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1900's
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- 1902: Three Cadillacs were built
by Henry Martyn Leland. The name "Cadillac" was taken
from the French military commander: "Le Sieur Antoine de
le Mothe Cadillac", the founder of the city Detroit (Ville
d'Etroit)
- Former gunsmith Leland Standardized production of engine
parts by means of Swedish "Johnson tools" that set
the standard for piston and bore sizes.
- 1905: Four cylinder engines where introduced
- 1908: Three Cadillacs where shipped to England and their
performance was measured. The cars where then dismounted and
the parts where mixed, some parts where replaced by spares. The
cars where then mounted and tested with the same results as before!
This won Cadillac the Devar trophy.
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1910's 
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- 1910: Delco coil and breaker-point
ignition system
(the system actually featured four ignition coils, one per cylinder!)
- 1912: Cadillac introduced the Delco electrical system to
handle self-starting, ignition and lighting functions
This won Cadillac the second Devar trophy
- 1915: The first mass-produced V8 engine (314-cubic-inch (5.1
liter) ) was unveiled by Cadillac with thermostatic control of
cooling-water circulation
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1920's 
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- 1924: Mechanical brakes on all
four wheels
- 1929: Security plate safety glass
- Double-acting Delco shock absorbers
- 1929: Cadillac eliminated gear clash during shifting by the
introduction of a new synchro-mesh triple-silent-shift transmission
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1930's 
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- 1930: Cadillac introduced the
world's first V16 engine for passenger-car use. This engine featured
overhead valves with hydraulic lash adjusters
- 1930: Power brakes
- 1930: Radio was available as optional equipment
- 1931: Cadillac launched a V-12 engine as well
- 1934: Independent front suspension
- 1936: Hydraulic brakes where introduced
- 1938: Fog lights where offered as an option
- 1938: A new V16 was offered, this one was a 135 degree flathead
- 1938-1941: Sunroof was available
- 1938: To clear the floor and facilitate comfortable three-abreast
seating in the front seat, Cadillac relocated the gearshift to
the steering column
- 1939: Windshield Washer was introduced as an option
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1940's 
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- 1940: Directional signals
- 1941: Cadillac introduced a fully automatic transmission,
consisting of a fluid coupling, four forward speeds, and a hydraulic
"brain,"
- 1941: Air condition was offered.
- Power operated seats and windows where introduced
- 1946: Automatic choke was standard equipment
- 1948: Rear window defogger was offered
- 1949: Cadillac introduced the high-compression overhead-valve
V8 (331-cubic-inch (5.4 liter))
- 1948: Cadillac introduced the Tailfins
- 1949: Hardtop bodystyle was introduced
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1950's 
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- 1950: Windshield Washer was introduced
- 1952: Cadillac introduced the Autronic Eye, which automatically
dimmed the headlamps.
- Two safety innovations introduced by Cadillac were a one-touch
system for washing and wiping the windshield, and a padded instrument
panel cover.
- 1953: Air Condition was reintroduced as a regular option
- 1954: 12 volt electrical system was introduced
- 1954: Cadillac became the first manufacturer to make power
steering standard on all models.
- The 1957 Eldorado featured power seat with memory, automatic
door locks, whitewall (low profile) tires, forged-aluminum wheels
and air suspension.
- 1957: Cruise control
- 1957: X-shaped frame with four coil springs was used, this
provided the possibility to build a lower sleeker body for the
"low and wide look"
- 1958: Power door locks
- 1958: Remote trunk release
- 1958: As the rest of the industry, Cadillac used quad headlamps
from this year on (until 1987)
- 1959: Low pressure freon-filled shock absorbers improved
Cadillac's ride quality.
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1960's
 
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- 1960: A Foot-operated parking
brake that automatically released when the transmission was shifted
into gear was introduced.
- In 1962, Cadillac models featured cornering lights and dual
circuit braking, both key safety innovations.
- A 1963 Cadillac would do 0-60 MPH (0-100km/h) in 10 seconds
and reach a top speed of 115-120 MPH (nearly 200 km/h)
- 1964: Twilight Sentinel automatically turned headlamps on
at dusk and off at sunrise.
- Also new for 1964 was automatic climate control, which provided
"set it and forget it" control of both air conditioning
and heating.
