALIBU
GM’s luxury marque This Europe-only VW The second-generation First offered as an

continued to innovate Polo Mark 2 gulped just Laguna pioneered keyless aftermarket fitment,
with the Type 53. This 4,1 L/100 km thanks to ignition. With its now- remote starting made its
Cadillac was the first its environmentally familiar card-like key fob, mainstream debut on the

production car to make friendly tech, which the Renault sedan was Malibu. This tech allowed

use of a key. included the first-ever started with the push of owners to fire up their car
stop/start system. a button. via the k ey fob.

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