CADILLAC AUTOMOBILE COMPANY

   As Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia  will tell you, Cadillac was formed from the remnants of the Henry Ford Company when Henry Ford departed along with several of his key partners and the company was dissolved. The reasons were investor qualms and Henry took his $900 and left. With the intent of liquidating the firm's assets, Ford's financial backers called in engineer Henry M. Leland (name sound familiar) of Leland & Faulconer Manufacturing Company to appraise the plant and equipment prior to selling it. Instead, Leland persuaded them to continue the automobile business using Leland's proven 1-cylinder engine. Henry Ford's departure required a new name since that was the one requirement Ford was unbending with, and on August 22, 1902, the company reformed as the Cadillac Automobile Company. Leland & Faulconer Manufacturing and the Cadillac Automobile Company merged in 1905.
As you may see throughout the automobile industry, may cars were named for trailblazers, pioneers and places who were respected or even revered at that time.  Cadillac was no exception and was taken from the 18th Century explorer who founded Detroit, MI. (Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac), however, that’s really too much to be putting on a trunk crease isn’t it?
In 1903 when it actually made its official debut, Cadillac won over the crowds and over 2,000 buyers actually ordered Cady’s that day.  Cadillac went on from there to be recognized worldwide for its luxury, quality, upscale charm and industry firsts such as electric start.
Known for its typical customer demographics, long wheelbase and smooth ride, Cadillac almost lost it all in the 1980’s when it attempted to woo a new, younger audience with such changes as scarifying quality and size for a price point as in the Cimarron.  Realizing their niche market was their only market, Cadillac immediately changed and returned to its roots of luxury and customer satisfaction.

  Today some the “edge” is back with the newer, sleeker versions of the Cadillac as well as their SUV the Escalade but they still provide the mainstay of any Cady (except the Cimarron) only this time with a lot of performance tweeks too.