History of Cadillac

Few brands symbolize as much as a Cadillac. One of the first distinctly American automotive luxury lines, Cadillac has laid out many of the ground rules for quality automotive design that persist today. Learn more about Cadillac history and Cadillac logo history/ learn about when Cadillac was founded, and get an answer to the question, “what was the first Cadillac ever made?”.

Once Mt. Lebanon and Upper St Clair drivers are ready to experience the Cadillac legacy in action, reach out to Rohrich Cadillac in Pittsburgh to schedule for a test drive. Be sure to fill out a pre-approval and value your trade-in beforehand to get an estimate of your budget

When Was Cadillac Founded?

“When was Cadillac founded?”, you ask? In 1902 by Henry Leland, who named the brand after the founder of Detroit, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. In 6 busy years, Cadillac invented the interchangeable auto part, revolutionizing the industry and mass auto production. Because of this major contribution, Cadillac became the first American brand to win the Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automotive Club of England. International acclaim inspired Cadillac’s slogan, “the Standard of the World.”

What Was the First Cadillac Ever Made?

The Cadillac Runabout debuted in 1903. This “horseless carriage” had seats for 2, an invigorating 10 horsepower, and a single-cylinder engine. Introduced at the New York Auto Show, it was priced at $850. Soon after its debut, the Runabout was renamed the Model A, and then, in 1904, refined as the Model B, which added an extended front and transverse front suspension.

The Cadillac Logo History

The Cadillac logo history, like the name, pays tribute to the founder of Detroit, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. It refers to that French Adventurer’s coat of arms, a wreath and crest. However, there have been over 30 redesigns in the past 100 years. Here’s a snapshot of how the logo has evolved throughout the century to become the logo Peters Township and Washington drivers will recognize today.

• 1906: The crest featured a coat and a shield. The shield signified that Antoine’s family had descended from the noble courts of Toulouse.
• 1920: This version incorporated a tulip-bulb wreath from the original version, but added a 9-point crown (Cadillac reverted back to 7 in ‘25).
• 1933: The crest was given wings.
• 1957: The crest was then lengthened and widened. These adjustments continued through 1959 to the point where the crown above the crest was almost imperceptible.
• 1963-Today: The design has remained virtually consistent over the last half-century.

Find Your Favorite Cadillac at Rohrich Cadillac

Now that you know more about the Cadillac logo history and Cadillac history more generally, and you have answers to questions, “what was the first Cadillac ever made?” and “when was Cadillac founded?”, it’s time to see what the history of Cadillac really means. Check out our new vehicle specials, and then test drive them in Pittsburgh today.