Category Archives: Cadillac Models

Re: Wagon Ho! Cadillac Explores a New Trail

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Regarding this article: Wagon Ho! Cadillac Explores a New Trail | The Jacksonville Observer.

I was wondering about Cadillac’s production volume expectations for the CTS Sedan vs CTS Sport Wagon vs CTS Coupe:

But Cadillac says the wagon will be low volume, with sales reaching “four digits.” Coupe sales will reach five. The sedan had sold nearly 32,000 through October.

So they may be hoping that the CTS Coupe sales will be near or half CTS Sedan sales, as were the Eldorado sales in relation to the Seville through the 90s.  Although there will be some shared customers, I find that 2-door (Coupe) and 4-door (Sedan) customers are surprisingly different ‘factions’, especially on forums like Caddyinfo.com‘s.

cadillac_2010_ctsSport-trans

Also this note:

Young or old, male or female, those who saw the wagon had an opinion. Thanks to CTS, all knew it was a Cadillac. Instant recognition, though friend and foe questioned why a wagon, since those bearing Mercedes and BMW labels are mostly invisible?

This reflects Cadillac’s success at defining their current brand very well.  This is the goal, NOT that all the vehicles look THE SAME, but that any Automobile person would instantly recognize that this is a model of Cadillac.  Good news.

The extended Cadillac Family will soon include:

  • CTS Sedan RWD / AWD
  • CTS Coupe RWD / AWD
  • CTS Sport Wagon RWD / AWD
  • CTS-V Sedan / CTS-V Coupe
  • SRX RWD/AWD
  • Escalade / Escalade EXT / Escalade ESV / Escalade Hybrid
  • ATS Sedan/Coupe/Convertible?  ATS-V?
  • XTS Sedan/Coupe? XTS-V?
  • Converj Coupe

Hmm, I wonder if we WILL see an XTS Coupe?  The Coupe DeVille was a classic example of a large-car 2-door, and there likely is still a market for these.

1993 Cadillac Coupe deVille

1989-1993 Cadillac Coupe deVille

Read More: Wagon Ho! Cadillac Explores a New Trail | The Jacksonville Observer.

Re: 5 Best Used Sedans For Families Of 5

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I enjoy reviews that recognize how people actually USE automobiles, then help suggest vehicles that would or would not be suited for that purpose.  I find this type of review MUCH more useful than some car magazine reviews.  It is kind of in response to what one might call the “Movie Reviewer” effect — some reviewers have become so jaded by constantly seeing movie after movie after movie (or car after car after car) that their tastes can be substantially different than a ‘regular’ consumer’s. By focusing on how Owners will actually use their car the Reviewer can give us a better recommendation.

With no further adieu, Selection 4 of their top 5 best Used Sedans for a Family of 5:  The 2006-2008 Cadillac DTS:

4. 2006-2008 Cadillac DTS

For more than half a century, the Cadillac DTS (view photos), under the DeVille nameplate, has represented a luxurious lifestyle filled with country clubs, tee times, and cashmere V-necks. Fittingly, its cavernous 18.1 cubic feet of trunk space is more than enough for several sets of sticks, and its 59.2 inches of rear shoulder space is more than enough to keep up with the Joneses while keeping your family riding comfortably in this dependable sedan.

Read more at KYPost.com in Kentuky: 5 Best Used Sedans For Families Of 5 – KYPost.com.

2010 Cadillac DTS Platinum copyright GM

2010 Cadillac DTS Platinum copyright GM

The Cadillac DTS is a terrific used car value in terms of the size and quality of vehicle that you get for the money. Rear seat room and trunk room are excellent. The Front Wheel drive makes this an all-weather, all-year around vehicle. The Northstar V8 has good power, and the Cadillac has good acceleration, but still achieves good fuel economy on the road.  The Cadillac is great for formal occasions, going to Church, business meetings — it is a formal sedan that will also be very livable for the family.

New or Used the Cadillac DTS is a good choice.  When buying used, I would favor a Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned model.  The Certified Pre-Owned program ensures that you are getting a Cadillac that has been checked over carefully by your Dealer, and has an extended warranty.  That is the best way to ensure that you get years of loyal service from your new Cadillac.

From the Cadillac CPO site:

GM Certified Means No Worries

Your Certified Pre-Owned vehicle comes to you with the full assurance that the vehicle meets our stringent standards for mechanical condition and appearance. And you can enjoy your Cadillac with complete peace of mind, because it also comes standard with all applicable Cadillac Ownership Privileges.

