Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham

Infobox Automobile
name=Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
manufacturer=General Motors
production=1947–1996
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousine
successor=Cadillac Sixty Special
class=Full-size luxury carThe Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was a large automobile produced from 1947 through 1996. The name combined two famous Cadillac trim lines, Fleetwood and Brougham, and was intended to signify the finest that the maker could produce.

1947-1954

Infobox Automobile generation
name=First generation


production=1947–1948
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousineInfobox Automobile generation
name=Second generation
production=1949–1954
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousineThe first Cadillac to bear the name was the 1947 Fleetwood Brougham, with a sedan version and with a coupe version and with a limousine appearing in 1947.

Part of the Cadillac Series 60 line, it was a closed, two-door coupé, two-door convertible, 4-door sedan, and a 4-door limousine was Cadillac's first pillarless hardtop and convertible besides the Coupe DeVille and Sedan DeVille. Intended as a prestige model, at $3,497 it was one of the most expensive models of the Series 62 line. It was luxuriously trimmed, with leather upholstery and chrome 'bows' in the headliner to simulate the ribs of a convertible top. The first-year Fleetwood Brougham were sold 2,150 units, but 1950 sales were more than double, and 1951 more than doubled those of the previous year.

For 1951, major styling changes were performed. The cars were lower and sleeker, with longer hoods, and one-piece windshields were fitted. The Series 61 was again a short wheelbase model, having been reduced to 122 in.

The Series 61 was discontinued in the middle of the 1951 model year due to lagging sales.

The 1953 Fleetwood Brougham was a special-bodied, low-production convertible (532 units in total). It was the production version of the 1952 Fleetwood Brougham "Golden Anniversary" concept car. Available in four unique colors (Aztec Red, Alpine White, Azure Blue and Artisan Ochre — the latter is a yellow hue, although it was shown erroneously as black in the color folder issued on this rare model). Convertible tops were available in either black or white Orlon. There was no special badging on the car, other than the "Fleetwood Brougham" nameplate, in "gold", in the center of the dash. A hard tonneau cover, flush with the rear deck, hid the top in the open car version. Although it was based on the regular Series 62 convertible and shared its engine, it was nearly twice as expensive at US$7,750.

This first Fleetwood Brougham had a wraparound windshield and a cut-down beltline, the latter signifying a dip in the sheetmetal at the bottom of the side windows. These two touches were especially beloved by General Motors Styling Chief Harley Earl and subsequently were widely copied by other marques. In fact, throughout the 1950s, Fleetwood Broughams was GM's styling leader, and since GM led the industry, where the Fleetwood Brougham went, everyone else would tend to follow.

In 1954, Fleetwood Brougham lost its unique sheet metal, sharing its basic body shell with standard Cadillacs. Distinguished now mainly by trim pieces, this allowed GM to lower the price and they were rewarded with a substantial jump in sales.

The original Fleetwood Brougham was simply a more-upscale trim line than the Sixty Special, with tray tables and footrests in the rear.

1955-1964

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Third generation
production=1955–1958
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousineInfobox Automobile generation
name=Fourth generation
production=1959–1964
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousineFor 1955, the Fleetwood Broughams body gained its own rear end styling with high, slender, pointed tailfins. These contrasted with the rather thick, bulbous fins which were common at the time and were an example of Fleetwood Brougham once again pointing the way forward.

In 1956 the Fleetwood Brougham was joined by the Sedan de Ville, a four-door hardtop sedan and the Coupe de Ville a two-door hardtop coupe and a two-door convertible coupe. The Sedan de Ville would ultimately outlive its two-door predecessor. For 1956, a two-door hardtop coupé version appeared, called the Eldorado Seville.

1957 saw the base Fleetwood Brougham and Seville coupe once again present an innovative rear-end design, a low, downswept fenderline capped by a pointed, in-board fin. The rear fenders were commonly referred to as "chipmunk cheeks". This concept was used for two years, but did not spawn any imitators.

1957 was chiefly notable, though, for the introduction of one of GM's most memorable designs, the Eldorado Brougham. This four-door hardtop with rear-opening rear doors was an ultra-luxury car that cost an astonishing $13,000+, more than the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud of the same year. It featured a stainless steel roof, air suspension, the first dual headlights, the first memory power seats, and every possible kind of appearance and convenience feature that GM's most inventive minds could devise. This design ran for two years and of course sold in very small quantities (704 units in total) owing to the price. It has been estimated that GM lost $10,000 on every one, but these virtually hand-assembled cars are today among the rarest and most collectible of all postwar American models.

