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56-571: The first generation of the Fleetwood was introduced as Cadillac converted its C-body platform to front-wheel drive. Serving between the Sedan deVille and the Sixty Special in the front-wheel drive Cadillac line, the Fleetwood also filled the gap between the deVille and the rear-wheel drive Fleetwood Brougham (renamed Cadillac Brougham from 1987 until 1992). The second generation moved to

112-473: A 113.8 in wheelbase. Most C-body vehicles were ultimately replaced with cars on the related G , H , and K platform designations. The Cadillac Series 75 limousine briefly made its return on this platform, stretched by 23.6" to a wheelbase of 134.4". Cadillac used the platform though 1993; Buick heavily revised the Electra, becoming the first generation Buick Park Avenue (1991-1996), while still using

168-697: A Fleetwood bodied car was paired with the Brougham name. When production of the Eldorado Brougham was shifted in 1959 from the Cadillac Fleetwood plant in Detroit to Pininfarina in Turin, Italy , only then did it acquire Fleetwood wheel discs and doorsill moldings, presumably because the design work and final touches were still being done by Fleetwood. The 1960 Eldorado Brougham would be

224-426: A digital computer, which locked off intake and exhaust valves to two or four of the eight cylinders, thus running effectively as a V6 or V4 under light load conditions when in third gear, and over 35 mph (56 km/h). This engine, called the "V8-6-4", was reliable, but the computer technology of the era was not refined enough for smooth operation and it was dropped from all models but limousines after 1981. Both

280-442: A formal body style with open chauffeur compartment and enclosed rear quarters, metal roof and often "razor-edged" styling. When Cadillac started offering Fleetwood bodies on some of its cars in 1925, the Brougham body style was Fleetwood bodied every year with the exception of 1926. After 1937 the Brougham name was not applied to any Cadillac for the remainder of the pre-WW II period. The Brougham name would eventually reappear on

336-549: A front bench seat. On hiatus since 1986, the Fleetwood Brougham nameplate returned, as Cadillac restored it as the flagship option package for the model line. Visibly distinguished by a full vinyl roof (which could be deleted), C-pillar and instrument panel badging, the Fleetwood Brougham also included model-specific seating designs for the six-way power seats (in either leather or Prestwick cloth) with three-position memory. The interior also included vanity mirrors for

392-715: A high reputation in automobile circles worldwide by the 1920s. Coachwork was built by Fleetwood for various other luxury makes through 1924. After the Fisher Body Corporation purchased the Fleetwood Body Company in 1925, Fleetwood bodies were reserved exclusively for Cadillac. By 1929, GM had purchased the remaining shares of Fisher to became the sole owner of both companies. From 1927 through 1934, all Cadillac series offered Fleetwood bodies as an option. After 1934, Cadillac became more selective in offering Fleetwood bodies for its chassis. By 1938,

448-456: A larger body and upgraded safety equipment, the 1993 Fleetwood saw only nominal weight increases, gaining only 90 pounds of curb weight over the 1992 Brougham. In contrast to the traditional usage of the D-body designation (prior to 1985), which was reserved for Cadillac limousines and its partially bodied commercial chassis (for hearses and ambulances), the post-downsizing D-body code is used for

504-697: A much more integral part of a Cadillac series name in 1977 with the introduction of the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham and the Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine, which replaced the Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham and the Fleetwood 75 respectively. In 1985, Fleetwood became a separate series. In 1985, Fleetwood models used a new front wheel drive C-body platform, sharing the 110.8 inches (2,810 mm) wheelbase with GM's other C-body cars,

560-451: A slightly reshaped B-pillar and rear side windows. The 1980 refresh eliminated this distinction. The interior of the Fleetwood was more plush and offered more features as standard. Size comparison between 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham and 1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham In 1980, GM gave all of the full-sized B and C-body line new sheet metal to tidy up the styling and improve aerodynamics. The basic dashboard design

