123 Years Ago, the First Cadillac Rolled Off the Assembly Line
- 20/10/2025 9:08
October 20, 1902 marks a key date in American automotive history: the birth of the first Cadillac.
That day, in a Detroit workshop, a car rolled out that would soon symbolize luxury, mechanical precision, and the pioneering spirit of American industry—a Cadillac!
The story of Cadillac begins a few months earlier, when Henry Leland, a talented engineer and mechanic, was asked to evaluate the machines and parts of the defunct Detroit Automobile Company, founded by Henry Ford before his first major success. Rather than liquidate the assets, Leland convinced investors to restart production with an engine of his design, much more precise and powerful. From this boldness, the Cadillac Automobile Company was born, named in honor of Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac, the French founder of Detroit.
The first Cadillac, the Model A, was based on a simple but revolutionary design for its time. Its 10-horsepower single-cylinder engine, mounted under the seat, drove the rear wheels through a chain drive. But it was mainly the quality of machining that made the difference: each part, manufactured within extremely tight tolerances, could be replaced without adjustment. This rigor would become the brand’s signature and a milestone in the history of industrial standardization.
Unveiled at the New York Auto Show in January 1903, Cadillac made a sensation. Visitors were impressed by the finish, reliability, and precision assembly. The 2,500 units produced in its first year quickly found buyers, propelling Cadillac among the most respected manufacturers in the United States.
In 1909, the brand joined General Motors, solidifying its status as a benchmark of American luxury automobiles. More than a century later, Cadillac remains synonymous with prestige and innovation.
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It all began, however, with that first handcrafted car from a Detroit workshop on an October day in 1902—a modest birth for a mechanical legend.
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This page is translated from the original post "Il y a 123 ans, la première Cadillac sortait d’atelier" in French.
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