A different Eldorado Brougham was sold for 1959 and 1960. These cars were not quite so extravagantly styled but were very unusual pieces in themselves. Priced at $13,075, they cost $1 more, each, than their older siblings. The design was 100% Cadillac but the company contracted out the assembly to Pininfarina of Italy, with whom the division has had a long-running relationship, and these Eldorado Broughams were essentially hand-built in Italy. Their discreet, narrow taillights, nicely integrated into modest tailfins, contrasted sharply with the "rocketship" taillights and massive fins of the standard 1959 Cadillacs and were an indication of where Caddy styling would go in the next few years. However, build quality was not nearly to the standard of the Detroit hand-built 1957–1958's, and the 1959–1960 Broughams are less desirable, it seems, than the 1st generation Broughams, although their value and collectibility remain high.

In 1959 the Fleetwood line was separated in a distinct Series 63.

1965-1970

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Fifth generation


production=1965–1968
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousineInfobox Automobile generation
name=Sixth generation
production=1969–1970
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousine

Beginning in 1965, Fleetwood Brougham denoted Cadillac's flagship model, above the Calais and the DeVille.

Performance was sprightly, with 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in less than nine seconds, although the standard drum brakes were inadequate (disc brakes were optional in 1965 and standard starting in 1966). Sales were excellent despite high list prices.

For 1968 the Fleetwood Brougham gained slight exterior changes to comply with new federal safety and emissions legislation, and as with the rest of the Cadillac lineup, a new 472 in³ (7.7 L) V8 engine rated at 375 hp (sae gross). In 1969 it lost its hidden headlamps and picked up as options a halo vinyl roof and later in the model year a power sunroof option. For the 1970 model year, this body style Fleetwood Brougham introduced the new 500 in³ 8.2 L V8 engine (rated sae gross 400 hp/550 ft·lbf in 1970) that would be a Fleetwood Brougham exclusive until it became standard on all full size Cadillacs for model years 1970 through 1976.

For 1965, the Eldorado and Sixty Special officially became part of the Fleetwood line along with the Seventy-Five. In 1966, "Fleetwood Brougham" became a separate model line; by 1973, the Sixty Special designation was retired.

The Fleetwood Brougham, like other Cadillacs, grew substantially larger and more powerful from 1949 through the early 1970s. During the 1971-76 generation, it was 4 inches (102 mm) longer in wheelbase, 17 in (432 mm) longer overall, and more than 900 lb (400 kg) heavier, and its standard V8 engine had grown from 331 in³ (5.4 L) to 472 in³ (7.7 L).

The Fleetwood Brougham remained a 'B' pillared hardtop with frameless doors from 1965 through the 1976 model year. 1965 through 1967 models had window vents on all 4 doors. this means a total of 8 side windows. 1969 dropped these vents on all doors.

1971 to 1976

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Seventh generation


production=1971–1973
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousineInfobox Automobile generation
name=Eighth generation


production=1974–1976
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousine

Following a remodel in 1971, the Fleetwood Brougham remained basically unchanged through 1976 save for front and rear-end refeshenings. The car shared styling cues with the lesser models. The most dramatic of these changes was the addition of rectangular headlamps in 1975 along with a completely new grille. This configuration also marked the end of the traditional large-size Cadillacs as 1977 would see a dramatic down-sizing ofthe entire line-up save for Seville and Eldorado. The 1974 model year saw the introduction of the "Air Cushion Restraint System" (airbags) activated when the car was hit from the front only. Hidden in the steering wheel, and passenger side of the instrument panel, were instantaneous-inflating nylon bags designed to prevent front seat occupants from hitting the windshield during a frontal collision. The option replaced the glove box with a lockable compartment under the dashboard. During the mid-seventies this option never caught on and was dropped from the option list after 1976.

Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance for 1973

An option package available for the first time in 1973 was the "d'Elegance" package. Adding US$750, this package included a unique "pillow-style" velour seating trim as well as a more plush carpeting and a few additional features optional on the standard models. The same package was offered on the Coupe/Sedan de Ville models in 1974 with a different seating design. The package was available on the Fleetwood Brougham/ Brougham/ Fleetwood models throughout the 70's, 80's, and even well into the 90's. Standard features adjusted to suit the decades.

Fleetwood Talisman for 1974

Even more exclusive was the "Talisman" package available for the Fleetwood Brougham for the 1974, '75, and '76 model years. The package was so exclusive that it essentially removed the "Brougham" identification from the car renaming it a "Fleetwood Talisman" per exterior badging. For 1974 the interior featured a center console in the front and rear-seat passenger compartments; the front console containing a writing tablet. The rear seat console contained only a storage space. This seating arrangement turned the hulking Fleetwood Brougham into a four-seater automobile which may have led to the discontinuation of the rear seat console in the 1975/76 editions. Seating was in "Medici" crushed velour and interior carpeting was virtually of a "shag carpet" nature. The price of this opulence was reflective as well-US$1800 for the velour seats and US$2450 for leather-an unheard of amount for "options" in 1974. The leather trim edition was dropped after 1974.