616-471: A then brand-new 1993 Fleetwood would become his state car that he would use throughout his term until 2001. Following a long tradition of Lincoln-based sedans, this was only the second Cadillac since the 1983 Fleetwood built for the Ronald Reagan administration. Along with advanced security and safety features, the limousine featured communication devices such as phones, satellite communications and

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672-609: The Cadillac Series 70 Eldorado Brougham joined the Sixty Special and the Series 75 as the only Cadillac models with Fleetwood bodies, although Fleetwood script or crests did not appear anywhere on the exterior of the car. This was the first time in 20 years that a Fleetwood bodied car was paired with the Brougham name. The Eldorado Brougham featured Fleetwood branded wheel discs and doorsill moldings when production

728-644: The D-body platform , replacing the Brougham. The Fleetwood Brougham became a trim option. After the 1996 model year, Cadillac discontinued the Fleetwood line as GM ended production of full-size sedan lines in North America. General Motors consolidated Cadillac's large sedan lines into the deVille series and later as the Cadillac DTS . Lawrence P. Fisher was one of the seven brothers most closely involved with Cadillac in its early years. In 1916, he joined

784-655: The DeVille , Buick Electra , and Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight . The Fleetwood Brougham continued to use the RWD platform, (which was redesignated as " D-body " for 1985) through 1986. As had been the case since the 1977 model year, there were little more than trim differences between the Fleetwood and the DeVille. For 1985, the Fleetwood was actually a de Ville trim option, rather than a separate model. The optional d'Elegance package, added tufted-button seating among other niceties for

840-629: The Fisher Body Company, which had been formed by two of his brothers in 1908. Larry (as people knew him) was instrumental among the Fisher brothers in bringing the Fisher enterprise under the General Motors umbrella in 1919. In May 1925, Alfred P. Sloan , then the head of General Motors, appointed Fisher as Cadillac General Manager, an office he retained through 1934. Fisher immediately went to work adding exclusive, custom bodies to

896-486: The "Brougham" name was first affixed to "Fleetwood" on the Fleetwood Sixty Special as an upgraded option package, which included a vinyl roof and special "Brougham" script lettering on the sides, but it was not a separate model. In 1966, the Fleetwood Brougham was added as a separate model, accompanying the Fleetwood 60 Special, which continued through 1970. In 1971, with the Fleetwood Brougham outselling

952-408: The 110.8 in (2,810 mm) wheelbase, while the sedan 's wheelbase increased by 3 inches (76 millimetres). The slightly revised Fleetwood coupe, with extended front and rear styling, was sold from 1989 and ended in 1992. Power was increased to 180 hp (134 kW) from the same 4.5 L engine for 1990 through the use of a dual-stage intake manifold and other changes. It was replaced by

1008-467: The 17th and 18th centuries). The rich traditions of 300 years of coach-building that the Fleetwood Body Company applied to its work on cars secured for it a high reputation in automobile circles worldwide by the 1920s. Coachwork was built by Fleetwood for a variety of luxury makes through 1924. However, after the Fisher Body Corporation purchased the Fleetwood Body Company in 1925, Fleetwood bodies were reserved exclusively for Cadillac. By 1929 GM had purchased

1064-428: The 1955 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham show car which preceded the 4-door Eldorado Brougham hardtops of the 1957 to 1960 model years. In 1957 the Cadillac Series 70 Eldorado Brougham joined the Sixty Special and the Series 75 as the only Cadillac models with Fleetwood bodies although Fleetwood script or crests did not appear anywhere on the exterior of the car, and so this would also mark the first time in 20 years that

1120-403: The 1976 Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham, the Fleetwood Brougham had a wheelbase 11.5" shorter and weighed nearly 900 lb (400 kg) less. The new Fleetwood Brougham, which had lost its exclusive longer wheelbase, was now virtually identical to the lesser Sedan de Ville. Other than the name, there were only subtle exterior differences between a Fleetwood Brougham and Sedan de Ville, including

