Cadillac Fleetwood
| Cadillac Fleetwood | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Production | 1947–1996 |
| Assembly | Arlington, Texas |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury car |
The Fleetwood Metal Body Company began business in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania on April 1, 1909 and continued as an independent automobile body builder until acquired in 1925 by the Fisher Body Company, a division of General Motors. The company continued in Fleetwood until 1931 at which time General Motors moved the entire operation to Detroit.
Long before acquisition by Fisher Body Company, the Fleetwood Metal Body Company had established its reputation as a builder of fine wood and aluminum auto bodies. Its built-to-order product was sought after by many notables both here and abroad, some of whom were royalty from India and Japan, presidents of Poland and the United States and some well known American movie idols. One, built for silent screen star Rudolph Valentino, was recently on sale for $1,600,000.00.
"Unique" was the magic word that attracted the wealthy. One could purchase a chassis with wheels and motor from the best builders abroad, Isotta Fraschini, Bentley, Mercedes, Rolls-Royce or Fiat. American makers were Duesenberg, Packard, Cadillac, Pierce-Arrow or Stutz. There were also Reading makers of the S.G.V., the Chadwick and Daniels. The purchased chassis with engine and wheels was shipped to Fleetwood while the purchaser met with one of the company’s designers, usually in New York, to put onto a drawing the customer’s ideas of what the finished design should be. Once accepted, the plans were sent to Fleetwood where the body would be created, mounted on the chassis and finished in the colors, upholstery, and appointments chosen by the new owner. The car was “unique” to the likes of the proud possessor.
Eventually, under Fisher’s directives, the company also made production models with the celebrated Fleetwood name. General Motors most notable Cadillac model was the “Fleetwood” until it was recently discontinued.
The Fleetwood name was used on the top of the Cadillac line since 1927. In 1946, Cadillac created a special version of the Series 60 called the "Series 60 Special Fleetwood". The Fleetwood name was then used to designate the top of the line trim of the Series 70 and Sixty Special models through 1976.
In 1977, Cadillac refocused the Fleetwood name. The Fleetwood Limousine carried on from the Fleetwood Seventy-Five, while the Fleetwood Brougham took over where the Sixty Special was positioned.
1946-1964
Two Fleetwood models:
- 1946-1964 Sixty Special Fleetwood — based on Series 62
- 1946-1964 Series 75 Fleetwood — unique long wheelbase model
1965
For 1965, the Eldorado and Sixty Special officially became part of the Fleetwood line along with the Seventy-Five. A new Fleetwood Brougham line was also added as an upscale Sixty Special.
1977-1979
| Generation I Fleetwood Brougham | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1977–1979 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupe 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | D-body |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 425 in³ L33 V8 350 in³ LF9 Diesel V8 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 121.5 in (3086 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Cadillac Sixty Special |
| Generation I Fleetwood Limousine | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1977–1979 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door limousine |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | D-body |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 425 in³ L33 V8 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 144.5 in |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Cadillac Fleetwood 75 |
For 1977, the Fleetwood line diverged into two models. The Fleetwood Limousine used the new long-wheelbase D-body chassis, while the Fleetwood sedan (including Brougham, which was now only an option package rather than a separate model) had the shorter C-body platform. Also new was Cadillac's 425 in³ L33 V8, with optional diesel power coming the next year thanks to Oldsmobile.
Limousine
The Fleetwood Limousine was redesigned in 1977 to use the new 144.5 in wheelbase D-body platform.
Engines:
Sedan
The Fleetwood sedan was also redesigned for 1977, using the new shorter 121.5 in (3086 mm) wheelbase rear wheel drive C-body.
Engines:
- 1977-1979 425 ci / 7.0 L L33 V8, 180 hp (carburetor) and 195 hp (port fuel injection)
- 1978-1979 350 ci 5.7 L LF9 Diesel V8, 105 hp (78 kW)
1980-1984
| Generation II Fleetwood | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1980–1984 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupe 4-door sedan 4-door limousine |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | D-body |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 252 in³ Buick V6 368 in³ L62 V8-6-4 V8 4.1 L HT-4100 V8 350 in³ LF9 Diesel V8 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 121.5 in (3086 mm) Fleetwood 134.4 in (3414 mm) Limousine |
| Generation II Fleetwood Brougham | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1980–1986 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door limousine |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | D-body |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 252 in³ Buick V6 368 in³ L62 V8-6-4 V8 4.1 L HT-4100 V8 350 in³ LF9 Diesel V8 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 121.5 in (3086 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Cadillac Brougham |
For 1980, all Fleetwood models retained the 121.5 inch wheelbase and chassis introduced for the 1977 models. This generation lasted through 1984 with both standard and limousine versions sharing the rear wheel drive platform. At mid-year, a coupe with a formal landau vinyl roof joined the sedan.
The 425 in³ (7.0 L) engine, a reduced bore 472, was further debored for 1980-1981 to 368 cubic inches or 6.0 liters. For 1981, the 368 was provided with a modulated displacement system designed by Eaton Corporation, controlled by a digital computer, which locked off intake and exhaust valves to 2 or 4 of the 8 cylinders, thus running effectively as a V6 or V4 under light load conditions where in third gear, and over 35 miles per hour. This engine was called the "V8-6-4", and its electronics and sensors proved troublesome and, except for limousines, this engine was dropped after 1981. The engine's controls and sensors were a stretch for the computer power of the era.
Both 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'. All companion subsequent engines in this model series (1977-1996) were from Buick (the shortlived 252 in³ / 4.1 liter V6), Oldsmobile (the 350 diesel and 307 gasoline V8), Chevrolet (the 305 and 350 V8s) and of course Cadillac itself, with its troublesome "HT4100" small block V8, an alloy unit with cast iron cylinder liners.