With a Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned vehicle you’ll enjoy:

  • 6 years / 100,000-Mile Certified Pre-owned Limited Warranty4
    • $0 Deductible
    • Fully Transferable (No Charge)
  • 117 Point Inspection and Reconditioning process
  • 24 hour roadside assistance
  • Courtesy Transportation
  • Vehicle History Report
  • Digitally equipped vehicles are eligible for 3 trial months of OnStar Directions and Connections®
  • XM-equipped vehicles receive 3 trial months of the XM Everything Package

Good call KYPost!

Re: Local enthusiasts uncover hidden, almost lost, automotive treasures

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Wonderful ‘Garage Find’ in Wyoming.  Woman calls car collectors to ask if they would be interested in 30 cars her family still has stowed about in barns and garages.  Upon investigation, the Collectors discover some real gems.  Read the full article: Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV – Local enthusiasts uncover hidden, almost lost, automotive treasures.

The collection included a 1925 REO, of which previously only 3 cars were known to have survived.  REO was a car company started by one of the Oldsmobile brothers after he lost the rights to Oldsmobile.  REO Speedwagon, the rock band, was named after an REO vehicle.

That would be the ideal end to the fairy tale-like reality that brought a special collection highlighted by a 1929 Plymouth, a 1931 Cadillac, a 1933 Buick, two 1929 Ford Roadsters, and a 1916 Oakland into Ruble and Rose’s garages recently. After all, it is the joy of collecting, not the buying and reselling that has kept the local business owners involved with classic cars for so long.

SO a 1931 Cadillac.  How were Cadillacs in 1931, in the depths of the Great Depression?  Impressive.

Cadillac made 2 main lines in 1931:  the Cadillac Series 355-A, and the Cadillac Series 370-A.

Cadillac Series 355-A

Available with bodies by Fisher or by Fleetwood, the Series 355-A cost between $2,695 and $3,795 new.  Cadillac sold 10,717 of this model in 1931.  They had a 131″ wheelbase, and an L-head V8 engine making 95 hp (gross).  They featured a selective synchro manual transmission, and mechanical brakes on all four wheels.

Context:

The average annual salary in the USA 1930-1939 was $1,368.

In 1931 the price of oil plunged to $0.15 / barrel. The US Congress voted to make the “Star Spangled Banner” the national anthem.  Canada declared independence.  Gambling was legalized in Las Vegas.  The Empire State building opened.  Unemployment reached 15.9%.  Gangster Al Capone went to prison for the rest of his life.


Cadillac Series 370-A

Upmarket, the Series 370-A came with a V12 engine or a V16 engine.  The 370-A had some bodies by Fisher, but all interiors by Fleetwood.  Wheelbased varied by body from 140″ to 143″.   The V12 made 135 hp; the V16 made 165-175 hp.  Cadillac made 5,733 of the Model 370-A in 1931.  They cost between $3,795 and $4,895 new.

Click to go to GM Photostore to order prints

Special Fleetwood built body design by Harley Earl and Ernest Schebera for the V12 and V16 Cadillac chassis. Official GM Photograph from the General Motors Media Archives of a 1931 Cadillac Series 370-A Town Sedan.Click to go to GM Photostore to order prints.

A 1931 Series 370-A Roadster V12 was used as the Pace Car at the Indianapolis 500 that year, driven by “Big Boy” Rader.  Cadillac would not return to pace car duties until 1973.

That year, 1973, the Cadillac Eldorado with its 500 cubic inch V8 was the Indianapolis pace car.  Cadillac made a number of Eldorados identical to the pace car to mark the event.

The Cadillac That Followed Me Home:

Want to know more about this era of Cadillac?  You might try this book on Amazon:
The Cadillac That Followed Me Home: Memoir of a V-16 Dream Realized.

Amazon notes: This memoir tells the story of a boy who grew up loving cars, learned everything he could about them, and acquired quite a few impressive models for himself, while always looking forward to the day he would, by surprising circumstance, find the automobile of his dreams. Early chapters reveal the adventure Cummings underwent renovating his first car at age 13. Over the course of his teenage years he would work to acquire three classic Cadillacs: a 1941 Cadillac Series 7523 seven-passenger touring sedan, a 1941 Cadillac Series 61 coupe, and a 1931 Cadillac Series 355A Fleetwood Cabriolet. Later chapters recount the painstaking effort he put into renovating and maintaining those coveted vehicles. The story culminates with Cummings’ unexpected acquisition of the car that earned the motto “Standard of the World,” the 1930 V-16 Imperial Sedan limousine. In all, this memoir bears witness to an elegant sample of the best that the Classic era of automotive history had to offer. 

The Cadillac That Followed Me Home: Memoir of a V-16 Dream Realized. After I saw it on Amazon, I ordered one tonight. I’ll add a review after it gets here!

Reference Used: Standard Catalog of Cadillac