1176-533: The 1993 Fleetwood had not only grown in size from its downsized predecessor, but was the first American vehicle line to shift from a rear-wheel drive layout to front-wheel drive, reverting back to rear-wheel drive. Far larger than the Chrysler Imperial (and the later Chrysler LHS ), the model line competed primarily against the Lincoln Town Car . After the 1996 model year, Cadillac retired

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1232-590: The 200 hp (149 kW) 4.9 L HT-4900 for 1991. The Fleetwood nameplate departed the front-drive lineup for 1993 (as Fleetwood was transferred to the new rear-drive replacement for the 1992 Brougham). Instead, the Sixty Special nameplate was used on the front-wheel drive model for 1993. A total of 5,292 Sixty Specials were built during 1993, including 688 with the optional "Ultra" Package that featured 22-way adjustable front seats, designed in Italy by Giorgetto Giugiaro . This seating package had been standard on

1288-559: The 425 and 368 are small-bore versions of the durable 472 (which was introduced in late 1967 for the '68 model year). The larger 500 had the 472's bore but a longer stroke. This engine family was the last Cadillac cast-iron engine, and the last 'big-block'. During this period, an assortment of engines were offered in the interest of fuel economy. These included the Buick 252 V6, diesel Oldsmobile 350 V8, and of Cadillac's own "HT-4100" small block V8, an alloy unit with cast iron cylinder liners which

1344-501: The C Platform; and Oldsmobile marketed C Platform derivatives through 1990, notably the Oldsmobile Touring Sedan . The H platform and C platform were largely identical, sharing the same 110.8 in wheelbase, most bodywork, interior details, glass and engines. Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham The Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham is a luxury car manufactured by Cadillac from 1977 through 1986. In 1987,

1400-666: The Cadillac range. Thus he oversaw the purchase of the Fleetwood Metal Body Company by the Fisher Body Corporation in September 1925. The Fleetwood Body Company of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania , was founded by Harry Urich in the nineteenth century. It began as a small community of craftsmen founded by Henry Fleetwood, Esq. of Penwortham , near Lancaster, England (the Fleetwood family flourished in England in

1456-525: The Cadillac range. Thus, he oversaw the purchase of the Fleetwood Metal Body Company by Fisher in September 1925. The Fleetwood Body Company of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania , was founded by Harry Urich in the nineteenth century. It began as a small community of craftsmen founded by Henry Fleetwood, Esq. of Penwortham , near Lancaster, England (the Fleetwood family flourished in England in the 17th and 18th centuries). The traditions of 300 years of coach-building that Fleetwood applied to its work on cars secured it

1512-492: The Chrysler LHS and Lincoln Town Car (the latter, more closely matching the sales of the de Ville). In its return to the D-body, the Fleetwood again supported the commercial chassis , an incomplete vehicle designed primarily for limousines and funeral coaches (hearses). The variant differed from the standard Fleetwood sedan as antilock brakes, traction control, and dual front airbags were not standard features. Following

1568-616: The D-body and B-body cars receiving a 260hp 5.7L LT1 V8, paired with an electronically-controlled 4L60E 4-speed automatic. Shared with the Chevrolet C4 Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird, the LT1 engine used for full-size cars was detuned in horsepower output and fitted with cast-iron heads. While the previous-generation Brougham was offered with a factory-designed towing package,

1624-493: The FWD Fleetwood sedan. The Fleetwood coupe had been dropped after the 1986 model year, but returned in 1989. The Fleetwood coupe for 1989–1992 was not popular with model year production in 1989: 4,108, 1990: 2,438, 1991: 894, and for 1992: a mere 443. Cadillac offered the Fleetwood Sixty Special for model years 1987–1988, using a stretched 115.8 inches (2,940 mm) version of the new C-body platform — as well as

