Cadillac "last of" ,Styal and car trends

[cadmat]

Someone mentioned in the discussion about DeVille vs Fleetwood how they really appreciated the 93 to 96 Fleetwood because it's the last real Cadillac. That got me to thinking about all the times I've seen that in print, and heard that said about many Cadillacs over time.

It's funny, I've noticed over the years that several models of Cadillac are revered because they are the "last" of the "real" Cadillacs.. In The early 70's there were people who believed that their 64 models were the last real Cadillac because they had a fin and no emissions controls of any kind.. Then in the late 70's I knew of folks who held on to the 76's because they were the last real Caddys because size and engine displacement as well as the 1977 downsizing, same with the 78 Eldorado ( last big eldorado) .. and also the 76 Eldorado convertible( last Cadillac convertible)then 6 years later everyone was making convertibles again, shortly after, even Cadillac Eldorados.
I heard it said 1984 for the deville's and the 92 Broughams as the last full sized, rear wheel drive Cadys again..the 93 to 96 brougham easily rivals the size and power of the 70's "last of" and who would have guess a few years ago there would be no Eldorado? Seville? Deville?or even a Calais for that matter? ( Cadillac made a Calais before Oldsmobile, right up to 1974).. and who'd of figured there'd be no Oldsmobile? and Cadillac would make a truck? UNTHINKABLE!! at least it was, a few years ago... It just reminds me that we really can't see the future, and no one knows what may be in style again.. I would really like to see a high efficiency, high power engine go into big boxy Cadillacs with wire wheels, chrome bumpers,Elk grained vinyl roof treatments, a jeweled stand up hood ornaments and loose pillow cloth seats in the flagship model .. who knows, all us 40 somethings buying CTS's Escalades, and XLR's may be ready in a decade or so for a car that reminds us of the good old days, when your car was big, felt like floating, had no feel of the road, and surrounded you in decadent softness.. they may even call it a Seville Biarritz D'Elegance Brougham and because oil will be so prohibitively expensive, they may even load up the interior with classic status symbols like genuine wood look plastic and put chromed metal bumpers on it.. just as an homage to the old days..

Matt

Originally Posted by cadillackid64

The Cadillac Fleetwood of the '93 to '96 generation is the last of the old time Cadillacs. I feel that owning one is the last chance to drive a real Cadillac. I eventually plan on a whole post pointing out how this is the last real Cadillac.

[lochenjons]

that is very true my friend... i was always hoping that cadillac would revert to the old classic look some day. i'd even settle for a model that pays homage to the big cars of the 60's 70's and 80's. big grilles, big seats, lots of chrome and all that. my one wish is by the time i'm 80, i will be able to turn on the tv and see an ad for cadillac. not the high speed city driving with flashy graphics and techno music. but i want to see a big, flat, luxurious car driving slowly through a golf course or a country club.

because the truth is they just dont make any big luxurious cars anymore. besides limos but who's going to drive that around all day? it's all what you define as luxury. i work at jiffy lube and i get to see first hand all the luxurious cadillacs and gmc yukons and all that and somethings missing. i know its something that were probably not gonna see go into any car in our lifetime because that something is excess. bt thats what made old school caddies so classic. maybe cadillac should build a "concept" car. just to show us they still know what cadillac is about and where they came from. hopefully

and as far as the "last" of the cadillacs thing goes, i'm gonna say the last real cadillac was a '92 brougham. the 93-96 look was too curved for me. (i'm a little one sided because i love my '85). dont get me wrong i would definately drive a 93-96 if i was given an option.

[My_favorite_Brougham]

I too agree that the '92 is the last "real" Cadillac, but not for reasons of curvatures and exterior body. I mean in the 40's and 50's Caddies were all curvy wavy too. I think the '92 is the last because it's the last with an ostentatious look. Wood paneling interior, pillowed seats, and little things like illuminated door locks and rear reading lights that could be focussed. '93 marks the year when the d'Elegance was gone forever; everything became "ergonomic" and "sleek." I believe it has something to do with the "less is more" fad in which plain seats and plain panels give a sense of "futuristic-ness" or speed. Also in '93 chrome lost its popularity once in again in a growing fad which starting with the "touring" Eldos of the 80's which boasted less chrome.

