Category Archives: Cadillac Models

1951 Cadillac Fleetwood An Interview with an aging Film Star

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I visited Crest Cadillac to look at a 1951 Cadillac Fleetwood today.  Like visiting an aging Film Star, this Cadillac frankly still has it going on.

1951 Cadillac Fleetwood

The power plant is the famous Cadillac 331 cubic inch OHV V8. This engine first arrived in 1949 and was a breakthrough engine for its time. In 1951 trim it produced160 hp gross, and perhaps 133 hp net.  The Fleetwood could go over 100 mph new.

Cadillac Identification Plate

This example appears to be a Series 60 Special Fleetwood.   The body tag matches and it has the 8 vertical chrome louvers ahead of the rear wheels that mark the Sixty Special Fleetwood.  Compared to the Series 61, the Series 60 Special Fleetwood had a 4″ longer wheelbase, at 130 inches, and looked longer and lower.  The body of this Cadillac was made by Fleetwood the coach builder.

It is hard to describe in pictures, but the body of this Cadillac is truly enchanting.  It suggests luxury, opulence, the urgency of the jet age and restrained power all at once.

1951 Cadillac Fleetwood Interior

Air conditioning was still an add-on at this point of automobile development, not yet integrated into the dash.  That’s a “Fleetwood” script emblem on the dash above the AM radio.  That emblem served as a constant reminder to the lucky Owner that he or she was piloting one of the finest automobiles available.

1951 Cadillac Fleetwood front grill

1951 Cadillac Fleetwood Tailfin

It is frustrating to capture styling details alone and not have a way to suggest the majesty and art of the sum of the parts.  This Cadillac has very consistent themes, and I felt a great community with those owners in 1951 when they set eyes on this car on Cadillac showrooms and got out their checkbooks.

This Cadillac is for sale. For information about this car please contact Crest Cadillac of Plano, Texas.  They are located at 2701 North Central Expressway, Plano, Texas.  You can contact them by phone Toll-free at 1-866-697-9144 or locally at (972)578-7511, or on Twitter or Facebook

Please let them know you saw the Fleetwood here on CaddyInfo, so they call me to visit other models!

2010 Cadillac SRX: the Face of Cadillac

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The new Cadillac SRX is currently the best selling model for Cadillac.  I have one coming for a weekend test drive and am excited to get some seat time.  Here are the  highlights of the SRX as enumerated by Cadillac:

  • All-new design targeting the heart of the luxury crossover segment
  • Front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive with electronic limited slip differential
  • Choice of new, efficient direct injected 3.0L V-6 or optional 2.8L turbocharged V-6 engines
  • All-new chassis developed for strong driving dynamics, featuring real-time damping system
  • Comprehensive roster of connectivity, infotainment and safety technology – including Bluetooth capability and a pop-up navigation system
  • Smartly designed interior offers multiple storage options and a unique rear cargo management system

The SRX is what I think of as a mid-size SUV.  Cadillac describes it as a midsize crossover.  A crossover generally is a vehicle whose construction is unibody like a CTS, as opposed to traditional body on frame like an Escalade, but which offers the utility of an SUV.  The goal is to have the lower weight and higher efficiency while offering the utility of a SUV.  The SRX weighs more than the CTS Sport Wagon, but less than an Escalade.  This model is the 2nd generation SRX.

The SRX offers a great deal of Cadillac for a reasonable price.  It starts at $33,830, and can be optioned up all the way to $55,430 or higher.

The 3L V6 SRX is available in 4 configurations:  Standard $33,830, Luxury $37,410, Performance $41,850, or Premium $44,395.  Luxury, Performance, and Premium can also be selected in All wheel drive instead of front wheel drive.   The Turbo SRX is available only in All wheel drive, and only in Performance $49,315 or Premium for $51,860.

The new direct injected 3L engine produces 265 hp in SRX tune.  It has been criticized in the press, but I have found it enjoyable in the CTS Sedan and CTS Sport Wagon.  Because of the greater weight of the SRX it may be more challenged in this application.  It is paired with the GM Hydra-Matic 6T70 automatic. The Turbo engine puts out more peak horsepower, at 300 hp, and also will have more low-end torque.  It is paired with an Aisin AF40 6 speed automatic transmission previously used on the Cadillac BLS Diesel model.

Perhaps one key to the successful sales of the Cadillac SRX is that every configuration looks well equipped.  The Standard 3L model arrives at a very reasonable price comes with stability control, a Bose sound system, dual zone climate control, and push button start.   The steps up to or through Luxury, Performance, and Premium add incremental features.

Please stay tuned Saturday for a detailed hands-on review of the Cadillac SRX.

Luxury

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The English word luxury has roots in the Latin luxus.  Luxus means ‘abundance’ or “sumptuous enjoyment”.  A luxury can be defined as an indulgence.  It can be something that is particularly elegant, or sumptuous.   Charles Hodgen has a nice article on Luxury here.

In the Latin luxuria meant sinful enjoyment.  Originally in French, Italian, and Spanish the equivalent words meant ‘lust’, and originally in Old English in the 1300s had a related meaning.

Luxury received a gradually improved meaning over the centuries according to the Online etymology dictionary.  Meaning “habit of indulgence in what is choice or costly” is from 1630s; that of “sumptuous surroundings” is from 1704; that of “something enjoyable or comfortable beyond life’s necessities” is from 1780. First used as an adjective 1930.

Today luxury means having the nicest things — the best, the most elegance, the most sumptuous.

Buyers enjoy Cadillacs because they are luxury automobiles — they offer luxury appointments, fine leather, wood grains, abundant power, smooth but capable chassis.  But don’t feel bad if your desire for a new Cadillac seems to border on lust — blame the language for not giving you the right terms to describe your emotions.

Cadillac CTS-V