1680-456: The Fleetwood 60 Special by a large margin, the two models were consolidated into a single model, the Fleetwood 60 Special Brougham, and would continue with this name through 1976. The car's name was shortened to Fleetwood Brougham with the 1977 downsizing across the GM car line. The "d'Elegance" and "Talisman" sub-models were also sometimes used to designate upgraded option packages. Lawrence P. Fisher

1736-415: The Fleetwood Brougham name was shortened to simply Brougham , with production continuing through 1992 with only minor updates. Cadillac used the "Fleetwood" name as a prefix between 1934 and 1976 on several of its most expensive models, always designating an elevated level of luxury. Between 1958 and 1961, Cadillac used the "Brougham" sub-designation for its exclusive four-door Eldorado models. In 1965,

Cadillac Fleetwood - Misplaced Pages Continue

1792-490: The Fleetwood Series 75 for model years 1985–1987, using a 134.4 inches (3,410 mm) stretched version of the same platform. The aluminum 4.1 L HT-4100 V8 was replaced by the 4.5 L HT-4500 for 1988. The engine displacement was increased for 1991 to the 4.9 L HT-4900 . The Fleetwood line was redesigned for the 1989 model year to include skirted rear wheels. The Fleetwood coupe remained on

1848-478: The Fleetwood model line, as General Motors ended production of its full-frame rear-wheel drive sedans. The Arlington Assembly facility that assembled the Fleetwood and its Chevrolet/Buick counterparts was retooled to assemble full-size SUVs, later including the Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV . At the time of its production, the Fleetwood was the longest-length production car marketed in

1904-754: The Internet. After Clinton left office, the car eventually was displayed at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas . To prevent third parties from learning classified details about the protection and security features of the vehicle, the Secret Service keeps the doors secured at all times. This Fleetwood would also prove to be the last presidential car derived from a regular production passenger car. The production 2001 Cadillac de Ville (built for George W. Bush)

1960-561: The Oldsmobile achieving a .383 drag coefficient. GM's C platform and H platform were largely identical, sharing the same 110.8 in wheelbase, most bodywork, interior details, glass and engines. Manufacture began with the C platform in late 1983, first at two purpose-built plants, Wentzville Assembly and Orion Assembly — later moving to Lansing Car Assembly as well as Flint and Willow Run assembly plants. Significantly shorter, narrower, lighter and more fuel-efficient than

2016-430: The Sixty Special since 1989, but in 1993, it became a $ 3,550 option. While it was based upon the DeVille, the Sixty Special included eleven items as standard equipment, while those eleven items were optional at extra cost on DeVilles. There were options for the Sixty Special, that were unavailable on the DeVille, such as "Memory Seat" for the driver with two recall settings, an "Exit" button" when pushed automatically powered

2072-523: The THM440 T4 (1985–1986), the 4T60 (1987–1989), and the 4T60E (1990–1993). For 1993, the Cadillac Fleetwood was reintroduced as a rear-wheel drive sedan, replacing the 1987-1992 Brougham as the largest Cadillac sedan. As Cadillac revised its model range, the Fleetwood nameplate was no longer the companion model to the de Ville, and was dropped from the flagship Sixty Special series (itself retired after 1993). In contrast to many luxury-segment competitors,

2128-494: The United States, at 225 inches long. Sold exclusively as a four-door sedan (Cadillac dropped the rear-wheel drive Fleetwood coupe after 1985), the Fleetwood grew four inches in length over the 1992 Brougham. Equipped with dual airbags as standard equipment, the 1993 Fleetwood marked the debut of the Cadillac "Airbank" SRS system, a wider passenger-side airbag designed to protect the right-side and center passenger riding in

2184-476: The V4P package was revised with RPO GU6 3.42 gears with the new more powerful RPO LT1 260 hp (194 kW) V8, and HD 4L60E transmission with revised accumulators to shift smoother with the shorter rear axle gearing. Though more popular than Buick, Oldsmobile, and Chevrolet full-size station wagons, the Cadillac Fleetwood is the lowest-produced 1990s D/B-body sedan. The model line largely struggled in sales against

