History of Cadillac

Cadillac, like many great brands, started with a sketch that would change how vehicles were produced. Learn more about the history of Cadillac, Cadillac logo history, and much more with us at Champion Cadillac. Once you have answers to your questions about the history of the Cadillac brand, take your favorite for a test drive around Kingsport.

Cadillac History: When Was Cadillac Founded?

Cadillac was founded in 1902 by Henry Leland who named the company after the founder of Detroit, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. After only six years, Cadillac brought the idea of interchangeable parts to the industry, bringing a ground-breaking revelation to the future of car production. Because of this, Cadillac became the first American car to win the Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club of England. This high praise is what brought this brand to adopt the slogan “Standard of the World.”

Cadillac History: What Was the First Cadillac Ever Made?

As Bristol Cadillac enthusiasts may already know, the first Cadillac was the Cadillac Runabout built in 1903. This was a 2-seater “horseless carriage” powered by a 10 hp, single-cylinder engine. This model was introduced in August 1903 at the New York Auto Show and was priced at $850. This model was soon renamed Model A as the new and improved Model B added an extended front and transverse front suspension. Model B was introduced in 1904.

Cadillac History: The History of the Cadillac Logo

The Cadillac wreath and crest were inspired by the coat of arms of Antoine de la Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac, a French adventurer credited with founding the city of Detroit. The original Cadillac logo has been redesigned more than 30 times over the past 100 years. This logo started with crisper lines and sleeker angles to stand with the company’s “Art and Science” designs. Here are some of the different ways the logo was redesigned throughout the years:

• 1906: The crest was divided into two parts, a coat and a shield. The shield signified that the family descended from the royal counts of Toulouse. The birds, or merlettes, were adaptations of the martin and won’t be found on the crests of today.
• 1920: The badge incorporated the tulip-bulb wreath from the original trademark with nine points on the crown. The crown reverted to seven points up until 1925.
• 1933: To match the brand’s design element, the crest was given wings and made detachable.
• 1957: This is when the crests started to look long and wide. This continued through 1959 until the crown was almost out of sight.
• 1963-Today: No major changes have been made since it was designed to be more chiseled to match the brand perfectly. This is likely the version of the logo that Asheville drivers today are most familiar with. 

Find Your Favorite Cadillac at Champion Cadillac

Learn more about our Cadillac models, services, and much more when you visit our Johnson City dealership. In addition to the history of our models, we can help you learn about the MyCadillac App, compare our models, and even schedule a test drive to help you find the right fit.Contact Champion Cadillac today!