Most car brands, as everyone knows, are named for their founders. But it's not the case with the famous brand, Cadillac. This
brand is named after the Frenchman Antoine de la Mothe Kadiyyaka
(Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac), who in 1701 founded the town off the
beaten path of American Forest Ville d'Etrua (Ville d'Etroit - The City
at the Straits). For two hundred years, this tiny settlement has grown into the capital of the American auto industry - Detroit.The name for the new Cadillac automobile company offered Henry Leland (Henry Leland, 1843-1932). In
his youth he worked as an engineer at the armories, and at the end of
XIX century, founded the firm Leland and Faulconer, which is engaged in
the production of industrial engines, famed for its quality and
reliability. However, the origins of Cadillac was still not Leland and ... Henry Ford (Henry Ford) himself.Before
the foundation of Ford Motor Company Ford, in 1899 created the Detroit
Automobile Company, which, after reorganization in 1901 was named Henry
Ford Company. Things were going badly, a year later Ford quarreled with other investors and threw the company. Investors turned to Leland to assess the company's equipment in order to eliminate it. However, Leland was able to convince them that you need to build cars, and took the management of the company in their hands. It was then that she was renamed Cadillac.The first car of this brand was built in October 1902-th. The following January, he was shown at the New York Auto Show, where he was immediately received two thousand orders. Series production of this model began in 1903. It was like two peas in a pod similar to the Ford Model A (not to be confused with the 4-cylinder Ford A late 1920s), only the motor to the machine there was another lilandovsky. It was a single-cylinder engine produces about 10 horsepower, housed under the front seat.Single-cylinder model, worn by the then fashion, letter codes, were issued until 1908. In 1905, four were added Cadillac D. In the same year there was a light truck model F, becoming the first truck Cadillac. How about one of the pioneers in the automotive industry, the company said that currently, when the single-cylinder car chassis was built with fully enclosed coupé - the first in America. It was called the Cadillac Osceola and was placed in a single copy, becoming a private car, Henry Leland, but next year, buyers are offered a closed compartment model H.Experience in the armories Leland pushed to the idea of standardization in the automobile industry. In early 1908 the Royal Automobile Club in Britain had been delivered three Cadillac Model K 1907. They drove 40 km on the highway Bruklendskoy, after which they were completely dismantled. These parts are carefully mixed and then the machine was collected again - using only screwdrivers and wrenches - and without any problems cars have overcome the 800-kilometer route.In 1909 the firm was bought by the famous Billy Durant (Billy Durant), founder of General Motors, and came under the wing of this concern, but the organization remained a separate company, and Leland retained the post of president and chief executive officer. In the same year production of single-cylinder model has been discontinued and replaced the old four-cylinder models come Cadillac model 30 with a 30-horsepower engine."Thirty" was the only model of the firm for 6 years (1909-1914). The volume of the engine during this period increased from 3.7 to 6 liters, and the models in 1912 the world's first electric starter installed. Before the advent of the main method of starting the starter motor gasoline remained crank. Spin it was not only difficult but also dangerous, and that was confirmed when a close friend of Leland was zaglohshy start the car. Motor to start, crank whirling, broke the hapless driver of the jaw and arm, he was taken to hospital where he died. Leland was so distressed by the incident, which sought the assistance of the inventor Charles Kettering (Charles Kettering), who brought the idea of an electric starter to mind, and set the device to the Cadillac. Along with the starter machine has an integrated circuit of electrical equipment, in general the same as used on modern cars.In 1915, four "thirty" was replaced by Cadillac 51 with 8-cylinder V-engine. The transition to the new motor testified a desire to consolidate the firm's management finally among manufacturers of luxury cars. The parameters of the new engine was not very prominent: the volume of 314 cubic inches, power 70 hp Nevertheless, it represented a major step forward, because in those years, an increase in the number of cylinders was the only way to reduce noise and vibration motor.Beginning with the 1917 Cadillac - not the individual firm and the division of General Motors. Then from there went Leland because of a conflict with Durant. When the U.S. entered World War II, Leland wanted to produce engines for military aircraft, and dedicated pacifist Durant obstructed it. In the end Leland founded the new firm Lincoln, who in 1922 was bought by Ford, over time the brand has become the most dangerous competitor for Cadillac.V8 engine was long-lived. He lived until 1928, without changing the volume. A major