2240-486: The discontinuation of the Fleetwood as the final full-frame Cadillac sedan, Cadillac continued to supply the de Ville (and the product lines that replaced it) chassis to funeral coach manufacturers through second-party conversion. As of current production, the only body-on-frame Cadillacs produced since the 1996 Fleetwood are the Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT. In 1993, after president Bill Clinton took office,

2296-552: The driver seat all the way rearward, and dual front seat power recliners. Both the Fleetwood and DeVille were coded as C-bodies in the fourth digit of the VIN . The fifth digit coded the DeVille as "D" (with the later Touring Sedan becoming "T"), the Fleetwood as "B", and the Fleetwood Sixty Special as "S". The Sixty Special became the "G" code for 1991, and switched back to "B" for its 1993 run. Transmissions included

Cadillac Fleetwood - Misplaced Pages Continue

2352-488: The final iteration. After a five year absence the Brougham name once again reappeared as an option package on the 1965 Cadillac Sixty Special . The following year the Brougham moved up to becoming a subseries of the Fleetwood Sixty Special. This continued through 1970. Starting in 1971 the Sixty Special was only available as the well equipped Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham. When the Sixty Special Series

2408-481: The only way to obtain a Fleetwood-bodied car was by buying a Cadillac Series 75 or 90 , as even the Cadillac Sixty Special had a Fisher body in its inaugural year. The Fleetwood script and crest would not be on the exterior of any Cadillac until the 1947 model year when it appeared on the rear deck lid of the Sixty Special . By 1952, it also appeared on the rear deck lid of the Series 75. In 1957,

2464-785: The option for the 1993 underwent a major capability increase; for the first time since the 1976 Sixty Special, a Cadillac sedan was factory-rated to tow 7,000 lb (3,200 kg). Shared with the Buick Roadmaster station wagon, the RPO V4P package included heavy-duty cooling (RPO V08, which consisted of a seven-blade mechanical primary fan, a heavy-duty electrical secondary fan, and an extra capacity radiator), RPO FE2 Suspension System Ride Handling, HD 4L60 transmission, RPO KC4 Cooling System Engine Oil, RPO KD1 Cooling System Transmission Oil, RPO KG9 140 amp alternator , and RPO GT4 3.73 gears with an 8.5-inch ring gear. In 1994–1996,

2520-647: The platform they replaced, the C Platform vehicles were noted for having nearly the same key interior dimensions as their predecessors and a much more nearly flat passenger compartment floor — albeit with thinner seats and dramatically less upper tumblehome , locating windshield as well as side glass closer to passengers. Introduced in early 1984, the models were marketed as the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight (11th gen), Buick Electra (6th gen) and Cadillac Deville (6th gen) and Fleetwood (1985-90).. Cadillac would later introduce C Body models with

2576-499: The rear seat and a rear-seat storage armrest. Alongside the Fleetwood Brougham option package, the Fleetwood offered multiple options, including a CD player, full-size spare tire, chrome wheels, sliding glass moonroof (dubbed "Astro Roof"), and an onboard security system. The D-body Cadillac Fleetwood uses a body-on-frame chassis, retaining the 121.5-inch wheelbase of the 1977-1992 Cadillac C-body platform (Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, Brougham, and 1977-1984 de Ville). Though fitted with

2632-410: The remaining stock holdings of the Fisher Body Corporation and thus became sole owner of both the Fisher and Fleetwood companies. Originally an enclosed carriage, drawn by a single horse, for 2–4 persons, “ Brougham ” owes its name to British statesman, Henry Brougham . Cadillac first used the name in 1916 to designate an enclosed 5-7 passenger sedan body style. In the thirties, the name was given to

2688-520: The version of the full-size B-body chassis specific to the Cadillac division; along with common powertrains, the Fleetwood shares a small degree of bodywork with the Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster (visibly, the front doors and windshield). For 1993, the Fleetwood carried over the 185hp 5.7L V8 used by the 1990-1992 Cadillac Brougham, paired with a 4-speed 4L60 automatic transmission. For 1994, GM upgraded its full-size powertrains, with