Right now we're in a "less is more" speed/fuel-economy minded fad. Someday these luxury beasts will come back. It's happened before. In the 30's and 40's Cadillacs were all elegant and ritzy, but throught the 60's and 70's plain-jane seats and hood-ornament-less hoods were popular. Then they made a comeback from '80 to '92. Then the "whale" phase. It's just a matter of time, before the Cadillacs resemble pure excessive luxury again. With the baby-boomers dying off and the "fast crowed" moved in, Cadillac had to compete with foreign competition and design. Generations tend to seek difference from their parent's and grandparent's generation. The muscle-car era was one instance of this, and the sleek fad is another. Luxury will return in it's full glory soon enough; don't worry, it will.

[77CDV]

Originally Posted by cadmat

Someone mentioned in the discussion about DeVille vs Fleetwood how they really appreciated the 93 to 96 Fleetwood because it's the last real Cadillac. That got me to thinking about all the times I've seen that in print, and heard that said about many Cadillacs over time.

It's funny, I've noticed over the years that several models of Cadillac are revered because they are the "last" of the "real" Cadillacs.. In The early 70's there were people who believed that their 64 models were the last real Cadillac because they had a fin and no emissions controls of any kind.. Then in the late 70's I knew of folks who held on to the 76's because they were the last real Caddys because size and engine displacement as well as the 1977 downsizing, same with the 78 Eldorado ( last big eldorado) .. and also the 76 Eldorado convertible( last Cadillac convertible)then 6 years later everyone was making convertibles again, shortly after, even Cadillac Eldorados.
I heard it said 1984 for the deville's and the 92 Broughams as the last full sized, rear wheel drive Cadys again..the 93 to 96 brougham easily rivals the size and power of the 70's "last of" and who would have guess a few years ago there would be no Eldorado? Seville? Deville?or even a Calais for that matter? ( Cadillac made a Calais before Oldsmobile, right up to 1974).. and who'd of figured there'd be no Oldsmobile? and Cadillac would make a truck? UNTHINKABLE!! at least it was, a few years ago... It just reminds me that we really can't see the future, and no one knows what may be in style again.. I would really like to see a high efficiency, high power engine go into big boxy Cadillacs with wire wheels, chrome bumpers,Elk grained vinyl roof treatments, a jeweled stand up hood ornaments and loose pillow cloth seats in the flagship model .. who knows, all us 40 somethings buying CTS's Escalades, and XLR's may be ready in a decade or so for a car that reminds us of the good old days, when your car was big, felt like floating, had no feel of the road, and surrounded you in decadent softness.. they may even call it a Seville Biarritz D'Elegance Brougham and because oil will be so prohibitively expensive, they may even load up the interior with classic status symbols like genuine wood look plastic and put chromed metal bumpers on it.. just as an homage to the old days..

Matt

minor quibble: the Calais was produced until 1976.

[cadmat]

Originally Posted by 77CDV

minor quibble: the Calais was produced until 1976.

You're right 77CDV, I don't know why I said 74.. I really did know that.. but thanks for mentioning it..

[Cadillacboy]

'96 is the last year .However I find '90-92 Brougham's interior more beautiful due to chrome strips around the wood trims and more wood stuffs as well. Thankfully, we have more chrome trims outside

[cadillackid64]

It was I who made the "last real" comment. Bear in mind I've owned a '64 and a '89 Brougham among others. Here is why I say "last real" (these don't include the Escalade!!):

1. Last Cadillac to have a full frame, all the newer ones are some form of unibody with the possible exception of the XLR.

2. Last Cadillac to have the gas cap behind the license plate-previously dicussed.

3. Last Cadillac with conventional solid rear axle, rear wheel drive. I realize this is dissing Eldorado owners from '67 and up plus some others. The plant was shut down to convert it over to truck production.

4. Last Cadillac with conventional recirculating ball steering, none of that rack and pinion crap.

5. Last Cadillac over 221 inches long, 210 for that matter. What is a Cadillac if it's not big!

6. Cast Iron Block Baby!! Sorry 4100 fans!

7. One of the last Cadillacs with a name, not 3 letters!

8. Chrome Bumpers-None of this painted plastic crap! Really not alot of plastic on the body comared to most.

9. Chrome Trim- Same as above.

10. I will post more if I think of them.

True, the car has more of an aero / curvy design but it still rides on a chassis designed in 1977. Also, bear in mind I'm not dissing the company or it's cars as made today. I realize that Cadillac needs to stay competetive with the likes of Lexus and BMW and really, I think they've done a great job and I'm happy to see that Cadillac is more than just "an old man's car" nowadays versus when I first started owning them.

