To start this off with a bit of background information, I just bought a 1995 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham to replace my humorously bad Geo Metro.
It seems that the ever present icon of American automotive - the hulking luxury sedan - has become rarer, and in some cases, extinct.
Starting in 1993, Cadillac reworked its image of the longstanding Fleetwood. It changed from the angular body seen in models dating back to the 1970s to a more sleekly rounded, and lengthened body - truly an epitome of 1990s automobile style. If you'll note, it maintains the standard Cadillac look, huge, chrome grill, emblems proudly emblazoned across the bod, and, of course, a size unequaled by any other car on the road (largest production sedan in history).
Here's a picture of what I'm talking about:
Also, the tail lights remain in a quasi-tailfin configuartion (very slender peaking at the top), which is of course reminiscent of the behemoth tailfins of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
1959 Cadillac Brougham
1965 Fleetwood
My 1995 Fleetwood Brougham
In reality, the final generation of the Fleetwood is nothing more than an extreme streamlining of the prior generation's body:
1990 Fleetwood Brougham
What comes next is, in my book, a travesty of design and a sign of the times. In the early 21st century Cadillac began marketing the CTS, STS, etc... Most of them are fairly similar in design and form. Here's a CTS for example:
Even to the completely unaware, this looks nothing that Cadillac would ever consider incorporating into their line. The only way it resembles a Cadillac is the oversized grill - the hood ornament is flat out missing, which has proudly adorned the hood of every Cadillac for almost an entire century.
Source of the problem? Foreign luxury sedans.
Although a rare example, here's a picture of a very recent S class Mercedes Benz:
Also, a semi-concept car from BMW:
The similarities are astounding. From the boxy quasi-compact form factor to the seating arrangements and interior layout. Gone are the days of the cavernous interiors and bench seats. Dashes stuffed full of unnecessary electronics and tightly placed captain's chairs in the front with a stiff, stuffy bench in the back.
Just look at the measurements:
The final generation of the Fleetwood was a whopping 225" long and 78" wide. Cadillac's new fullsize flagship model, the DTS, is over a foot shorter at 207" and 4" narrower at 74" wide.
These cuts aren't trivial. That's space lost in the trunk and legroom in the cabin. That's fine for European cars made for European roads and drivers. All jingoism apart, Europeans don't drive in the same manner that we Americans do. Roads here are larger, people drive farther, and gas is cheaper. Sacrificing gas mileage for comfort isn't hedonism or gluttony - it's adaptation to the driving conditions of the country.
Thankfully, the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car is still in production, and doesn't seem to be ending any time soon. While not as extreme as the Cadillac Fleetwood, it still survives as a bastion of American luxury.
Oh, and lastly, newer cars don't come standard with ashtrays and lighters any more. This actually played a great factor in my search for a new car. I think my mom's 2002 Grand Marquis is of the last generation of cars that did. With the extreme public dislike of smokers taking control around that time, it's not surprising at all. I'm quite grateful that my Fleetwood has two ashtrays in the front and one at each door in the back, with three cigarette lighters spread throughout the car (one in the front, two in the back.
Ladies and gentlemen, we must not forget the way that we as Americans design cars. I've nothing against BMW, Mercedes, and Infinity, but I still want to be able to discern between a Cadillac and Mercedes.
*EDIT*
Forgot to say that the Fleetwood is the first car in which I can wear a fedora comfortably and drive unimpaired. I could probably pull off a top hat, haven't tried it yet, though.
It seems that the ever present icon of American automotive - the hulking luxury sedan - has become rarer, and in some cases, extinct.
Starting in 1993, Cadillac reworked its image of the longstanding Fleetwood. It changed from the angular body seen in models dating back to the 1970s to a more sleekly rounded, and lengthened body - truly an epitome of 1990s automobile style. If you'll note, it maintains the standard Cadillac look, huge, chrome grill, emblems proudly emblazoned across the bod, and, of course, a size unequaled by any other car on the road (largest production sedan in history).
Here's a picture of what I'm talking about:
Also, the tail lights remain in a quasi-tailfin configuartion (very slender peaking at the top), which is of course reminiscent of the behemoth tailfins of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
1959 Cadillac Brougham
1965 Fleetwood
My 1995 Fleetwood Brougham
In reality, the final generation of the Fleetwood is nothing more than an extreme streamlining of the prior generation's body:
1990 Fleetwood Brougham
What comes next is, in my book, a travesty of design and a sign of the times. In the early 21st century Cadillac began marketing the CTS, STS, etc... Most of them are fairly similar in design and form. Here's a CTS for example:
Even to the completely unaware, this looks nothing that Cadillac would ever consider incorporating into their line. The only way it resembles a Cadillac is the oversized grill - the hood ornament is flat out missing, which has proudly adorned the hood of every Cadillac for almost an entire century.
Source of the problem? Foreign luxury sedans.
Although a rare example, here's a picture of a very recent S class Mercedes Benz:
Also, a semi-concept car from BMW:
The similarities are astounding. From the boxy quasi-compact form factor to the seating arrangements and interior layout. Gone are the days of the cavernous interiors and bench seats. Dashes stuffed full of unnecessary electronics and tightly placed captain's chairs in the front with a stiff, stuffy bench in the back.
Just look at the measurements:
The final generation of the Fleetwood was a whopping 225" long and 78" wide. Cadillac's new fullsize flagship model, the DTS, is over a foot shorter at 207" and 4" narrower at 74" wide.
These cuts aren't trivial. That's space lost in the trunk and legroom in the cabin. That's fine for European cars made for European roads and drivers. All jingoism apart, Europeans don't drive in the same manner that we Americans do. Roads here are larger, people drive farther, and gas is cheaper. Sacrificing gas mileage for comfort isn't hedonism or gluttony - it's adaptation to the driving conditions of the country.
Thankfully, the Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car is still in production, and doesn't seem to be ending any time soon. While not as extreme as the Cadillac Fleetwood, it still survives as a bastion of American luxury.
Oh, and lastly, newer cars don't come standard with ashtrays and lighters any more. This actually played a great factor in my search for a new car. I think my mom's 2002 Grand Marquis is of the last generation of cars that did. With the extreme public dislike of smokers taking control around that time, it's not surprising at all. I'm quite grateful that my Fleetwood has two ashtrays in the front and one at each door in the back, with three cigarette lighters spread throughout the car (one in the front, two in the back.
Ladies and gentlemen, we must not forget the way that we as Americans design cars. I've nothing against BMW, Mercedes, and Infinity, but I still want to be able to discern between a Cadillac and Mercedes.
*EDIT*
Forgot to say that the Fleetwood is the first car in which I can wear a fedora comfortably and drive unimpaired. I could probably pull off a top hat, haven't tried it yet, though.
fftopic:
