Founded in 1902, Cadillac is one of the oldest automobile brands in the world, so you know the company has plenty of interesting trivia in its history. To learn even more about this iconic manufacturer, check out a few of these fun facts about Cadillac.
Cadillac Made People Less Cranky
Today when we need to start our vehicle, we either turn a key or push a button. However, over 100 years ago, starting a car took a lot of muscle and a little good luck. The term “cranky” came around because it referenced the bad mood drivers would be in after they struggled to turn the crank to start their car. Cranks were also dangerous, and their kickback was so strong it could break an arm. However, Cadillac changed all of this in 1912 when the company introduced the first electric starter on the Model 30.
Founder Henry M. Leland Loved to Tinker With Engines
When Cadillac founder Henry M. Leland was young, he loved to tinker with Oldsmobile engines and make them faster. In fact, he once reworked a single-cylinder engine to take it from 3.7 horsepower to 10.3 horsepower. When he approached Ransom E. Olds, the founder of Oldsmobile, with this improvement, Olds told him the engine was too expensive and too powerful for the Oldsmobile chassis.
Cadillac Had the First Bulletproof Presidential Limo
Cadillac designed the first bulletproof presidential limo by accident. Infamous gangster Al Capone retooled his 1928 Cadillac with extra armor to protect himself from shootouts with rival gangs. When Capone went to prison, the treasury department impounded his vehicle. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor occurred, the Secret Service realized they needed a vehicle to safely transport President Franklin D. Roosevelt to deliver his speech to Congress, so they pulled Capone’s Cadillac from impound and used it.
Cadillac Offered Several Firsts
Along with manufacturing some iconic vehicles, Cadillac has also introduced many firsts to the automobile industry. By 1910, it was the first manufacturer to mass-produce vehicles with enclosed cabins, which meant drivers and passengers could stay dry when it rained. They were also the first company to produce vehicles with high-beam headlights, climate control, a curved glass windshield, and airbags.
The Company Was Named After a Frenchman
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac was a French army officer who explored an area of North America that stretched from present-day Louisiana to Eastern Canada. He also founded a city called Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit, which would later become Detroit, Michigan. When Leland and his partner William H. Murphy were trying to come up with a name for their new manufacturing company, they decided to honor the Frenchman. The original Cadillac symbol was also inspired by the adventurer’s coat of arms.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your vehicle, head to your Cadillac dealer to take some of popular models for a test drive, and then consider all the interesting history that went into making your stylish new Cadillac what it is today.
“Cadillac Model Thirty, 1912” by kemeko1971 is licensed by CC BY 2.0
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