Cadillac Books: Cadillac: The Tailfin Years

I received a copy of Cadillac: The Tailfin years by Robert J Headrick Jr. from my brother for Christmas (thanks!).  This 126 page book was published in 2008 by Iconografix.

Cadillac: The Tailfin Years courtesy Amazon

The book covers Cadillacs from the years 1948 through 1964, the peak of the years that Cadillac used prominent tailfins.  The approach the author took, as explained in the preface for the book, was to use the advertising literature of the time to address each model, year by year.  Each chapter addresses one year’s production, with illustrations drawn from actual sales brochures, and actual Cadillac marketing copy to tell the story of that year model.

On the face of it, I like to read advertising copy.  However, the illustrations often contain text that is too small to read (I considered but did not procure a magnifying glass to see if the text is legible if magnified).  Often the text in the ad is repeated as text in the book surrounding the ad.  This is useful, but problematic.  I would prefer to see the ACTUAL brochure or advertising copy, presented in the form/format it appeared at the time.  Then I would like the Author to add some background or context to help me understand what was happening at the time, what Cadillac was trying to do, and how it worked out.  In other words I would like the book to be very clear to segregate the period advertising copy from the Author’s text.

I am left with the feeling that the Author may have attempted my desire in terms of adding context, but because it is impossible to tell where the vintage advertising copy picks up and where the Author’s text ends, I am left wanting more clarity in the presentation.

The back of the book contains a number of full-page Cadillac ads, all marked ‘From the collection of Frank Nelson’.  It escapes me why the Author chose to credit Mr. Nelson on each brochure.  Certainly the brochures themselves would be property of Cadillac to the extent they retain any intellectual property rights.

I do like the year by year photos. Overall although initially I was put off by the presentation, I did find myself coming back and reading through year by year.

The book itself has a full color paper card cover, and 126 pages of text.   The volume is one of the thinner books in my Cadillac library.  It is printed in China.   The suggested price for the book is $34.95, which seems quite dear for this volume.  I would prefer to see it priced under $23, perhaps at $15 or $19.  As a gift, it is a nice addition to my collection of Cadillac books.

Books: Cadillac Participation in the World War (1919)

I found this treasure while searching through Google’s digitized archives of public domain works: Cadillac Participation in the World War.

It is a book produced by Cadillac in 1919, at the end of the first World War.  The book addresses the role of Cadillacs in the war zone, members of the Cadillac factory and sales staff who were called to service, and honors those who died in service to their country. It contains period photos of Cadillacs in Europe during the war.

Particularly of interest is letters from those serving in Europe which mention their experience with Cadillac motor cars on numbered page 25 and following. Here is one example:

“…It was my privilege to have for my service a Cadillac for one particular twelve thousand mile trip and during this time there was never a single interruption from anything except tire trouble…”
Hugh L. Cooper, (Courtesy Keokuk Cadillac Company, Keokuk Iowa)

The dedication from the book:

TO CADILLAC MEN
It is a lamentable fact that a war book had to be written — that there were in this world ideas so opposed and motives so conflicted that only a war could decide.
But it makes the American heart beat stronger to know that there were enough broad shoulders, well-set jaws, and hearts of strong and simple faith to take up arms for the principles of humanity and justice.
The Cadillac organization is glad that it was able to contribute something to the strength of the nation and its allies; proud if that contribution was even a step toward victory. It is an honor that Cadillac was called upon to manufacture machines of war, that there were in its employ so many competent, red-blooded, loyal men and women able to contribute to industrial requirements of war.
These veterans of the shops were allotted the industrial chores of the war. They remained at home, faithfully performing the various tasks to which they were assigned. There were no fond good-byes, no mothers’ blessing nor tears to soften their departure form their every-day pursuits. When the war was won, they wore no croix de guerre or other distinguished insignia of valor. They remained clad in the simple uniforms of their craft, content that they had done what they had been required to do.
In recognition of the patriotic efforts of these men, the Cadillac Motor Car Company dedicates this book. May it serve in a small way to pay a debt of gratitude.
R. H. Collins

PDF file of the book with Google digitization introduction: Read online or Download PDF
Buy the book on Amazon: Here.

Wine: Chateau Cadillac Bordeaux Superieur

Antoine Laumet was born in St. Nicholas de la Grave in France in 1658.  Once he arrived in the new world, he developed a terrific knowledge of the coasts of New England and the Great Lakes.

250px-Military_order_of_Saint_Louis-Knight_cross_IMG_3512This earned him various favors, including the Order of Saint Louis from King Louis XIV of France.

When he got married in 1687 he was listed as Antoine de la Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac, son of Jean de la Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac, de Launay et de Semontel and Jeanne de Malenfant.