- 1965: Automatic level control was introduced
- 1965: Front seat belts became standard Cadillac equipment.
- 1965: Cadillac is the first car company to introduce tilt
and telescoping steering wheels.
- 1966: A welcome cold-weather climate option was electrically
heated seats, which first appeared on 1966 models.
- 1966: Headrests where offered as an option
- 1967: Energy absorbing steering column and Hazard four way
flashers where added
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1970's
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- 1970: The worlds largest passenger
car engine was used in the Eldorado: 500 cui (8.2 l) 400 hp and
550 lb.ft.
- 1970: Computerized anti-lock rear brakes were introduced
as optional equipment.
- 1971: Lamp monitors where introduced, this enables the driver
to check if the head-, tail- and turn signals are working. The
system uses fiber optics to transport the light to monitors on
front fender and above the rear window (visible in the rearview
mirror).
- 1974: Along with Buick and Oldsmobile, Cadillac pioneered
the use of an air cushion restraint (air bag) system to protect
the driver and front seat passengers in the event of a frontal
collision. Driver and front-seat occupant safety air bags were
offered in 1974, 1975 and 1976 models.
- 1975: Cadillac was the first U.S. manufacturer to use electronic
fuel injection, with a port fuel injection system for the new
mid-size Seville. The injection was also available as an option
for the 500 engine
- 1975: Catalytic converter was introduced
This means that in 1975 you could order
a Cadillac with front passenger AIR BAGS, ABS (rear) and Fuel
injection
- 1978: Digital electronics were programmed by Cadillac to
operate a Seville trip computer.
- 1979: Closed loop fuel injection (oxygen sensor).
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1980's 
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- 1980: Integrated circuits took
command of fuel injection, ignition and vehicle diagnostics.
- 1980: Heated outside mirrors
- 1982: Overdrive automatic transmission
- 1985: Cadillac was first to use a transverse mounted V8 to
power the front wheel drive Deville
- 1987: ABS Standard on the new Allanté
- 1987: Cadillac became the first carmaker to use multiplex
wiring, with a multiplex wiring harness for the exterior lighting
of the Allanté.
- 1988: Electrically heated windshield (discontinued after
1996)
- 1989: PASS Key theft deterrent system introduced
- 1989: Express down driver side power window
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1990's 
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- 1992: Cadillac introduced its
first 32-valve V8, the 4.6-liter Northstar. The Northstar has
aluminum block and cylinder heads, and features 16 new patents,
including a unique "limp home" feature that allows
the engine to operate without coolant for over 50 miles in emergency
situations.
- 1993: Allanté became the first front-wheel-drive vehicle
with electronic traction control. The system controlled wheelspin
by adjusting application of the individual front brakes, then
by reducing engine power by cutting off fuel to individual cylinders.
- 1993: Traction control was standard feature on the full size
Cadillac Fleetwood as well.
- 1996: The Seville Touring Sedan, Eldorado Touring Coupe and
DeVille Concours feature the highest horsepower (300 hp @ 6000
rpm) front-wheel-drive engine in the world.
- 1997: StabiliTrak is added to the Seville STS, Eldorado Touring
Coupe and the DeVille Concours. StabiliTrak helps prevent skids
or loss of directional control through curves, on slippery surfaces
or during severe steering maneuvers.
- Read more about the Northstar system at the Cadillac
Homepage
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2000's
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- Cadillac has announced that "NightVision",
a tool that will help drivers to see (animals and pedestrians)
in the dark without using auxiliary lighting, will be available
on the 2000 Deville. The system projects an image on a HeadUpDisplay
with a focal point at front bumper where animals and other "heat-emitting"
objects are shown in white (The first car on the planet with
this)
- Navigational system
- Ultrasonic rear parking assist
- Three LED rear lights, including outboard brake lights (first
in the car industry)
- Three zone Climate control (Driver, Front passenger and rear
seat)
See some pictures at my 2000 Deville
page
New for Seville 2000:
- Ultrasonic rear parking assist
- On-board navigation system
New for Catera 2000:
- OnStar system
- Oil-to-air transmission oil cooler
- Quick power brake booster.
- Side air bags
- Ultrasonic rear parking assist
- On-board navigation system
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