It Didn't Cost Me A Dime

In 1890, Henry Martyn Leland, having learned precision manufacturing at Samuel Colt's gun works in Connecticut, moved to Detroit.

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Leland eventually formed his own company and became a successful manufacturer of crankshaft grinders. By 1896 the firm was manufacturing streetcar steam engines and gasoline marine engines.

In 1901, Leland developed an engine that could produce 23 percent more horsepower than its contemporary while under contract with the Olds Motor Works (Oldsmobile). Olds, however, would reject this new design as retooling the factory would further delay production that was already behind schedule.

Leland was approached by William Murphy and Lemuel W. Bowen, financial backers of Henry Ford, in 1902. Ford had been mostly producing racing cars, to the dismay of Murphy and Bowen, and, wanting out, hired Leland to help them sell their automobile plant and equipment.

Instead, Leland showed them his new engine design and convinced them to stay in the business as the Cadillac Automobile Company.

Le Sieur Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac was a French explorer who discovered Detroit early in the 18th century.

Cadillac produced its first car in 1903 and took orders for 2286 before declaring the model "sold out."

As the first production automobiles to use innovations such as a distributor, power steering, and a synchromesh transmission, Cadillacs have always had the reputation as an American icon of luxury, style and performace. Cadillac led the luxury car market from 1950 to 1997 and today comes in sixth behind Toyota's Lexus division.