Engines:
- 1980-1984 368 in³ L62 V8-6-4 V8, 140 hp (104 kW) (Limousine/Commercial only after 1980)
- 1980-1985 350 in³ LF9 Diesel V8, 105 hp (78 kW)
- 1981-1982 252 in³ Buick V6, 125 hp (93 kW)
- 1982-1985 4.1 L HT-4100 V8, 125 hp (93 kW)
1985-1986
| Generation III Fleetwood | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1985–1988 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 2-door coupe 4-door limousine |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | C-body |
| Related | Cadillac De Ville |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.3 L LS2 Diesel V6 4.1 L HT-4100 V8 4.5 L HT-4500 V8 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 in D'Elegance 115.8 in Sixty Special 134.4 in 75 Limousine |
| Length | 196.4 in. |
| Width | 72.5 in. |
| Height | 55.0 in. |
For 1985, all Fleetwood models (except the Fleetwood Brougham) moved to the front wheel drive C-body. The standard Fleetwood shared the same 110.8 in (2814 mm) wheelbase as the other C-body cars, while the Limousine "Fleetwood 75" stretched it to 134.4 in (3414 mm). The Fleetwood Brougham remained on the RWD platform, (which was redesignated as "D-body" for 1985) through 1986.
Engines:
1987-1988
The rear wheel drive Fleetwood Brougham became simply the Cadillac Brougham for 1987, leaving all Fleetwoods on the new FWD platform. There was little more than trim differenced between the Fleetwood D'Elegance and Deville. The "Sixty Special" Fleetwood used a stretched 115.8 in (2941 mm) version of the C-body, while the Limousine "Fleetwood 75" remained at 134.4 in (3414 mm) between the wheels.
The aluminum 4.1 L HT-4100 V8 was the only engine for 1987, and it was replaced by the 4.5 L HT-4500 the next year. The engine was upped to 4.9 L for 1991's HT-4900.
Engines:
1989-1992
| Generation IV Fleetwood/Sixty Special | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1989–1992 1993 (Sixty Special) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 4-door coupe |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | C-body |
| Related | Cadillac De Ville |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.5 L HT-4500 V8 4.9 L HT-4900 V8 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 in (2814 mm) coupes 113.8 in (2891 mm) sedans |
| Length | 205.1 in. |
| Width | 73.4 in. |
| Height | 54.4 in. |
For 1989, the Fleetwood line was aligned more-closely with the Deville, essentially becoming trim variations on the same vehicle. The coupe versions of both shared the old 110.8 in (2814 mm) wheelbase, while the sedans (including the "Sixty Special") were unified at 113.8 in (2891 mm). Exterior dimensions were also identical between the model lines, with a length of 202.3 in (5138 mm) and 205.3 in (5215 mm) for the coupe and sedan, respectively.
The US$30,000 sticker price was a bargain compared to the large German luxury cars of the time, but Car and Driver felt that there was no comparison. They felt that the ride was "harsh", surprising when combined with a "feeble" .67 g of cornering grip. And the 155 hp (116 kW) V8 could only manage 10.9 s to 60 mph (96 km/h) for the 3615 lb (1640 kg) car.
Power jumped 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 the 200 hp (149 kW) 4.9 L HT-4900 for 1991.
The Fleetwood moved away from the Deville for 1993, except the Sixty Special which became a Deville-based model in its own right for that year only. All Fleetwoods and Sixty Specials use "spats" or covers over the rear wheels, while all Devilles lack this feature.
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.
Engines:
- 1989 4.5 L HT-4500 V8, 155 hp (116 kW)
- 1990 4.5 L HT-4500 V8, 180 hp (134 kW)
- 1991-1992 4.9 L HT-4900 V8, 200 hp (149 kW)
1993-1996
| Generation V Fleetwood | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Also called | Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham |
| Production | 1993–1996 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | D-body |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 5.7 L L05 V8 5.7 L LT1 V8 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 121.5 in (3086 mm) |
| Length | 225.0 in. |
| Width | 78.0 in. |
| Height | 57.1 in. |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Cadillac Brougham |
For 1993, the Fleetwood name was switched from the Deville's front wheel drive C-body to the newly revised rear wheel drive D-body, being one of the first front-wheel drive vehicles to switch to rear-wheel drive. This new body, based on the Caprice but presenting itself as an almost original design, has become recognized as one of the finest luxury cars ever produced by GM. The 1993 Fleetwood was the largest production car made in the United States until production ceased in 1996, until being replaced by the d'Elegance trim line of the Cadillac DeVille.
1994 brought the Corvette-derived LT-1 350 in³ (5.7 L) engine to make 260 hp (193.9 kW). Along with the new 4L60E transmission performance truly came alive and these cars were amazingly nimble and extremely quick, especially for their size. Between 1993 and 1996, the Fleetwood chassis was used in lieu of the DeVille for funeral coaches and limousines. The DeVille was used again in 1997.
The 7000 lb towing package returned to the Gen 5 Fleetwood in 1993, something not seen in a production sedan since 1976. The RPO V4P package included HD cooling, HD 4L60 transmission, 140 amp alternator and 3.73 gears with a 8.5" ring gear. In 1994-1996 the V4P package was revised with 3.42 gears with the LT1, a high volume 7 blade mechanical fan and HD 4L60E transmission.
Engines:
References & Links
- Arthur St. Antoine (April 1989). "Cadillac Fleetwood Road Test". Car and Driver. 34 (10): 55–61.