innovation was the emergence in 1918 of removable cylinder heads, and in 1924 - the introduction of the crankshaft with counterweights, which dramatically reduces vibration. In the same year appeared the brakes on the front wheels.As for the body, they are constantly changing in line with fashion trends. The main manufacturers of bodies have been well-known companies Fisher and Fleetwood, who joined the group General Motors. As claimed by advertising in 1927, the client can choose from 50 different body types and 500 different combinations of paint and upholstery. Virtually every customer gets a totally unique car.1927 saw the emergence of a "small Cadillac» - brand La Salle, which was designed to fill a hole between the price Cadillac and much less expensive Buick. La Salle is famous as the world's first car, which worked over the exterior of a special designer. They were none other than Harley Earl (Harley Earl), future chief stylist General Motors. Machines La Salle produced until 1940.On Cadillac models in 1929, several important new features such as synchronized gearbox Synchro-mech, safety tempered glass and windshield wipers with electric drive. In September 1929, just before the market crash, signaling the beginning of the Great Depression, the model went on sale in 1930 with the index "452" - a car with a V-shaped 16-cylinder engine, one of the most luxurious and expensive Cadillac. The new engine, as you may guess, had a volume of 452 cubic inches and developed capacity 175-185 bhp At the same time and continued to release models V8. In 1931, in addition to them there was an intermediate model line - Cadillac V12. 12-cylinder 135-horsepower engine had a volume of 368 cubic inches. In 1934 Cadillac was the chassis with independent front suspension.The sensation of 1938 was a new Cadillac 60 Special. Formally included in the community the most inexpensive 60-series, this machine is consistent with other models Sixty only his nose. Everything else was different: the body, which became more than 7 inches below, the lack of footrests, large windows with pointed rather than rounded corners, narrow bar between them, and finally the trunk, which gave the car about three-volume form - all these stood out 60 Special. For buyers new design came to taste: the one and only model made up almost 40% of sales Cadillac.1940-D was the last year for a 16-cylinder Cadillac. Their sales are steadily declining. Those wishing to have such an expensive luxury car and was running out.That was the sales dynamics of this model in the 30s of last century:
The age of the automotive aristocracy came to an end - but not the era of design innovations. Since 1941, the Cadillac automatic transmission installed Hydra-Matic. At the same time a number of options included air conditioning began.During the next World War, Cadillac could not stay away. He manufactured light tanks M-24. During the war years, the consumer hungry without new cars and after the victory was all ready to grab. Thus in 1946 model year, Cadillac, like most other companies have thrown on the market pre-war models, subjecting them to a minimal facelift.The first major redesign occurred only in 1948, but he brought another small revolution. With a light hand by Harley Earl and his assistant, Franklin Hershey (Franklin Hershey) appeared radically new Cadillac, the main distinguishing feature of which have small fins at the rear wings, modeled on the keels of the aircraft Lockheed P-38 Lightning. In ten years these fins was destined to become a huge fins, which have become characteristic of American cars of the second half of 50th.Of finlets on the hind wings Cadillac 60 Special eventually grow large fins, which determined the style of American cars <nobr> late 50's </ nobr>.Of finlets on the hind wings Cadillac 60 Special eventually grow large fins, which determined the style of American cars late 50s.The following year, General Motors gave the Americans a fashionable novelty - a hardtop body (hardtop), distinguished by the absence of the central pole, so that when fully lowered glass formed a large aperture, as in a convertible with the top raised. Two-door hardtop in the model number was called Cadillac Coupe de Ville. In 1954 four-door hardtop appeared that the same logic called the Sedan de Ville. Later it became a no body, and some models Cadillac.1953 brought a new model - a luxury convertible Eldorado. In 1956, it acceded to the convertible Eldorado Seville, and the convertible was called Eldorado Biarritz. After a year in the Cadillac lineup appeared more and Eldorado Brougham, who, in fact, had nothing in common with other Eldorado. It was ultraroskoshny (and ultra-expensive) four-door hardtop under construction by hand with the so-called "kissing the doors", as the rear doors were hung not the front and rear edge. The machine is equipped with a 325-horsepower engine, while the standard engine for the Cadillac developed 300 horsepower.Eldorado Brougham in its original form was produced for only two years. In 1959 he received a new body with a more concise and edgy design, which was made by Italian firm Pininfarina. Eldorado Brougham 1959 - an extremely rare car, making a total of 99 pieces were produced. In 1960, after a slight