Cadillac Fleetwood — BrandWiki

Cadillac Fleetwood

Overview

Second generation

model years	1993–1996
predecessor	Cadillac Brougham
layout	FR layout
assembly	Arlington, Texas, U.S. (Arlington Assembly)
platform	D-body
body style	4-door sedan
engine	5.7 L L05 V8 5.7 L LT1 V8‡R13R‡
transmission	4-speed 4L60 automatic 4-speed 4L60E automatic
wheelbase	121.5 in
length	225.0 in
width	78.0 in
height	57.1 in
weight	4600 - 4700 lb
related	Buick Roadmaster Chevrolet Caprice Chevrolet Impala SS Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser
designer	Chuck Jordan

The Cadillac Fleetwood is a full-size luxury sedan that was marketed by Cadillac from the 1977 through 1996 model years. Taking its nameplate from a coachbuilder historically associated with the General Motors division, the Cadillac Fleetwood became a stand-alone model line in 1985.

The first-generation Cadillac Fleetwood was introduced for 1985 as the division downsized its full-size C-body platform sedans to a front-wheel-drive layout. Slotted between the Sedan deVille and the Sixty Special, the Fleetwood also bridged the gap between the deVille and the D-body Fleetwood Brougham (Cadillac Brougham for 1987–1992). The second generation was introduced for 1993, replacing the Brougham as the D-body Cadillac sedan (the Fleetwood Brougham name became a trim option).

After the 1996 model year, Cadillac discontinued the Fleetwood line as GM ended production of full-size sedan lines in North America. General Motors consolidated Cadillac's large sedan lines into the deVille series and later as the Cadillac DTS.

Rear-wheel drive (D-body; 1993–1996)

For 1993, the Cadillac Fleetwood was reintroduced as a rear-wheel-drive sedan, replacing the 1987–1992 Brougham as the largest Cadillac sedan. As Cadillac revised its model range, the Fleetwood nameplate was no longer the companion model to the de Ville, and was dropped from the flagship Sixty Special series (itself retired after 1993). In contrast to many luxury-segment competitors, the 1993 Fleetwood had not only grown in size from its downsized predecessor, but was the first American vehicle line to shift from a rear-wheel-drive layout to front-wheel drive, reverting back to rear-wheel drive. Far larger than the Chrysler Imperial (and the later Chrysler LHS), the model line competed primarily against the Lincoln Town Car.

After the 1996 model year, Cadillac retired the Fleetwood model line, as General Motors ended production of its full-frame rear-wheel-drive sedans. The Arlington Assembly facility that assembled the Fleetwood and its Chevrolet/Buick counterparts was retooled to assemble full-size SUVs, later including the Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV.[14]

Body design

At the time of its production, the Fleetwood was the longest-length production car marketed in the United States, at 225 inches (5,715 mm) long.[14] Sold exclusively as a four-door sedan (Cadillac dropped the rear-wheel-drive Fleetwood coupe after 1985), the Fleetwood grew four inches in length over the 1992 Brougham.[14] Equipped with dual airbags as standard equipment, the 1993 Fleetwood marked the debut of the Cadillac "Airbank" SRS system, a wider passenger-side airbag designed to protect the right-side and center passenger riding in a front bench seat.[14]

On hiatus since 1986, the Fleetwood Brougham nameplate returned, as Cadillac restored it as the flagship option package for the model line. Visibly distinguished by a full vinyl roof (which could be deleted), C-pillar and instrument panel badging, the Fleetwood Brougham also included model-specific seating designs for the six-way power seats (in either leather or Prestwick cloth) with three-position memory. The interior also included vanity mirrors for the rear seat and a rear-seat storage armrest.

Alongside the Fleetwood Brougham option package, the Fleetwood offered multiple options, including a CD player, full-size spare tire, chrome wheels, sliding glass moonroof (dubbed "Astro Roof"), and an onboard security system.

