There were no changes to the Model G engine for 1908, but the advertised horsepower rating was increased from 20 to 25. This was due to the newly instituted "Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers" horsepower formula, which gave the Model G a power rating of 25 .6 gave. Cadillac had always been conservative in horsepower ratings. The ALAM rating was also conservative, giving the same rating to any engine with the same bore and number of cylinders. No consideration had been given to design, accuracy or precision of manufacture, superior fit and tolerances, etc. While Cadillac had a say in establishing the ALAM formula, it soon included the disclaimer that it had the same assessment got as the least advanced manufacturer. Although engines were tested for actual developed horsepower, it took many years for the horsepower peaks to be revealed.

The Model G was introduced in November 1907. The calendar year's sales and production was 1030 (1907-1908). The bulky, complicated planetary transmissions in the deluxe four-cylinder were too much of a jump from the single-cylinder, which had become obsolete. The modified Model G design provided a solid foundation for the "Thirty", which would be Cadillac's only model until 1914. The transition to a leadership position in luxury cars would take another seven years. The Model H was introduced in June 1907. Sales and production in that calendar year: 509 (1906-1908). This was the last year for the luxury four-cylinder planetary transmission and counterclockwise starting for Cadillac. The only remaining Brush designs were the copper water jacket and splash lubrication system; both were in use with Cadillac until 1914.

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Several hundred of the approximately 16,000 single-cylinder Cadillacs produced are still in the hands of collectors around the world. A prominent Australian collector, visiting Hershey, remarked: "If you want to restore, drive and enjoy a single-cylinder car, the best thing to do is look for a Cadillac".

The Dewar Trophy

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The RAC (Royal Automobile Club, the British ANWB) wanted to do a test regarding standardization of parts. Only Cadillac volunteered. In 1908, 3 Model Ks were selected from the stock of the Anglo-American Motor-Car company, Cadillac's London agent, by the RAC. Fred Bennet took care of the import of many Cadillacs to the UK. The UK was the largest importer of cars. In 1907 11,700 cars were built but almost as many were imported. The name Cadillac was already well regarded, partly due to the good products from L&F. Leland Build was already synonymous with quality.

On February 29, the 25 miles were completed to Brooklands Circuit, which had just been open for a year, where they completed 10 laps, 30 miles in total. The RAC stored the cars and on March 2 took the cars completely apart. The RAC threw it all together and threw in 89 more agent replacement parts. Again 3 stacks were made from which 3 model K's were built. They were nicknamed "harlequin" because of their different colors. These three cars were started on March 12 and were again running laps at Brooklands. By 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, the cars had driven 500 miles. One was then put away again until June for the RAC Reliability Run. Here they won the Dewar Trophy for the impressive display of the interchangeability of parts.

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General Motors

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In 1908, William Durant, the founder of GM, offered $3 million for Cadillac. However, Leland asks for $3.5 and Durant refuses. However, Cadillac became more and more successful and Durant tries again. Meanwhile, the price had reached $4.125 million and eventually the sale goes through for $4.5 million. Durant paid with the profits he made from Buick. On July 29, 1909, Cadillac Motor Car Co. a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Co., and Henry Leland became president and general manager of Cadillac Motor Car Co. Durant's strategy wanted to offer cars in every segment. Customers could first buy a cheap Chevrolet and move up to a Cadillac through the other brands. Cadillac was GM's most luxurious brand, but in terms of luxury it was still under Pierce-Arrow or Duesenberg.

1909 Production and sales figures: 5,903. It was now necessary to recognize that the market for single-cylinder cars had dried up. Cadillac continued with a design that had its origins in 1906; the Model G of 1907-1908. Mass production of a single model enabled Cadillac to offer a high quality car at a reasonable price: $1,400 for the "Thirty" model compared to $2,000 for the Model G.

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The first closed cars

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In the early days of driving in America, the fact that most cars were open and the poor travel conditions made driving in the winter almost impossible. Manufacturers therefore showed the new models at the car shows in the winter and took orders with delivery in the spring and summer. Cadillac's model year coincided with the calendar year, and new year production was just around the corner. From 1910 Cadillac became more concerned with closed cars. They had a good reputation for quality and value. With sufficient demand for their full production capacity, they introduced the 1911 models in the late summer of 1910 and had delivered a significant percentage of 1911 model production by the beginning of the calendar year. Cadillac produced less than demand and customers were willing to accept delivery at any time or wait as long as it took for delivery.