restyling, production was 101 machine, after which the Eldorado Brougham disappeared from the production program.Characteristic of the 50s "architectural excesses" peaked in 1959 models, which had the body, more like a boat, a massive grille position lamps, reminiscent of a jet engine air intakes, and a monstrous fins fitted with double lights that simulated jet exhaust. After these extravagant fashion fins quickly faded away, but the Cadillac they strongly truncated form retained for a long time, becoming the hallmark of this brand as well as the narrow vertical lights.Another landmark year was 1967-th, when a completely new Cadillac Eldorado, designed for the emerging niche of personal luxury coupe (personal luxury coupe). This machine, which did not have anything in common with other Cadillac, except for 340-strong motor, a front-wheel drive. Since 1970, at the Eldorado set motors with an enormous volume of 500 cubic inches (8.2 liters), posing 400 hp Detroit megalomania put one record after another, before literally two or three years in uhnut gulf oil crisis.One consequence of this crisis was the inability to produce an annual re-styling, characteristic of American cars from the late 1920s. Henceforth, the model of the current year were different from the only slightly, if at all in any way. In addition, had to cope with flooded the U.S. market more compact and efficient Japanese and European cars.The answer to this was the appearance in 1976 at the Cadillac lineup of the new compact model, which was called the Cadillac Seville. This machine was designed to discourage buyers from prestigious European brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Greatly inferior in size full-size Cadillac, Seville significantly superior to them in price, which, however, did not prevent sales that first year were more than 43 thousand cars.The trend toward compactness again manifested itself in the next year, when after a redesign of large rear-wheel drive Cadillac decreased in size. But thanks to the successful design of the internal habitable space is not decreased but rather increased. Former massive size for some time kept only the Eldorado, which since 1976 has lost a modification of a convertible, was touted as "the last American convertible." However, the assumption that convertible buyers are no longer needed, were not justified, and since the early 1980s a small number of gigs over there in the lines of American brands. In 1984 he returned to their production and Cadillac, launching the Eldorado Convertible, which was based on a new generation of Eldorado, remains front-wheel, but much more compact.On the front is a translation of the other models of Cadillac. In 1980 it happened to Seville, which has also received an unusual body style Razor Edge (razor blade), characteristic of British cars late 1940s. And in 1985, front-wheel drive full-size machines were De Ville and Fleetwood. Rear-wheel drive and a conservative appearance has preserved only Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, without major changes unreleased since 1980. In 1987 it was renamed simply to Brougham, and in 1993 he was replaced by a new high Fleetwood, which was issued prior to 1996.Sign a model in 1987, became the roadster Allante, which was produced in collaboration with Pininfarina. The chassis for this car was going in Detroit, loaded on the plane was delivered to Italy, where he casteth body, and the same plane sent back for final assembly. This gave occasion to speak of wit, "the world's longest assembly line." During the years 1987-1993 was built 21 000 Allante.In 1999, first appeared in the line of Cadillac SUV. They became the Escalade, which was a close relative of such large SUVs from GM, as the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Second-generation Escalade in 2002 became the first of a new "facetted" design. In addition he produced Escalade EXT, which, like the twin brother Chevrolet Avalanche, was a hybrid SUV and pickup truck. In 2003, in addition to these two models appeared long wheelbase Escalade ESV, which became an analogue Chevrolet Suburban.That same year, Cadillac launched a radical change of names. New models are given names instead of three-letter abbreviations. The first swallow this "rebranding" has become a model CTS - rear wheel drive mid-size sedan. In 2004 it added to the crossover SRX and roadster XLR, the first after the Allante. In 2005 he took the place of Seville model STS, which is available in rear-wheel-drive versions, and in 2006 underwent replacement of long-lived and DeVille. The new flagship of the called DTS, but left front wheel. Models CTS, STS and XLR are also available in the "charged" version that is called a CTS-V, STS-V and XLR-V.First line of Cadillac was drawn up solely on the basis of the tastes of Americans. But now General Motors headed for the transformation of the brand in the global brand and the name of the first Cadillac models were sold not for the U.S. market. Cadillac SLS model is designed for the Chinese buyer, and is available for Europe Cadillac BLS, which is produced in Sweden and is based on the same platform with the Saab 9-3. So, despite a hundred years behind them, the history of Cadillac has just begun.
