A Legacy of Prestige: The Story of Cadillac

A Legacy of Prestige: The Story of Cadillac

Status. Fame. Reputation. Luxury. Cachet. Innovation.

Does any vehicle exemplify these qualities more than Cadillac? Is any American auto more venerated or iconic? In a word, no.

Since the brand was first introduced in 1902, it has attracted legions of elites. Bankers, doctors and business leaders, celebrities and presidents – even gangsters like Al Capone, whose 1928 bulletproof Town Sedan helped him outrun the fuzz – have gravitated to the brand.

What’s behind their loyalty?

Credit the brand’s clear vision of its business destination. From the beginning, Cadillac has prioritized luxury, fashionable finishes, bold design and precision engineering. It has pioneered safety features and technology. It has made a point not to run in the mainstream, aiming instead to elevate its vehicles above mere transportation. And along the way it has set a world standard for quality and excellence.

Let’s look at some of the ways that Cadillac has earned its superlatives.

Peelin’ Out of Sight

Cadillac, which got its start after the dissolution of the Henry Ford Company, wasted no time smoking the competition.

A revamped 10-horsepower, single-cylinder engine, designed by engineer and Cadillac co-founder Henry Leland, powered the company’s first vehicle, the 1902 model A. It was a hit at the 1903 New York Auto Show and by 1905 was the most produced engine in the world.

Cadillac really hit the fast lane with its V8, which debuted in September 1914 in the Type 51. The engine layout – a pair of cylinder banks facing each other in a V-formation – is still the standard for American autos.

Cadillac has racked up a long list of firsts – all of which exerted significant influence on the automotive world – including these tech and under-the-hood innovations:

• Standardized Parts (1908)

This common facet of automobile manufacturing began with a Royal Automobile Club contest in 1908. Cadillac (the only American company to enter) shipped five identical, disassembled, 1-cylinder cars across the pond. Parts were thrown into random piles. The challenge was to reassemble the vehicles without knowing which car they came from.

The five Caddys came together perfectly. Cadillac won the Dewer Trophy and earned the title of “Standard of the World.”

• The Electric Starter (1911)

Early drivers had to hand-crank their cars to start them – a risky endeavor that claimed more than a few lives. 

Cadillac introduced the electric starter in the 1912 model line, which eliminated the danger and made vehicle ownership possible for women and people with disabilities. The starter also won Cadillac its second Dewer Trophy.

• The SynchroMesh Gearbox (1928)

Early vehicles did not shift without a fair amount of gear-grinding, power loss and annoyance – even after lots of practice on the driver’s part. The SynchroMesh system smoothed out the issues. It appeared in the 1928 Cadillac model year and was soon common for other GM cars.

• Power Steering (1954)

GM, Cadillac’s parent company, was the first automaker to offer power steering as a standard feature. It was the forerunner of today’s systems, which make normal low-speed maneuvers – parking your car or taking a corner, for instance – easier for the person behind the wheel.

Safety First

Cadillac has long been first or early to implement numerous safety features, including:

• Shatterproof Safety Glass (1928)

Early windows and windshields were made of plate glass – which could shatter and severely injure occupants if they broke. What Caddy called “security plate glass” was introduced on Cadillacs and LaSalles in 1928 and soon across the GM product line.

• Radar-based Forward Collision Detection (1959)

Collision detection is common on many contemporary vehicles. Cadillac demonstrated a proprietary radar-based forward collision warning system in its 1959 Cyclone XP-74 concept car.

• Front seat belts (1963)

Cadilac introduced this safety feature a year before the federal law requiring them in all vehicles.

When Cars Were Fin-tastic, and Other Style Notes

Nothing says 1950s and early ‘60s like tailfins – and guess which automaker had them first and did the style best.

The first fins, inspired by the vertical stabilizers on the Lockheed P-38 fighter plane, as the story goes, were barely noticeable. The style statement reached maximum height and length in 1959. The fin fad later jumped the shark, but when people think of iconic Caddys, the ’59 version is what they picture.