1911: Base price $1,800. Innovations: Development of electric starting and electric lighting for model year 1912. The starter was driven by the oil pump and also served as a generator for the lighting and could also charge the battery. See also the page about the electric starter.

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1912: "Standard of the World" is first used in the fall of 1912 for the 1913 cars. The thirty now costs $2,000. $600 more than in 1908.  A 1914 Cadillac Touring (engine number 92524) was awarded the 1913 Dewar Trophy in a 1000-mile test conducted in September/October 1913 by Fred Bennett. In May 1916, Erwin G. "Cannonball" Baker and WMF Sturm drove a V8 Cadillac Roadster from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 days, 11 hours and 52 minutes. They improved their previous time, driven with a different car brand, by 3 days, 19 hours, 23 minutes. Model Year 1917, introduced August 1916. Model Year Sales and Production: 18,002.

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Durant back at GM and Leland founds Lincoln

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With the purchase of shares, William Durant, along with Louis Chevrolet and the DuPont family, 'buys' his way back to the top of GM. In 1910, he had been evicted from GM by shareholders due to large debts and the inability to finalize a deal with Ford to take over the Ford Motor Company. General Motors Corp. was founded on October 13, 1916 in Delaware. General Motors Co. was acquired by General Motors Corp. on August 1, 1917. General Motors Corp. was then the active company and Cadillac Motor Car Co. became a division of General Motors. Henry Leland left Cadillac in June 1917 and Richard H. Collins became president and general manager. Leland left because of a disagreement between him and Durant. The government had asked Cadillac to build Liberty aircraft engines, but Durant refused. He was a pacifist. Leland then founded the Lincoln Motor Company, got the $10 million contract and started building the V12 Liberty engine. After the war, the factory was converted for the production of luxury cars. The V8 is said to be partly inspired by the Liberty engine. In 1922, after only 5 years, Lincoln was in bad shape and went bankrupt. Henry Ford made the only offer: $8 million. Ford initially offered $5 million, but the judge declined because the well-equipped factory alone was valued at $16 million. Ford had made this low offer expressly in revenge for Leland's role in Cadillac. After the sale, Ford immediately sent its own people to the factory to streamline things. Ford executive Ernest Liebold came to the factory on June 10, 1922, to demand Wilfred's resignation. When it became clear that this was Henry Ford's plan, Henry Leland also left. Henry eventually died in 1932.

1918 The Touring costs $2,590, the Imperial costs $4,285. In 1918 Richard Collins is the new president and general manager, he is succeeded in May 1921 by HH Rice. Collins left with two other GM executives due to salary issues. One would get a percentage of the profit after an audit. However, the gentlemen had already transferred an amount before the audit. The amounts had to be paid back. Pierre DuPont thought the departure of Collins was a big loss for Cadillac. HH Rice became the new head, but he had more financial knowledge than production knowledge. Rice had worked as a treasurer at GM from 1916 (previously started at Waverly in 1904 as a factory manager, then vice president and later president) and from 1918 as vice president of GM. In 1921 he became president and general manager of Cadillac until he became the assistant to the president of GM in 1925. He left GM in 1931 and survives in 1938. DuPont's tactful and straightforward approach to the executive selection process was one of the most important contributions to GM's reorganization.

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The general state of the post-war economy, shortages of materials, railroad attacks, and the completion and occupation of a new factory resulted in a production slump at Cadillac during the 1920-1921 period. With the excellent sales of the Type 57 (1918-1919) and long waiting lists of enthusiastic customers and with the pressure of rebuilding in the country and in the company, Cadillac built the new Type 59 for two years with no significant styling or mechanical changes.

1922: Introducing prices for the new Type 61 were much the same as for the Type 59. A drastic price cut followed in January 1922, followed by a smaller drop in December 1922. These were Cadillac's first price cuts and followed a trend in the sector. Increased production schedules, higher efficiency in the new production facilities and economic pressures made the reductions possible and necessary. The 4-door Touring starts at $3,940, later $3,150, and later $2,885. The $5,390 Imperial moves up to $4,400 through $4,600.

†           GM establishes Ethyl Corporation with Standard Oil for sale of no knock fuels

†           Production and sales figures for 1922-1923 is 41,001.

†           For model year 1924, brakes on all four wheels are introduced.

†           1924: Introduction of the fast-drying Duco lacquer