Cadillac, whose history crossed over the century mark five years ago, is arguably the most American of all American automobiles. And the most luxurious. It used to be and still is a car for presidents and billionaires.
The company's founder Henry Leland started off at the turn of the 20th century as a mechanic at the Springfield weapons depot. Then he worked as a mechanic-constructor at the Browne & Sharpe factory, before moving to Detroit to become a founding partner of Leland and Faulconer casting and die forming company which manufactured automobile engines and various chassis components.
When founders of the Detroit Automobile Company decided to close shop, Henry Leland was asked to help with the evaluation of machine tools and production equipment. Leland prepared his estimates but advised against the closure. In the end, with Leland's help, a new car-making company was established, called Cadillac. It owed the name to the founder of Detroit, Frenchman Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. The name, which became another word for "luxury car", is the English pronunciation of the French surname.
The first cars built by the company were rather primitive high-wheeled automotive carriages equipped with a single-cylinder engine, looking very much like the early Ford automobiles. A few months after the company was created, during the New York Motor Show 1903, the first Cadillac Model A was presented to public. It was a success, the company got a good start and the subsequent Model D helped Cadillac to become a leader. It was a five-seat touring car with four-cylinder engine and a wooden body, optionally with aluminium plating.
Five successful years later the company received the General Motors' bid for the Cadillac trade mark. In July, 1909 the deal was completed, but William C. Durant, the then GM president, asked Leland to keep on managing the company as if it still was his own. That's when the firm started making luxurious Cadillacs, with stylish metal bodies manufactured at the Fleetwood factory.
In 1910 Cadillac begins regular production of hard-top cars, greatly appreciated by motorists. It’s hard to overestimate their invention of a starter, developed by Cadillac in 1912. It made drivers' lives - especially women's - much easier: they no longer had to spin the handle to start the engine.
By 1922, over 20,000 various Cadillac cars had been sold altogether. Some of this commercial success the company owed to the Type 61 model, equipped with windshield wipers and rear-view mirror even in the basic version.
Another Cadillac innovation introduced in 1929 was the first-ever gearbox with a synchromesh, eliminating the need to press the clutch pedal twice to shift gears (also eliminating the risk of damaging them).
Cadillacs of the 1930’s became an epitome of classic American luxury and technical perfection. In January, 1930 a 16-cylinder V-shaped over-head valve 7.4-litre engine was developed for the most prestigious cars. And it wasn't the only innovation of the year either: in addition to V16 engine cars also got the very first powerful vacuum booster brakes. Cadillac cars were getting better all the time. In 1932 the company started working on automatic transmission. A year later a prototype Cadillac model with independent front suspension appeared; by 1934 it became a standard feature for all cars in the model line.
A young designer by the name of Bill Mitchell (he was just 24 years old in 1938) created Cadillac 60 Special. It was a bit smaller than LaSalle, didn't have footsteps, featured slim pillars and chrome-plated side windows' frames. Cadillac 60 Special was designed for rich clients who wanted to drive their luxury car themselves. This model defined the designer concept of Cadillac cars for the following decade.
Since 1941, technical perfection, power and comfort of Cadillac models set new standards for the whole automobile industry. It was the year when Cadillac presented the first-ever hydro-mechanical transmission, air conditioner and filler neck of the fuel tank wittily hidden under the left tail light.
After the war (in 1948) Cadillac got tail lights inspired by the Lockheed P-38 "Lightning" fighter airplane. Harley Earl was thrilled by the aircraft's design and couldn't help transferring some of its elements to the cars he created.
This designer innovation impressed the Americans so much, Cadillac dealers put the cars in the showrooms tail first so the public could admire the rear lights. The lucky discovery set the tune for automobile design for a whole decade ahead.
The 1950’s brought about a lengthy (49 years) period of well-deserved success for the Eldorado model. The legendary car was introduced in 1953; it became the first post-war Cadillac design in the luxurious passenger automobiles segment. Eldorado Brougham became a truly cult car to the Americans, immortalised on a special US Mail anniversary stamp.
Cadillac model 1959 was designed by Harley Earl. The tail lights and rear wings with aircraft-style fins revealed the author's weakness for aviation. Eldorado Brougham was indeed the most luxurious automobile of the late 1950’s. Pneumatic springs (installed at this car for the first time ever) allowed independent control of each wheel's suspension. Air was pumped in through a system of balancing valves to make sure the car always remained horizontal, regardless of the weight distribution or road surface.
The luxurious passenger compartment of Cadillac Eldorado Brougham came in 45 different colours and decoration materials. The special heating system could be controlled individually from each of the four seats. The air conditioner took care of heat. Each and every detail was designed with the only purpose in mind: to create maximum possible comfort and safety for the driver and passengers.
Eldorado had been manufactured for 49 years. The anniversary version presented in 2001 became a worthy finale for the model's history. The last of 1,596 Eldorado Collector Series 2002 built to mark the glorious anniversary rolled off the assembly line at the Lansing Craft Centre in Michigan.
The new generation of Cadillac cars carry on the magnificent traditions of their ancestors and are likely to have a few more surprises for the connoisseurs of this wonderful brand.
Vladimir Golovin
Photoreport
USD:
EUR:
