Welcome to Lars-Ove Jansson's Unofficial Cadillac Home Page


This is an unofficial Cadillac homepage, however the information on this page has been acquired from reliable sources such as
the Cadillac Homepage, Cadillac sales brochures and Cadillac books, e.g. "Cadillac, The complete history".

On this page and linked pages you can read more about:

  • Cadillac's history of innovations
  • [1900][1910][1920][1930][1940][1950][1960][1970][1980][1990][2000]

  • The K-body Seville, first generation (1975-1979)
  • The K-body Seville, second generation (1980-1985)
  • The K-body Seville, third generation (1987-1991)
  • The K-body Seville, fourth generation (1992-1997)
  • The K-body Seville, fifth generation (1998-)
  • Links to Cadillac Clubs
  • Links to Cadillac parts
  • Links to other Cadillac sites
  • Cadillac Engines
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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

     

    • 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

    This page was created by lars-ove.jansson@telia.com, member of the Cadillac Automobile Club,
    visit them at Cadillac Automobile Club @ passagen or try Cadillac Automobile Club @ animedia

    For more info on Cadillac, see the official Cadillac Homepage