Later he wrote “I did not create this identity out of nowhere”, although many historians suggest this is pretty much what he did.  Antoine Laumet likely remembered Sylvestre d’Esparbes de Lussan de Gout, baron of Lamothe-Bardigues, lord of Cadillac, Launay and Le Moutet; adviser to the Parliament of Toulouse. He knew him for at least two reasons: Bardigues, Cadillac, Launay and Le Moutet all are villages and localities close to his birthplace, St Nicolas-de-la-Grave, and his father Jean Laumet was a lawyer in the Parliament of Toulouse. [wikipedia]

When Henry Leland and the board of directors of the car company he was helping save were looking for a name for the new company, they named it after the Founder of Detroit, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, or Cadillac.  So the car company was named after the founder of Detroit, who took the name of a French nobleman Lussan de Gout, baron of Lamothe-Bardigues, lord of Cadillac, whose name refers to a location in France in the Bordeaux region.

Chateau Cadillac

Chateau Cadillac

Cadillac France was founded in 1280 to act as a river port for a nearby Castle of Benauges.  Chateau Cadillac is one of the oldest chateaux in the Bordeaux region. Cadillac is located southeast of the city of Bordeaux.

Geographically, Cadillac is a logical part of the large Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux appellation, but the presence of chalk and gravel soils here mark it out as a distinct area, capable of producing wines of particular character. [wine-searcher.com]

Chateau Cadillac wine in barrels

Chateau Cadillac wine in barrels

The official website of Chateau Cadillac wine notes (translated poorly from the French):

On the land where the king is Merlot, Chateau Cadillac is a quality reference.

Propriété viticole du XIIIème siècle située près de Fronsac dans l’axe géologique de Saint-Emilion, Château Cadillac possède deux types de terroirs : un plateau argilo-calcaire (20%), des coteaux sur Molasses du Fronsadais (80%).
Property Wine thirteenth century near Fronsac in the geological axis of Saint-Emilion, Chateau Cadillac has two types of soils: a clay-limestone plateau (20%), the slopes on Molasses Fronsac (80%).

64 hectares de rouge : 84% Merlot 16% Cabernet Sauvignon
~158 acres of red: 84% Merlot 16% Cabernet Sauvignon

11 hectares de blanc : 70 % de Sauvignon blanc
~27 acres of White: 70% Sauvignon blanc
30% de Sémillon

Age moyen des vignes : 25 ans.
Average age of vines: 25 years.

Les vins blancs, secs, aromatiques et très fruités bénéficient d’une macération pelliculaire en cuve Elite, d’une fermentation à basse température et d’un élevage sur lies fines.
The white wines, dry, aromatic and very fruity enjoy skin maceration tank Elite, a low temperature fermentation and livestock on the lees.

Les vins rouges sont soit longuement élevés en cuve, soit pour certaines cuvées élevées partiellement ou totalement dans les 500 barriques de chêne que compte le chai et qui sont renouvelées par tiers chaque année.
Red wines are long or high the tank is for certain vintages high partly or wholly in the 500 oak barrels that make up the cellar and are replaced each year.

I have in my hand a bottle of the Chateau Cadillac 2006 Bordeaux Superieur.

Chateau Cadillac Bordeau

Chateau Cadillac Bordeau courtesy Cadillac Club Sweden

The label notes:

Grape Varieties:
-80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wine Chateau Cadillac Red shows fine aromatic intensity, lots of fruit and is well balanced.
It is recommended that this wine be served with meats such as lamb, fowl, or game birds (pheasant and partridge).

My bottle also has a lovely ribbon tag along the bottom (as shown in the picture), noting that it was imported to Sweden by the Cadillac Club Sweden.  It is a lovely gift to receive, it arrived here in Texas intact, and I am very happy to have it.  You can find the Cadillac Club Sweden Wine Page here.

According to Wine-Searcher, “Cadillac” is also used with French wines as an appellation.

There are now two controlled appellations which apply to wines made here – AOC Cotes de Bordeaux – Cadillac, for red wines and straight AOC Cadillac for sweet white wines.
The area is more famous for its AOC Cadillac wines. These are sweet or medium-sweet white wines, made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, which by law must reach specific levels of residual sugar, and minimum alcohol levels of 12%.
To qualify for the AOC Cadillac label, wines must be made from grapes be grown in the communes of Baurech, Beguey, Cadillac, Capian, Cardan, Donzac, Gabarnac, Haux, Langoiran, Laroque, Lestiac, Le Tourne, Monprimblanc, Omet, Paillet, Rions, Saint-Germain-de-Grave, Saint-Maixant, Semens, Tabanac, Verdelais et Villenave-de-Rions.

Certainly Chateau Cadillac wines made from grapes grown in the Cadillac region seem to be the “Cadillac of Wines“.