Cadillac Standard Of The Word

by Maurice D. Hendry, Automobile Quarterly

Cadillac at 100: Legacy of Leadership is an authoritative, intimately fascinating story no Cadillac enthusiast can do without. More than 230 full-color photographs of Cadillacs through model-year 2008, with every model, every event, and every period painstakingly covered, promises much for the Cadillac lover. This updated edition of the previously titled Cadillac: Standard of the World provides an unprecedented look at the company that has truly set the standard in terms of luxury, performance and craftsmanship. Read about how founder Henry Leland, with his obsession over precision, planned the course for the manufacturer that has not only survived volatile market conditions and changing consumer demand, but thrived in its position as the standard-bearer for GM. Inside this 560-page, two-volume set, readers will discover the people and the programs that continue to make Cadillac a name associated with success. Intimate interviews with the major players from the days of Henry Leland and the Thirty to the days of Mark LaNeve and the Escalade accompany a litany of technological milestones and model descriptions. Cadillac at 100: Legacy of Leadership is destined to become the bible for both researchers and casual enthusiasts, a cornerstone for any collector s library. Joining primary author Maurice D. Hendry are Jeffrey I. Godshall, Tracy Powell and the late Dave Holls.

487 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Chris White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book way out of order. The full color photos of old Cadillacs were too enticing, and I found myself gobbling up the copy surrounding the land barges of the sixties and seventies first, even though it was buried deep in the back of the book. These parts of the book smell of unfiltered GM/ Cadillac propaganda. And I loved it, even though I fancy myself a Ford guy.

But as I read on, I indulged myself with the earlier bits of Cadillac's history, and as I discovered more and more about the people who made it what it is (whether or not it really is or ever was The Standard of the World), I found myself hip-deep in a great story.

I love history, and the story of the Cadillac marque is certainly that. What the Leland family did in establishing Cadillac is really nothing short of this: they laid part of the foundation for the American industrial machine vis a vis their fanatical adherence to precision, the idea that parts can and should be interchangeable, and in the idea that they owed the paying customer their very best. On such vigor and fortitude the Cadillac name became great; nearly wondrous, especially in the beginning--when Cadillac was the only firm building cars the way they did.

Now every car--and other machines--in the world are built that way. Quite a testament to the Lelands and their methods. And to think: I got this book only because I thought it might help me research old cars. I was ambushed by a lovely little stroll through an engaging story I never could have dreamed of. I love it when that happens.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since nobody has reviewed this work yet, I thought I'd do a quick one. I own the 75th-anniversary edition of this work that only goes up to the late 70's. The book is a good narrative history of Cadillac, as well as the personalities behind the margue. There is enough technical information to keep an amateur gearhead happy, but don't expect anything overly detailed. The work has a formal, serious tone and is much more restrained than your typical automotive book of today's world.

This book is also one of the first things I ever bought on Ebay, way back in 2000. I rated this book a five mostly for personal reasons due to the fact that I went on to own several older Cadillacs after reading this book.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superior;................no two ways about it.