Named after the French explorer who founded the city of Detroit, Antoine de la Moth Cadillac, the brand was founded in Detroit by a man named Henry Leland in 1902. Later in the 20th century, Detroit, Michigan developed into the center of the world’s automobile production.
In 1908, the foundation of modern mass-produced automobiles was brought about by Cadillac innovation. The automotive industry was changed forever by the idea of interchangeable parts, and Cadillac became the first American car to be awarded the prestigious Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club of England. This laudable accomplishment is why Cadillac earned the famous “Standard of the World” slogan.
Cadillac continued to be an industry leader when it came to introducing new innovations. Bringing a significant change to the vehicle design of the times, in 1910, they were the first company to offer a passenger car with a fully enclosed cabin. Two years later, in 1912, their engineers had created another first of its kind – “the car with no crank,” known as the Model Thirty. It was the first production car to feature an electronic ignition, self-starter, and lighting.
This new design allowed female drivers the ability to get behind the wheel for the first time, and earned Cadillac a second Dewar Trophy. Cadillac luxury and creativity was setting the industry standards that other automobile companies were striving to achieve.
Cadillac Changed the Automobile Industry Forever
While Cadillac was consistently focused on innovation, the 1920s is when the brand decidedly broke the mold by offering their customers a choice of more than 500 color combinations. This was the complete opposite of their competitor, Henry Ford’s mentality, which was immortalized in his famous quote, “You can have any color you want, as long as it’s black.”
Perhaps the most interesting tidbit of history about Cadillac is how the brand chose to weather The Great Depression. While other businesses were struggling, they were again focused on innovation and expansion. In the midst of the worst financial crisis in US history, they developed the first V-type, 16-cylinder engine for use in a passenger car. This engine went on to become one of the most iconic engines in Cadillac history.
Shortly after the release of the V-16, they added a V-12 version for buyers who wanted something in between this new engine and their popular, original V-8. This dedication to continued development and innovation is likely what caused Cadillac to not only survive, but thrive and grow into the strong, reliable luxury brand we know today.
Hawk Cadillac Dealer Near New Lenox
Today’s Cadillac looks a bit different than the old classic models, but it still proudly stands as “The Standard of the World” when it comes to automobiles. With innovation remaining as the driving force behind the brand, Cadillac is still built to impress.
Our team at Hawk Cadillac is proud to carry on this tradition of excellence as we offer quality new and used luxury cars to anyone looking for a Cadillac vehicle in New Lenox or the surrounding suburbs. We invite you to stop in and check out the 2022 Cadillac luxury lineup today.