2744-563: Was also the first Fleetwood bodied convertible since the Cadillac Series 75 stopped offering four-door and two-door convertible body styles and production of the Cadillac Series 90 ceased in 1941. In 1965, the Eldorado, Sixty Special, and Series 75 models were designated as Fleetwood "subseries", and this would continue through the 1972 model year. During this period, there was not a separate Fleetwood series. However, Fleetwood became

2800-544: Was federally mandated starting in the 1986 model year. The rear wheel drive 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham continued on nearly unchanged from the 1984 model. 1985 was the final model year for the Fleetwood Brougham coupe. In 1986, the HT-4100 V8 was replaced with an Oldsmobile-sourced 307 cubic inch (5.0 L) V8 in the Fleetwood Brougham. Production Figures: For 1987, Cadillac revised its model nomenclature for its premium sedan lines. To reduce market confusion over

2856-801: Was not regarded as suitable for conversion, so the final vehicle was constructed using the chassis and powertrain of a heavy-duty GM SUV, using little more than the front and rear bodywork of the de Ville. General Motors C platform (FWD) GM C platform, also known as the C-Body , was a front wheel drive (FWD) automobile platform used by General Motors ' Cadillac, Buick and Oldsmobile divisions for their full-sized automobiles from 1985 through 1996, sharing unibody construction, transverse engine configuration, rack and pinion steering and four-wheel independent suspension. C-Bodies used, V6 or V8 engines, GM's TMH440 transaxle (initially), unibody construction — and all had been aerodynamically refined, with

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2912-519: Was retained. Also new for 1980 was a two-door Fleetwood Brougham Coupe, which was based upon the Coupe de Ville but featured an exclusive formal landau vinyl roof. The 425 cu in (7.0 L) engine, a reduced bore 472, was further debored for 1980-81 to 368 cubic inches or 6.0 liters in order to comply with newly-enacted CAFE standards. For 1981, the 368 was provided with a modulated displacement system designed by Eaton Corporation, controlled by

2968-433: Was retired in 1977, the Fleetwood Brougham took its place as Cadillac's largest owner-driven sedan model through 1986. For 1977, GM significantly downsized their full sized cars. The DeVille and Fleetwood Brougham rode on the same 121.5" wheelbase and were powered by the 425 cubic inch (7.0 L) V8. This engine was basically a de-bored version of the 472/500 (7.7 L/8.2 L) V8 of previous years. Compared with

3024-528: Was shifted in 1959 from the Cadillac Fleetwood plant in Detroit to Pininfarina in Turin, Italy . The identification was included presumably because of the design work since the final details for the car were still being done by Fleetwood. Production of the Eldorado Brougham ended in 1961, but in 1963 the Eldorado Biarritz became Fleetwood bodied and acquired Fleetwood crests on its rear quarters and rocker panel moldings. The 1963 Eldorado Biarritz

3080-548: Was the Fisher brother most closely involved with Cadillac in its early years. In 1916, he joined the Fisher Body Company, which had been formed by two of his brothers in 1908. Larry (as people knew him) was one of four of the seven Fisher brothers who brought Fisher Body Corporation under the General Motors umbrella in 1919. In May 1925, Alfred P. Sloan , then the head of General Motors, appointed Fisher as Cadillac General Manager, an office he retained through 1934. Fisher immediately went to work adding exclusive, custom bodies to

3136-458: Was troublesome and prone to early failure. The first two were dropped in 1982 once gas prices began falling while the latter persisted through 1986. For 1985, Cadillac introduced a brand-new front-wheel drive platform for DeVille and Fleetwood. This car featured two "firsts"; it had the first transverse mounted V8 ever (the HT4100) and it was the first car to have a high mounted rear stop-lamp that

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