Chassis details

The D-body Cadillac Fleetwood uses a body-on-frame chassis, retaining the 121.5-inch wheelbase of the 1977–1992 Cadillac C-body platform (Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, Brougham, and 1977–1984 de Ville). Though fitted with a larger body and upgraded safety equipment, the 1993 Fleetwood saw only nominal weight increases, gaining only 90 pounds of curb weight over the 1992 Brougham.[14]

In contrast to the traditional usage of the D-body designation (prior to 1985), which was reserved for Cadillac limousines and its partially bodied commercial chassis (for hearses and ambulances), the post-downsizing D-body code is used for the version of the full-size B-body chassis specific to the Cadillac division; along with common powertrains, the Fleetwood shares a small degree of bodywork with the Chevrolet Caprice and Buick Roadmaster (visibly, the front doors and windshield).

Powertrain details

For 1993, the Fleetwood carried over the 185hp 5.7L V8 used by the 1990–1992 Cadillac Brougham, paired with a four-speed 4L60 automatic transmission. For 1994, GM upgraded its full-size powertrains, with the D-body and B-body cars receiving a 260hp 5.7L LT1 V8, paired with an electronically controlled 4L60E four-speed automatic.[15][16]

Powertrain details

For 1993, the Fleetwood carried over the 185hp 5.7L V8 used by the 1990–1992 Cadillac Brougham, paired with a four-speed 4L60 automatic transmission. For 1994, GM upgraded its full-size powertrains, with the D-body and B-body cars receiving a 260hp 5.7L LT1 V8, paired with an electronically controlled 4L60E four-speed automatic.[15][16] Shared with the Chevrolet C4 Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird, the LT1 engine used for full-size cars was detuned in horsepower output and fitted with cast-iron heads.

Towing capability

While the previous-generation Brougham was offered with a factory-designed towing package,[17] the option for the 1993 underwent a major capability increase; for the first time since the 1976 Sixty Special, a Cadillac sedan was factory-rated to tow 7000 lb.

Shared with the Buick Roadmaster station wagon, the RPO V4P package included heavy-duty cooling (RPO V08, which consisted of a seven-blade mechanical primary fan, a heavy-duty electrical secondary fan, and an extra capacity radiator), RPO FE2 Suspension System Ride Handling, HD 4L60 transmission, RPO KC4 Cooling System Engine Oil, RPO KD1 Cooling System Transmission Oil, RPO KG9 140 amp alternator, and RPO GT4 3.73 gears with an 8.5-inch ring gear.

In 1994–1996, the V4P package was revised with RPO GU6 3.42 gears with the new more powerful RPO LT1 260 hp V8, and HD 4L60E transmission with revised accumulators to shift smoother with the shorter rear axle gearing.

Sales

Though more popular than Buick, Oldsmobile, and Chevrolet full-size station wagons, the Cadillac Fleetwood is the lowest-produced 1990s D/B-body sedan. The model line largely struggled in sales against the Chrysler LHS and Lincoln Town Car (the latter, more closely matching the sales of the de Ville).

Cadillac Commercial Chassis

In its return to the D-body, the Fleetwood again supported the commercial chassis, an incomplete vehicle designed primarily for limousines and funeral coaches (hearses). The variant differed from the standard Fleetwood sedan as antilock brakes, traction control, and dual front airbags were not standard features.

Following the discontinuation of the Fleetwood as the final full-frame Cadillac sedan, Cadillac continued to supply the de Ville (and the product lines that replaced it) chassis to funeral coach manufacturers through second-party conversion. As of current production, the only body-on-frame Cadillacs produced since the 1996 Fleetwood are the Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT.

Presidential State Car (1993)

In 1993, after president Bill Clinton took office, a then brand-new 1993 Fleetwood would become his state car that he would use throughout his term until 2001. Following a long tradition of Lincoln-based sedans, this was only the second Cadillac since the 1983 Fleetwood built for the Ronald Reagan administration. Along with advanced security and safety features, the limousine featured communication devices such as phones, satellite communications and the Internet.[19] After Clinton left office, the car eventually was displayed at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. To prevent third parties from learning classified details about the protection and security features of the vehicle, the Secret Service keeps the doors secured at all times.[20]

This Fleetwood would also prove to be the last presidential car derived from a regular production passenger car. The production 2001 Cadillac de Ville (built for George W. Bush) was not regarded as suitable for conversion, so the final vehicle was constructed using the chassis and powertrain of a heavy-duty GM SUV, using little more than the front and rear bodywork of the de Ville.[21]