[My_favorite_Brougham]

Umm, I think you can still get the Deville with a column shifter. I've even seen the seat belts for the middle front passenger, so I think it could hold 6, but I doubt anyone ever does. But I was looking at a 2005 Deville

[tenmark]

Last of will never happen. Fashion is cyclical. Hell, fins will even be back someday. FWD, RWD, Fins, no fins, big whale, small snail, it all comes around. Yea, 2002 was the last Camaro. It all comes back, so long as there's profitability there, or hopes of it.

I don't like the new DTS. I don't really care much for the acronym either. I didn't like the 00 de Villes, but like them now. Like the 02-06 Escalade EXT too. I like the old ones and I like the new ones. 40's so much different than the 50s. Cars are as much about the times as they are about the cars themselves.

Hated the Allante, still don't like it. 4100 sucked, so what. I had lots of them. And like them. 4-6-8, had one. Hated it (...still was more reliable than my wife's Jaguar XK8).

For me, it's the style. Cadillac style. Excess. Bigger and bolder. I LOVE the made in Texas sticker in my FWB!!

[My_favorite_Brougham]

Originally Posted by tenmark

I don't like the new DTS. I don't really care much for the acronym either. I didn't like the 00 de Villes, but like them now.

Yeah I never really liked the 00-05 Devilles, because I thought they were too new and had lost the traditional vertical taillight which still had some "fin" appeal. But now that the 06 DTS is out I kinda like the 00-05s better. I guess it's because I see the new ones and think to myself "They just got worse..."

[cadillackid64]

You are correct on the gearshift and 6 passenger status. I edited my post accordingly.

[N0DIH]

Fleetwood:

The last Cadillac (car) that could tow 7000 lbs!!! RPO V4P....
Longest running nameplate?
The longest (length and wheelbase) model ever from Cadillac (production, the Sixteen doesn't count...)
FIRST Cadillac with an airbag
FIRST Cadillac with Catalytic converters AND true dual exhaust.

(sorry, got a couple firsts....)
Seville:

FIRST Cadillac to come with a non Cadillac engine (But, still exclusive with the Olds 350 and fuel injection making 10 extra HP over carb'd 350 Olds)
FIRST Cadillac (maybe) with Fuel Injection
FIRST Compact body Cadillac (X Body was smaller than the Intermediate cars of the era...)
FIRST Cadillac with a THM350
FIRST Cadillac with rear sway bar
FIRST Cadillac with an aluminum intake (Factory)

Cimmeron: (if you call that a Cadillac)
FIRST Cadillac with a V6
FIRST Cadillac with overdrive?

(And can you believe, a friend of my mom's traded in her 76 Eldo for $600 to get a $16K Cimmeron??? I was upset!!!)

[jey]

SUVs and Vans really have eaten away a lot of traditional demand for big luxury cars. Fortunately Cadillac recognized it early and jumped in with the extremely successful Escalade, so the brand hasn't died.

But for the sedans, it seems like it will only get worse before it comes back around. I just came across a September article where they declared they will replace BOTH the STS and DTS with ONE car. In a couple years we may be arguing that the DTS is the "last real Cadillac". It will probably be the last Cadillac for a while with an available front bench seat and Cadillac engine (No more Northstars).

I don't get it - I think a lot of young people don't even give a Cadillac sedan a chance. Maybe taking it away from the market and giving everyone a break could do the brand some good. When I got my Fleetwood most of my friends were like why the heck did you buy an old person's car - don't even want to be seen riding in the car. Then I take them for a ride and they're like this is the most comfortable car I've ever sat in. I've driven and sat in a lot of luxury cars and all but the most expensive sedans (S-class, XJ8, 7-series) are like park benches compared to the Cadillac Fleetwood sofa.

I like driving the Fleetwood tons better than most SUVs out there - and I never would have guessed until I gave it a chance and bought one. If I ever get like 7 kids or something you bet I'll be buying this
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/car/538738502.html
before I buy a Suburban!

[cadillackid64]

Next time someone says it's "an old person's car", which not many do anymore, at least not in LA; tell them to pull up along side and see who's really driving, probably one of us, young, wearing a T-shirt, maybe a little stubble and often times a cute girl next to us with our arm around her because there's no stupid console forcing her to sit away from us!! That was the picure I saw pulling up behind a '77 Phaeton the other day!

[N0DIH]

I have seriously thought about a limo. I have 4 kids, my wife and I. so on trips, or even trips to the stores, malls, church, etc, we take the 10 mpg suburban (454 arh arh arh!!) and not a economic LT1....

But my wife won't drive it, too long to work with, the Sub is much shorter....

I love the 4WD, the killer towing ability (10K lbs, and if I go 4.56's, 12K is easy), and the height on the road is nice.