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Cadillac Cars

Cadillac signified luxury and a job well done. It was the well-deserved reward for having sacrificed so much through the years. It was the ultimate dream of the working class of Canadians and Americans who aspired to get ahead in life by moving through the ranks of GM vehicles to arrive at the final destination. Companies even used the car as an incentive to produce more. How many ladies yearned to win the coveted pink cosmetics' Cadillac?

Indeed, it is no surprise that Cadillac survived the “GM Reinvention” of 2009. It ushered in a new era in American history by being the chosen limousine for President Obama at his recent inaugural parade. Even the updated slogan shows that the brand is still a serious contender in today's market. Asking, “When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?” appeals to a younger crowd than who would have originally driven the elegant, powerful and meticulously designed vehicle.

Cadillac's history is rather interesting. Like most other GM brands, it was not originally part of the company, but rather purchased by GM founder William Durant from Henry Martyn Leland. Founded in 1902, the Cadillac Automobile Company was named after a French explorer who had come to the Detroit area in the 1700s. Successful right from the beginning, Leland not only owned Cadillac but also made engines for the Olds Motor Vehicle Company. The point that differentiated his engines from others of the time, was the precise workmanship, meaning that his parts were more stable and could deliver more horsepower.



Milestones in Cadillac's History:
 

1902 Cadillac Osceola was released. It was the first closed-body car in America.

1905 General Motors purchases Cadillac for close to six-million dollars. But Leland is asked to stay on, influencing the design and workmanship of the brand.

1908 First American car maker to win Dewar Trophy. The basic premise of the award was to honor companies who promoted technological advancements. To put Cadillac to the test, three Model K Cadillacs were dismantled, their parts mixed up, reassembled, then driven five hundred miles. All three started without hesitation and made the required drive. Upon completion, one of the judges announced “Standard of the World”, still referred to by many today.

1906 Cadillac launches its first limousine, one of the earlier models with a compartment over the passenger but the driver was exposed to the outside.

1912 Win the Dewar Trophy again when they create the Delco Electric Self-Starter

1916 Introduced the word “brougham” to describe their five and seven passenger car.

Leland leaves the company and later forms the Lincoln Motor Company, Cadillac's direct competitor.

1927 Name “Fleetwood” is taken from a custom coach builder who helped to design Cadillac vehicles when customers were demanding more stylish features.

1938 The Sunshine Turret Top, a sunroof, is created.

1958 Made an unconventional leap in the marketplace launching the Series 70 Fleetwood Eldorado Brougham. Where other Cadillacs sold for a mere five-thousand dollars, this model carried a price tag of over thirteen-thousand.

1969 Developed the closed cooling system to prevent over-heated engines.

1975 First American car maker to use electronic fuel injection. Also released the catalytic converter.

1992 The first 32-valve V8 engine is created for the 1993 Northstar

1996 The Fleetwood Brougham name is retired

2009 Cadillac Escalade receives Five-Star Rating in Safety Crash Tests

Although it is true that Cadillac's reputation started to wane in the 1990s due to the failure of a new diesel engine, smaller vehicles, and seemingly shoddy workmanship, it has revamped itself and come back with new wording and a new focus called “Art & Science”, first seen in the 1999 Evoq Roadster. Because of this new direction the 2000s saw increased sales and successful models such as the Escalade and the CTS.

Models and Years Released:
 

1902 Cadillac Osceola

1903 Model A Runabout

1930 Series 75

Model 30

Series 10, 20 30

1938 Sixty Special Sedan

1936 Series 60

1946 Series 60 Special Fleetwood

1949 Coupe de Ville

1958 Series 70 Fleetwood Eldorado Brougham

1954 Sedan DeVille

1946 Series 60 Special Fleetwood

1927 La Salle

1949 Coupe Deville Hardtop

1960 Eldorado Seville

1965 Calais

1976 Eldorado Biarritz

1976 Eldorado Convertible Bicentennial Edition

1981 Fleetwood Brougham Coupe

1981 Cimarron

1987 Cadillac Allante

1988 Eldorado Touring Coupe

1992 Northstar V8

1999 Escalade

2001 CTS

2002 Escalade ESV

2002 Escalade EXT

2003 Cadillac Sixteen

2004 CTS-V

2004 STS

2006 DTS

2006 XLR Platinum

2008 SRX Crossover

2009 CTS Sport Wagon

2009 Escalade Hybrid