History of Cadillac

Started by Henry Leland in 1902, Cadillac is one of the oldest automotive brands in the country and the epitome of American luxury transportation. Leland named the company after the French explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac, who founded Detroit in 1701.

Cadillac's first models were the Runabout and Tonneau. These horseless carriages came with Leland's 10 horsepower engine. They were on display at the New York Auto Show in 1903, and in the first year they produced around 2,500 cars. Each one was priced at $850.

In 1909, General Motors purchased Cadillac with plans to position it as the most luxurious models produced by GM. Cadillac produced commercial and institutional cars such as hearses, ambulances, limousines, and funeral cars. 

It did not take long for Cadillac to become the standard. Thanks to its precision engineering, Cadillac was able to produce impressive models equipped with powerful V8, V12, and even V16 engines. 

In the early 1940s, Cadillac introduced the first mass-produced, fully automatic transmission called the Hydra-Matic. After World War II, Cadillac dramatically changed its style and introduced many of the bold designs that are so iconic today, such as long bodies and large tail fins. 

Since the company's formation, Cadillac engineers and designers have delivered the best innovations and luxuries in the industry. It was the first company to offer an electrically assisted engine starter in place of the early hand-cranked engines. The first enclosed cabin arrived on Cadillac cars before any other brand. It also invented automatic climate control, electric headlights, airbags and the first V16 engine designed for a car. 

Today, Cadillac still embodies industry-leading innovations like V2V Communication and the autonomous Super Cruise system. At Tom Kelley Cadillac, we are happy to support the Cadillac name and bring its industry-leading technologies to you.