Cadillac: Since 1902

Cadillac: Through the Ages


1902: The Birth of a Legend

At the dawn of the twentieth century, Cadillac is born. Henry Leland, a master mechanic and entrepreneur, takes the reins and names the new company after a legendary ancestor, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Detroit.


1902: Off to a Historic Start

To herald the birth of the new company, a Crest is chosen based on the historic coat of arms of the Cadillac family. It makes its first appearance as a decal on the company's first vehicle, Model A Runabout. Described as "just good all over" in the company's first ad, the single-cylinder Model A introduces technology that's ahead of its time. In fact, some of its features, such as rack-and-pinion steering and variable intake-valve timing, can still be found in the most advanced cars over a century later.

1908: Setting the Standard

A few years after producing their first four-cylinder engine, Cadillac makes automotive history again by demonstrating the complete interchangeability of its precision parts. The accomplishment doesn't go unnoticed. It lays the foundation for modern mass production, and Cadillac is awarded the prestigious Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club of England. To reflect this great honor, the company Crest proudly bears the slogan "Standard of the World".

1909: Quality before Quantity

In a bold move that will shape the course of company history, Cadillac turns down the temptation of volume sales and devotes its energies to crafting the finest automobile imaginable. In the same year, Cadillac produces the first closed bodywork vehicles (limousines) and is acquired by the new General Motors Company.

1912: Cranky No More

Cadillac debuts "the car with no crank". The Model Thirty is the first production car to feature an electric self-starter, ignition and lighting. It brings the Dewar trophy back to Detroit, making Cadillac the only car manufacturer to claim the distinction twice.
Operating the crank was physically demanding at best and mortally dangerous at worst. Breaking one's arm or jaw while cranking was not uncommon. In fact, the word "cranky" was coined to describe it. By getting rid of the cumbersome contraption, Cadillac opens up the driving experience to women and those of slight build.

1916-18: Officer Class

Progressive technology, like thermostatic cooling and tilt-beam headlights for night driving, make the Cadillac the standard car issued to U.S. Army officers in World War I.

1920: Changing the Script

The roaring twenties inspire far-reaching changes in the company's lineup of cars. While innovations such as the windshield wiper and rearview mirror further Cadillac's reputation for excellence, the company responds to the extravagance of the times by directing more attention to automotive bodies, styling and luxury.

1924: The Smooth Operator

Cadillac unveils the fully balanced engine, a major evolution in engine design, which vastly improves the smoothness of the V-8. In the same year, the company also pioneers the use of lacquer paint, offering customers over 500 color combinations to choose from at a time when most competitors still offer only a single shade of black.

1930: Firing on All 16 Cylinders

Cadillac kicks off the thirties by raising the bar yet again with the world's first V-type 16-cylinder engine in a passenger car. In the words of a reviewer of the time, the V-16 was "so smooth and quiet throughout its range as to make it seem incredible that the car is actually being propelled by exploding gases." A V-12 version of the vehicle is produced later that year.

1938: Sun Sign

Cadillac makes the sunroof a part of the American vocabulary. Another first.

1942-45: Battle Ready
Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Cadillac discontinues car production and devotes its resources to the war effort. V-8 engines, transmissions and power units are successfully used in M-5 light tanks and M-8 Howitzer Motor Carriages, helping the company live up to its slogan "Famous in Peace - Distinguished in Battle!"

1950: Racing Ahead

Cadillac embraces the post-war boom with open arms. In 1950 and 1951, car production exceeds 100,000 vehicles a year, almost double the number in prewar years. As an added bonus, V-8-powered cars do the company proud by finishing third, tenth, and eleventh at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most grueling races in the world.

1954: Safely in the Lead

Cadillac sets the course for the rest of the decade by becoming the first manufacturer to provide standard power steering on its entire fleet of automobiles. Not known for resting on its laurels, the company follows this up with a string of safety innovations, including an "autotronic eye" which dims headlamps automatically.

1959: Tails, You Win

Tail fins reach their highest expression with the Eldorado Convertible. By the end of the decade, they have secured their place as one of the definitive icons of the fifties.

1960-63: Making Strides
Cadillac continues to make technological and stylistic strides in the sixties. Self-adjusting brakes are adopted at the beginning of the decade. With regards to the emblem, the Wreath is introduced to complement the Crest, and the new Wreathed Crest makes its first appearance on a 1963 Eldorado.

1963-66: Stepping into the Comfort Zone

The company redefines luxury in 1964 with Comfort Control, the industry's first thermostatically regulated heating, venting and air conditioning system. Over the next few years, automatically turned headlamps, front seat belts, variable-ratio power steering, electric seat warmers and stereo radio are introduced in rapid succession.

1970: Living Large

Cadillac inaugurates the seventies by unveiling the largest production passenger car in the world, the 400 hp, 8.2L engine Eldorado. Its completely redesigned axle boasts the highest torque capacity of any passenger car available. At this point, it is no longer necessary to emphasize the V-8, and as a result, the "V" is dropped from the emblem after almost 25 years of continuous use.

1975-78: Leading the Pack

The company continues to lead the pack with innovations. Specifically, Cadillac is the first to provide electronically fuel-injected engines in production cars. The company also pioneers the use of air cushion restraints (air bags) for passenger safety and catalytic converters to lower emissions. In 1978, the Seville ushers in the era of the computerized automobile with an onboard microprocessor in its digital display.

1984: The Key to Satisfaction

The company's long tradition of customer service enters a new phase. The Gold Key Delivery System introduces standardized procedures for the delivery of newly purchased vehicles, such as inspections, ride-and-drive demonstrations and walk-around tutorials. The company's efforts are recognized a few years later when J.D. Power rates Cadillac number one in sales satisfaction.

1990: Traction Hero

Cadillac swerves back into the spotlight with the first Traction Control system in America, and offers it as a standard feature on the Cadillac Allante.

1992: Power Player

The powerplant of the future makes its debut. The 32-valve Northstar V-8 engine introduces 16 patented advancements, such as a "limp home" feature that enables the engine to run without coolant for 50 miles, and a unique induction system for near-perfect fuel distribution. Beyond exhilaration, it inspires the company to chart a new course.
The Cadillac Seville is Motor Trend's "Car of the Year", thanks to features such as all-electronically controlled powertrain, traction control, anti-lock brakes and speed-sensitive suspension.

2002: Show Stopper


Based on the F-22 Stealth aircraft, Cadillac's 100th anniversary show car, the super-sleek Cien, wins the Best Concept Award at the 2002 North American International Auto Show. Beyond futuristic looks, the Cien is equipped with the next generation of performance and communication systems, including a 7.5L Northstar XV12 powerplant which generates a mind boggling 750 hp.

2002-04: An Anniversary to Remember

To coincide with the company's 100th anniversary, the new company Crest adorns the new Cadillac models. From the racecar-bred rear-wheel drive CTS, the first of the new releases, to the versatile XLR and SRX, the new line-up reinterprets performance, utility and style for the new millennium.