2006 Cadillac XLR-V

The even bigger new for 2006 was Cadillac's new high-performance version of the XLR: the XLR-V.

Still a few months from being available to the public, the XLR-V was powered by a 443-horsepower supercharged 4.4-liter Northstar V8 engine with a 6-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, mounted in the rear to keep the car balanced, and could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds.

2006 Cadillac XLR Roadster

Cadillac's big news in 2006 was, of course, the XLR roadster, powered by a 320-horsepower 4.6-liter Northstar V8 engine with a 5-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. It was not brand new on the market, but it was still pretty cool.

The XLR featured a retractable hardtop, pushbutton start, GPS-guided DVD navigation, adaptive cruise control and voice recognition.

1963 Cadillac Hearse

Cadillac flamboyance had peaked in 1959, and the 1960s brought simpler grilles, lower fins and less chrome. Cadillac received a new C-body in 1961 that continued the trend, and all Cadillac models became powered by the same 325-horsepower 390-cubic-inch V8 engine, which was redesigned for 1963 to be lighter and stronger, while producing the same power. 1963 also brought a bulkier grille and new slab-sided outer body panels and side moldings. Standard equipment included the Hydra-Matic 4-speed automatic transmission, power steering, self-adjusting power brakes, heater, backup lights, and remote-controlled left side mirror. This 1963 Cadillac hearse at the 2004 Unique Tin Car Show in Longview, Washington, appears to be from the Superior Coach Company.

1913 Cadillac Phaeton

This 1913 Cadillac Phaeton was based on the Cadillac Model G that was introduced in 1909. It is powered by a 365-cubic-inch L-head inline 4-cylinder engine with a 3-speed manual transmission, with increased stroke and displacement over the previous year’s model. 1913 was also only the second year for Cadillac’s electric starter. This design would continued essentially unchanged through 1914. The 1915 Cadillac Model 51 would introduce Cadillac’s first V8 engine. This example was displayed at the 2001 Chicago Auto Show by the Volo Auto Museum.

2000 Cadillac Northstar LMP

Cadillac built the LMP (LeMans Prototype) in 2000 to communicate a new world image and to challenge European luxury brand racing cars. Under Cadillac’s supervision, domestic builder Riley & Scott constructed the LMP with a carbon fiber monocoque design. A 650-horsepower twin-turbocharged Northstar 4.0-liter V8 engine powered the vehicle, and a functional Cadillac-type grille was built into the aerodynamic front section. Seven LMP monocoques were built in 2000, with five used in competition, this example used as a show car, as seen here at the 2001 Chicago Auto Show, and one spare.

1969 Cadillac Hearse

This 1969 Cadillac shown here in the Heritage Days Parade in Clatskanie, Oregon, on July 4, 1999, is a former hearse that is now used by the Astoria Clowns of Astoria, Oregon. Cadillacs were restyled in 1969, abandoning the vertically stacked headlights used from 1965 to 1968 in favor of more inboard horizontal headlights. During the 1969 calendar year, Cadillac's production exceeded 250,000 cars for the first time, despite strikes affecting the 1969 production run. Among the 1969 production run were 2,550 commercial chassis. With a 156-inch wheelbase and Cadillac's 375-horsepower 472-cubic-inch V8 engine, these chassis were used by custom coachbuilders to build ambulances, hearses, and funeral flower-cars. The coachbuilders that used these chassis included the Superior Coach Corporation of Lima, Ohio, Miller-Meteor in Piqua, Ohio, and the Hess & Eisenhardt Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. I believe this example was built by Superior.

1941 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two Five-Passenger Touring Sedan

The Cadillac Series Sixty-Two had been introduced in 1940 as a new entry-level model. Just one year later, the Cadillac Series Sixty-Two was dramatically restyled with Cadillac's new "Torpedo" styling, with the headlights being incorporated into the front fenders for the first time. Again, this styling would only last a single year, as the 1942 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two featured a broader grille and elongated fenders that extended into the doors. The 1941 Cadillac was very popular, helping Cadillac set new sales records. Like all 1941 Cadillacs, the Series Sixty-Two was powered by a 135-horsepower 346-cubic-inch L-Head V8 engine.

The 1941 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two was available as a four-passenger coupe or as the five-passenger touring sedan pictured here. This 1941 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two Five-Passenger Touring Sedan was in the Days in the Park parade in Rainier, Oregon, in July 1996.

1952 Cadillac 4-Door Sedan

Photo by Cliff West

Cadillac introduced new models in 1948, and gave them a facelift in 1950. Satisfied with the results, the 1951, 1952 and 1953 models saw only minor changes in the details. This 1952 model, pictured at the Towe Ford Museum (now the California Automobile Museum) in Sacramento, California, in March 1992, is most easily distinguished by the gold-colored winged emblem in the trim beneath each headlight, signifying Cadillac's golden anniversary of its introduction in 1902.

1947 Cadillac Series 75 Limousine

Photo by Cliff West

This 1947 Cadillac Series 75 Limousine was displayed at the Towe Ford Museum (now the California Automobile Museum) in Sacramento, California, alongside a photograph of Earl Warren, Governor of California from 1943 to 1953. I'm not sure if this was actually Earl Warren's car, or if it was simply displayed as an example of the type of car Governor Warren would have used at the time.

1947 was the last year for most of Cadillac's lineup, which had been introduced in 1942 and then resumed after World War II in 1946. Newly redesigned models would debut for 1948, except for the Series 75 limousine. Cadillac actually considered dropping the long-wheelbase model,, which was also the basis for funeral cars, hearses and ambulances, but instead continued producing them with the old body and minimal changes through 1949. A new redesigned Series 75 would be introduced in 1950.

1967 Cadillac Eldorado

Though Cadillac had been using the Eldorado name for years, the 1967 Eldorado was very different from the previous models. The 1967 Eldorado is based on the Oldsmobile Toronado that debuted the previous year. Like the Toronado, the Eldorado featured front wheel drive, a chain drive and Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission. The Eldorado also featured a 340-horsepower Cadillac 429 V8 and improvements over the Toronado including standard variable-ratio power steering, radially vented front disc brakes and automatic self-leveling control.

On a 120 inch wheelbase, 9 inches shorter than Cadillac's standard line, the Eldorado featured sharp, angular styling with little chrome and hidden headlights behind a full-width eggcrate grille, and still looks good today.