In order to show sincerity and determination, Leland brought the "Little Hercules" single-cylinder engine designed for Oldsmobile before and successfully became the director of the new company. After the reorganization, Leland did not use his surname to name the new company, but used a French name "Cadillac".
This Frenchman, whose full name is Anthony Mens Cadillac, was a French adventurer in the17th century. He came to America in the Louis14th century and built a castle on the Detroit River to resist British westward immigrants and ensure the fur trade of French colonists. Later, this fortress gradually developed into Detroit today.
Anthony Mens Cadillac is regarded as the founder of Detroit, while his wife, Mary Tracy Gaine Cadillac, is known as the "First Lady of Detroit" and was elected to the Women's Hall of Fame in Michigan with 1994.
It is said that Anthony Mance Cadillac is a descendant of the French Comte De Toulouse family, whose family coat of arms consists of a quarter shield and a crown. The crown represents aristocratic status; There are three birds without feet, symbolizing the trinity; In the national emblem, gold represents abundance, red represents Excellence, silver represents nobility, blue represents courage, and black represents superiority; At the same time, black stripes also mean praise for the crusaders.
In Leland's view, Cadillac and the pioneering spirit behind it are exactly the genes he wants to inject into the new company, including the name and family crest. Later, with the passage of time, it was gradually simplified, and birds and crowns without feet no longer appeared until they evolved into what they are today.
Later, the historical process of Cadillac was probably like this. In the year it was founded, it built Runabout and? Tonneau, you can understand ta as Cadillac type a; The following year, it shined brilliantly at the new york Auto Show, when more than 2,000 orders were received. Compared with other products, Cadillac's Model A has higher precision and better production efficiency, which is entirely due to Leland's credit. His greatest feature in machinery is that he pays attention to precision machining and advocates the enjoyment of parts. The former can bring more reliable products, while the latter can greatly improve production efficiency and reduce costs.
However, Cadillac at this time still has nothing to do with "luxury brands". After all, Runabout is just a two-seat economy starting from $750. By 1909, GM bought Cadillac for $4.5 million and became a luxury car brand, positioned above Buick, Oldsmobile and later Chevrolet.
Almost at the same time that it was acquired by GM, Cadillac 30 went on the market, which was the first car with a large number of electrified equipment, including electronic starter, igniter and lighting system. How many years later, Cadillac introduced the L-head? V8 engine became the first mass-produced V8 engine in history.
1930 65438+ 10. In October, with the advent of the Great Depression in the United States, Cadillac put the world's first model with a V 16 engine on the market. The name of the car was simple and straightforward, and it was called Cadillac V- 16. However, this epoch-making luxury car is ill-timed. In the shadow of the Great Depression, luxury cars are no longer the target pursued by the market. Nevertheless, V- 16 is still regarded as one of the most classic models before World War II.
After World War II, Cadillac ushered in a bright spot. Designer Harry Earle creatively transplanted the tail of Lockheed P-38 lightning fighter to the car, which was immediately sought after. The exaggerated rocket tail became the label of American cars at that time. This trend even spread to Europe, and the tail wing with American characteristics appeared on11959 Mercedes-Benz W1. Of course, the most "primitive" rocket tail is the Cadillac 62 series and El dorado built by Harry Earle himself.
Later, in 1980s, Cadillac replaced Lincoln as the president's car, the most representative of which was Cadillac One. This is the first president car that is not a production car, that is to say, there is no corresponding product in Cadillac product line. Cadillac One is a hodgepodge. At first glance, it looks a bit like an extended Cadillac DTS, but the headlight style is the same as that of Escalade. The taillights are Cadillac STS style, and the chassis and transmission are GMC? Topkick truck
Cadillac One is known as "the safest car in the world". The chassis has a 5-inch-thick reinforced steel plate to prevent mine and bomb attacks. The car body is made of steel, aluminum, titanium and other alloys. The fuel tank is wrapped in special foam material, and even the tires are used. Kevlar bulletproof fiber; The car is also equipped with an on-board blood bank and an oxygen supply system. In case the president is assassinated and injured, emergency treatment can be carried out.
Actually, writing Cadillac history makes me quite puzzled. On the one hand, people's Cadillac has always been a high-end brand. It has been a presidential car for decades and is a serious American luxury. It is definitely inappropriate to write such a brand history and make fun of it. On the other hand, in the past two years, Cadillac has been ridiculed by big data, and it is true that it goes directly to take a shower without saying a word. ...
Anyway, I try to understand what Cadillac is all about from an objective point of view. As for taking a bath, I have the right to enjoy it. After all, Gaud's big data report is more absurd than reality. Why can Cadillac owners only go to the bath center? Don't even go home?
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.