The History of Cadillac

Named after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac (1658–1730), who founded Detroit, Michigan. Cadillac is among the first automotive brands in the world and fourth in the Us only fellow GM Brands Oldsmobile (1897), Buick (1899), and competitor Autocar Company (1897).

Cadillac was formed from the remnants of the Henry Ford Company. After a dispute between Henry Ford and his investors, Ford left the company along with several of his key partners in March 1902. Investors then called in engineer Henry M. Leland to appraise the plant and equipment to prepare for liquidation, it is here where the history of Cadillac begins. Instead of putting a value on the remaining equipment, Leland convinced investors to continue production at the plant using his own single cylinder engine and on August 22, 1902 the Cadillac Automobile Company was established.

By the time General Motors purchased the company in 1909, Cadillac had already established itself as one of America's premier luxury car makers. The complete interchangeability of its precision parts had allowed it to lay the foundation for the modern mass production of automobiles. It was at the forefront of technological advances, introducing full electrical systems, the clashless manual transmission and the steel roof. The brand developed three engines, with its V8 setting the standard for the American automotive industry.