10/17/2026
The very first Cadillac—a 10-horsepower runabout/tonneau that began life on the drawing board in September 1902—was finished and driven into the world on October 17, 1902. That early Cadillac carried the compact single-cylinder simplicity typical of veteran Detroit experimenters: a modest, well-built chassis with coachwork suited to a small family or businessman, intended to prove the company’s engineering standards. Completed and rolled out that autumn, the car was the tangible start of Cadillac’s campaign to compete on precision and reliability rather than sheer size or extravagance, setting the production tone for the marque that would soon emphasize interchangeability and refinement.