Drivers can also thank Cadillac for bringing color into the equation. In 1926, the automaker offered customers more than 500 color combos – an obvious reaction to Henry Ford’s quip that people could have any color they wanted, as long as it was black.

For the interior, Cadillac has always focused on premium materials such as soft leather and real wood – all hand-picked by designers to produce a warm, inviting feeling.

Hail to the Chief

Since the early 1980s, every American president except one has had a Cadillac as the official vehicle – all heavily armored and teched to the max, for their time.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first to ride in a presidential car built in the United States to Secret Service standards, but Ronald Reagan was the first to have a Cadillac as the official vehicle. His Fleetwood served him throughout the 1980s and included armored protection in the doors, as well as a raised roof so occupants could have a better view outside. 

(The move toward increased protection, including armor and bulletproof glass and, eventually, a hermetically sealed environment, began after President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.

George H. W. Bush – the first president Bush – used a Lincoln Town car. Then it was back to a Caddy for Bill Clinton. His 1993 Fleetwood Brougham is now on display at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, AR – with the doors safely locked and inaccessible to the public.

The vehicle was the first to include some of the (then) latest tech, including telephones and satellite communications.

George W. Bush chose a DeVille that was custom-built on an SUV frame with heavy armor and lots of tech, including night vision systems.

A stronger presidential limo was commissioned for him after the September 11 terrorist attacks. This version resembled the DTS sedan but was also custom built on a heavy-duty chassis. It featured 5-inch armor plating, run-flat tires and fixed windows. This bad boy was also the fastest head-of-state limo ever (so far), able to reach speeds of 150 mph.

“Cadillac One,” Barack Obama’s ride, was slower than his predecessor’s – top speed was only about 60 mph – but was the most protected and advanced state vehicle of its time. In addition to heavy armor, it had tear gas cannons and the ability to defend against chemical attacks. It even carried blood compatible with Obama’s, just in case.

Donald Trump’s limo was known as The Beast. 

“Technically speaking, The Beast is a name that applies to many presidential limos,” according to Motor1.com, but Trump’s version was “the beastliest of them all. It’s basically an updated version of the 2009 model with modern Cadillac styling, steel and ceramic armor and enough protective systems to basically call it a rolling bunker.”

Joe Biden’s version of The Beast may just be the world’s safest car. The 18-foot tank takes its style cues from the Escalade and has enough weapons, tech and secret stuff to make James Bond jealous.

No, you can’t buy a presidential-level Caddy, even after it’s out of service. Apart from Clinton’s vehicle, they are destroyed by the Secret Service after they’re retired.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

Cadillac is not resting on its laurels. The company continues to innovate – and pamper its owners – with features such as:

• Super Cruise, a true Level 2, hands-free driving system that is a revolution in driving technology. Cadillac offered it as an option on the 2018 CT6 and it is now available on certain Escalades, Lyriqs and other vehicles in the CT line. Super Cruise works on more than 200,000 miles of compatible roads in the U.S. and Canada.
• Remote commands that let drivers use their smartphones as remote key fobs to start the engine, warm up the interior, lock and unlock the doors and control many other aspects of their vehicles
• Automatic software updates that keep the sophisticated tech in the vehicle up to date.
• An immersive audio system that turns the interior into a rich, resonant, luxurious listening experience.
• Sophisticated seating that allows everything from heating and cooling to lumbar massaging – and it memorizes your presets too.
• Advanced safety features such as HD Surround Vision, night vision, rear pedestrian alert and other elements that enhance the driver’s perception and reaction time.

From the CT4 sedan and XT5 SUV to the Escalade V-Series (MSRP $152,295) and the Celestiq (available by inquiry only), all Cadillacs are designed and built with your safety, style, comfort and aesthetic experience in mind.

Visit us at Mullinax Cadillac in Montgomery. Our knowledgeable sales staff can answer your questions, choose the vehicle that’s right for you and help you be part of the Cadillac tradition.