What was the Cadillac Cimarron, and why did people hate it?

In May 1981, Cadillac released their first car with a four cylinder engine since 1914, and with the least displacement (under two liters) since 1908, offered with Cadillac’s first manual transmission since 1953. They called it the Cimarron.

In many ways it was both a figurative and literal step back for Cadillac, not just in technology. Despite being the “world standard” in luxury cars, Cadillac released a front wheel drive economy car based on the General Motors J-platform — at almost double the price of a Chevrolet Cavalier, seling for the modern day equivalent of $32,500.

The Cimarron was an overpriced badge engineered economy car that had poorly designed luxury features installed, developed by General Motors financial and administration types — not “car guys” who were concerned with the brand integrity. As a result, the Cimarron reported dismal sales, less than 140,000 units over its seven year run, and is widely considered to be the car representative of General Motors management problems during the 1970s and 80s.

It is also rumored that the next Cadillac production director, John Howell, kept a framed picture of the Cimarron in his office, captioned with “Lest we forget.”

What was the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, and what does that even mean?

Made from 1977 to 1986, the Fleetwood Brougham was a upscale trip line of the Cadillac Fleetwood. Not to be confused with the similar Cadillac Brougham, or the 1965 Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham trim line, or the Fleetwood Brougham d’Elegance, or any of the other Fleetwoods, Broughams, and their trim lines that had been used since the 1950s. Which is rather easy to confuse, as Cadillac seemed all too willing to smack “Fleetwood” and “Brougham” on thousands of high end land yachts.

The Fleetwood Brougham was a massive, 18.5 foot long, body on frame luxury car that seated five to seven passengers. It had a nearly 20 cubic foot trunk, which could fit another passenger or two, depending on size, although not exactly comfortably.

It was powered by V6 or V8 engines ranging from 4.1 to 7.0 liters of displacement. Horsepower ranged from 135 to 180, and torque from 190 to 320 foot pounds, enough to pull the 4,000 pound car forward, just not very quickly. At least it was rear wheel drive.

The Fleetwood Brougham was a perfect example of the giant gas guzzlers that the U.S. government effectively declared war on with Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, and by 1987 it was discontinued. However, it continued to live on as the Cadillac Brougham until 1992, as the Fleetwood was downsized.

However, the Fleetwood could now be obtained with the Brougham d’Elegance trim line, adding even more opulent 1980s automobile luxury in a front wheel drive car 800 pounds lighter.

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