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06-30-07, 12:09 AM
|  | Super Moderator Cadillac(s): Poor man's STS--> '00 Regal GS.  | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Twin Cities, MN Age: 22 | | | The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
The other night, I went out to dinner with Brian (90Brougham350) and one of the topics of discussion was the minor differences between the 68-69-70 Cadillacs. They changed the overall front end design in '69, and then modified the grille a bit in '70, and they changed the taillights a bit in 68-69-70 also. But these small year to year changes were the norm in american cars back then, no matter what brand it was. Ever since about the early '80s they don't do that anymore. Cars are the same general design for 5-6 years now and very little is changed year to year anymore...
What killed that off?
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06-30-07, 12:10 AM
| | Cadillac Owners Enthusiast Cadillac(s): 1993 Cadillac CDV 102k | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: St. Cloud, MN Age: 23 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
$$$$$ |
06-30-07, 12:35 AM
|  | Cadillac Owners Connoisseur Cadillac(s): 77 CDV, 01 ETC, 06 DTS III, 69 FWB | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Newbury Park, CA Age: 37 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
The money involved in clearing any new design for crash safety, plus the tooling costs, and throw in the decreasing profit margins when Wall St. is more concerned than ever about the bottom line, and you can see that such frivolities as annual design changes are never to return. |
06-30-07, 01:51 PM
|  | Cadillac Owners Connoisseur Cadillac(s): 1993 Nissan Altima GXE 5-speed, 1985 Brougham SAGE GREEN! | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: C-Berry FLA, what!? Age: 22 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
Though mostly identical, '80-'89 Brougham had many year-to-year changes... |
06-30-07, 04:49 PM
| | Cadillac Owners Enthusiast Cadillac(s): 1993 Cadillac CDV 102k | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: St. Cloud, MN Age: 23 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
85-93 fwd devilles had a lot of changes too. Very rare nowadays though. |
06-30-07, 10:18 PM
|  | Cadillac Owners Enthusiast Cadillac(s): 1997 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series, 1993 Sedan De Ville | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Downers Grove, Illinois Age: 48 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
Yep, nowadays, a new color choice or two might be the only distinguishing feature.... Remember the Ford Thunderbird changed completely from the ground up every 3 years for a couple decades there. Aah, those were the days...
JRau |
06-30-07, 11:04 PM
|  | Auto Enthusiast Cadillac(s): NONE | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Downers Grove,IL Age: 29 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
1993-1996 Fleetwoods had year to year changes:
1) 1993 had L05 with small mirrors & more seat controls on Brougham model than newer models
2) 1994 had small mirrors with LT-1
3) 1995 had large mirrors with LT-1
4) 1996 had large mirrors with LT-1 and the new one piece center console design 
__________________ 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham "SS"- sold but not forgotten 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII- the daily driver 2002 Trans AM WS6 CE Convertible- the show car 2003 Infiniti M45-wifes daily driver  |
07-01-07, 01:09 PM
| | Super Moderator Cadillac(s): Poor man's STS--> '00 Regal GS. | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Twin Cities, MN Age: 22 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
Yeah, but compare that to the 67-70 Fleetwoods.
1967: stacked headlights, 429 V8 and fold down rear seat trays
1968: 472 cid V8, slightly different grille design, lost the rear seat trays and real wood trim
1969: totally redesigned front end, taillights, and dashboard (IIRC)
1970: redesigned grille (more aggressive appearance), redesigned taillights, and it added a thin beltline, and by '71 the design changed drastically, and then again in '74 and '77, then it got a modest redesign in '80 then went without any major changes until 1993. |
07-01-07, 01:42 PM
| | Auto Enthusiast Cadillac(s): NONE | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Downers Grove,IL Age: 29 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
I know, trust me... having grown up around those cars I can appreciate all those year to year changes and why certain years are more collectible than others...
But you were asking when these changes stopped.. I was just giving my estimate. 
Chrome is expensive now, and it has all become plastic and aluminum from here on out  |
07-01-07, 01:50 PM
| | Super Moderator Cadillac(s): Poor man's STS--> '00 Regal GS. | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Twin Cities, MN Age: 22 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
Yeah, I totally understand, I know you had a '70 Convertible deVille, so I know you're aware of the previous year to year changes. I think it's just such a shame that you can't tell a car apart from the previous or next year of the same car as easily (or at all) like you could 30+ years ago. Cars have no personality anymore. |
07-01-07, 02:00 PM
|  | I guess I've always liked tank tops... Cadillac(s): None | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Age: 38 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
I think part of the reasoning for this is actually good.. If you buy a brand new Cadillac, and then it changes next year - now you already have the 'older' one. If you bought a 1992 Seville STS, through 1997 (if you kept your car clean), it looked like you had a brand new Caddy.
It's sort of like buying a 2007 Cadillac CTS without realizing the beautifully redesigned 2008 will be out in a few months. Ooops. Your brand new 3 month old CTS is now the old model.
That's why it's so difficult to sell the last year model of a specific design. They're offering all kinds of rebates and great deals to get them off the lot because everyone would rather just wait for the new one - which will appear new for several years. Probably as long as their lease or loan...
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07-01-07, 02:04 PM
| | Super Moderator Cadillac(s): Poor man's STS--> '00 Regal GS. | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Twin Cities, MN Age: 22 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
And another thing...I've had my grandpa and older relatives tell me how people used to line up in the showrooms "back in the day" around September-October of each year so they could get a peek at upcoming model years cars...now nobody really seems to care anymore. I wonder if this has to do with the death of the year-to-year changes on the american cars? |
07-01-07, 02:04 PM
| | Auto Enthusiast Cadillac(s): NONE | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Downers Grove,IL Age: 29 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Cadillac  That's why it's so difficult to sell the last year model of a specific design. They're offering all kinds of rebates and great deals to get them off the lot because everyone would rather just wait for the new one - which will appear new for several years. Probably as long as their lease or loan... | Works for enthusiasts like us though... just wait till the new CTS-V comes out.. the old model will drop even more in value, making it affordable for someone like me who has to pay off medical school loans  and start up a medical practice. |
07-01-07, 02:13 PM
| | Super Moderator Cadillac(s): Poor man's STS--> '00 Regal GS. | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Twin Cities, MN Age: 22 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
Quote:
Originally Posted by 96Fleetwood Works for enthusiasts like us though... just wait till the new CTS-V comes out.. the old model will drop even more in value, making it affordable for someone like me who has to pay off medical school loans and start up a medical practice. | Cool, you're starting your own practice?! If I ever get hurt anywhere near Chicago in the near future I know who to go to now! |
07-01-07, 03:19 PM
| | Auto Enthusiast Cadillac(s): NONE | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Downers Grove,IL Age: 29 | | | Re: The death of the year-to-year changes on american cars...
Quote:
Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792 Cool, you're starting your own practice?! If I ever get hurt anywhere near Chicago in the near future I know who to go to now! | Actually me (internal med) and my girlfriend (cardiology) plus 4 other friends (chiropractor, obgyn, dentist, and pharmacist) are all saving up to open a practice in Miami, FL I am out of here as soon as I finish residency. I will be sure to give forum members a discount! | | Cadillac Discussion Tools | | | 
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