The name Cadillac comes from the founder of Detroit, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. Cadillac was created in 1903 by Henry Leland and was brought in under GM's wings in 1909. The first Cadillac was a V1 engine. It was an instant succes when it saw the light of day in Januari 1903. In 3 days they got over 2000 orders and had to put up signs that the car was "Sold Out". In 1905 they made a fourcylinder engine, some cars already had more but they hade big problems, but the Cadillac showed no such problems. In 1912 Cadillac broke the barriers again, the became the firsta car with electrical ignition. That made it possible for women to handle the car on their own. The first V8 was diplayed in 1914, it had an impressive 70 hp. The research went on and in 1924 they came up with fourwheel breakingsystem and in 1928 a syncronised gearbox. Cadillac was also first with the watercooled engine and electrical lighting. When the stock broke down in 1929 only 2 cars survived the depression, that was Lincoln & Cadillac, all other makers disapeared. 1930 Cadillac chocked the industry with a powerpack, it was a V16 engine 452 cc with valves that gave the engine 164 hp. This was a model that attracted people like Al Capone, especially the one with the armored chassis. 1938 another V16 came, but with lower weight and higher effect. A new generation was introduced in 1948. It was at this time the first fins was shown to the world on the Serie 62 Sedanette Fastback. It was headdesigner Harley Earl who made this with the inspiration of the fighterplane Lockheed P38. In 1949 a V8 with valves and 160 hp was presented and in 1953 the new model Eldorado came. It had a panoramawindshield and the price was almost the double comperad with the Cadillac convertible. 1959 was the golden year of Cadillac. The engines had 345 hp, the fins reached for the skies, and everybody that was somebody wanted to own one (Elvis hade only a hundred during his time) That same year Harley Earl left and Bill Mitchell took over. Mitchell was the headdesigner until 1977.

The Cadillac is also the car that is the most "songwriten". More than 300 recordings has been made about the car. One of the first must have been Maybelline by Chuck Berry. Bruce Springsteen has made FIVE songs about it. Even some swedish artists has made songs about the car. A car that is one of the most loved an awarded cars of our time.

Some of the songs:
Maybelline (Chuck Berry)
Adam Raised A Cain (Bruce Springsteen)
Pink Cadillac (Bruce Springsteen)
Johnny Bye Bye (Bruce Springsteen)
New York City Serenade (Bruce Springsteen)
Cadillac Ranch (Bruce Springsteen)
Slit & Släng (Siw Malmqvist)
Brand New Cadillac (Vince Taylor)
Med denna låt skapade sedan Hep Stars
folkparkshysteri 1965 i sin egen version.

Fredrik Flumée