1977-1979

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Ninth generation


production=1977–1979|
body_style=2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door limousine

In 1977 GM significantly "down-sized" their full sized cars. The Sedan deVille, Coupe de Ville and Fleetwood Brougham now all rode on the same 121.5" wheelbase and were all powered by the 425 cubic inch (7.0L) V8. This engine was basically a de bored version of the 472/500 (7.9L/8.2L) V8 of previous years. Compared with the 1976 model, the Fleetwood Brougham lost 11.5" of wheelbase and about 750 lb (340kg).

The Fleetwood Brougham was still considered the top of the line Cadillac but was nearly identical to a lesser Sedan de Ville. Other than the name, the only exterior differences between a Fleetwood Brougham and Sedan de Ville were the hubcaps and the hood ornament, (the Fleetwood had a wreath and crest, the de Ville had just a crest), and the extension of the vinyl roof through the "b-pillar" giving a more formal look. The interior of the Fleetwood was more plush and offered more features as standard.

1980-1992

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Tenth generation


production=1980–1992
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousineInfobox Automobile generation
name=Eleventh generation


production=1989–1992
body_style=2-door coupe
2-door convertible
4-door sedan
4-door limousineIn 1980 the Sedan deVille, Coupe de Ville and Fleetwood Brougham were given a new body style with a squarer look and more formal roof line. The 121.5" wheelbase and basic dashboard design were retained.

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.

In 1985 Cadillac introduced brand new, front-wheel drive platform. This is where the Cadillac Fleetwood was split from the Fleetwood Brougham. Cadillac put the Sedan de Ville, Coupe de Ville, and Fleetwood (two and four door) on this platform. 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 stop-lamp that was mandated for the 1986 model year. You can read more about this completely different car on the Cadillac Fleetwood page.

The full size 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham continued on nearly unchanged from the 1984 model. For 1985 the Fleetwood Brougham two door was dropped. In 1986 the troublesome HT4100 V8 was replaced with an Oldsmobile sourced 307 cubic inch (5.0L) V8.

In 1990 the Fleetwood Brougham was renamed Cadillac Brougham and was given its first noticeable facelift since 1980. It featured composite headlights, wrap around front bumper, rocker panel cladding and clear/white tail lamps. It was available with a Chevrolet sourced 350 cubic inch (5.7L) L05 V8

Engines

*1980-1984 368 in³ (6.0 L) Cadillac L62 V8-6-4 V8, 140 hp (104 kW) (Limo/Commercial only after 1981)
*1980-1985 350 in³ (5.7 L) Oldsmobile LF9 Diesel V8, 105 hp (78 kW)
*1981-1982 252 in³ (4.1 L) Buick V6, 125 hp (93 kW)
*1982-1985 250 in³ (4.1 L) Cadillac HT-4100 V8, 125 hp (93 kW)
*1986-1990 307 in³ (5.0 L) Oldsmobile V8 140hp 255tq 1991-1992
*1990-1992 350 in³ (5.7L) L05 Chevrolet V8 175hp 295tq (1990) 180hp 300tq (1991-1992) (optional)
*1991-1992 305 in³ (5.0L) LO3 Chevrolet V8 170hp 255tq (standard)

1993-1996

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Twelfth Generation


production=1993–1996
body_style=4-door sedan
4-door limousineFor 1993, the Fleetwood and Fleetwood Brougham was redesigned and both now rode on the venerable 121.5" D-body platform. This is the same platform that Cadillac had been using for their full size, rear drive cars since 1977.

The difference between the Fleetwood and Fleetwood Brougham were minor trim variations. The Fleetwood Brougham featured rear seat lighted vanity mirrors, extra padded seats, a 2.93:1 ratio rear end ratio, and more standard equipment.

The 1993 Fleetwood and Fleetwood Brougham was powered by a 180 hp Chevrolet 350 (5.7 L) V8.

The 1994 -1996 Fleetwood Broughams were powered by the new 260 hp (201 kW) 330 lbf·ft (447 N·m LT1 Chevrolet 350 V8, derived from the Chevrolet Corvette and shared with the Chevrolet Impala SS, Chevrolet Caprice (optional engine), and Buick Roadmaster and are much faster than the 1993 models.

The Cadillac Fleetwood, along with its B-Body stablemates, was retired by General Motors in December 1996 to make way for Chevy Suburban and Tahoe production.

References

*