Detroit Assembly (also known as Detroit Cadillac, Cadillac Assembly or Clark Street Assembly) was a
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
automobile
A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...
factory in
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...
,
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
on Clark Street, south of Michigan Avenue (
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 (US 12) is an east–west United States Numbered Highways, United States highway, running from Aberdeen, Washington, to Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, for almost . The highway has mostly been superseded by Interstate 90 (I-90) an ...
). It began operations in 1921 and Cadillac bodies were supplied by
Fleetwood Metal Body
Fleetwood Metal Body was an automobile coachbuilder formed on April 1, 1909. The company name was derived from Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, home of the company at the start, and lived on for decades in the form of the Cadillac Fleetwood and various ...
in 1921 after
Fisher Body assumed operations. It was the second location that built Cadillacs, when Cadillac originally started out as the
Henry Ford Company
The Henry Ford Company was an automobile manufacturer active from 1901 to 1902. Named for Henry Ford, it was his second company after the Detroit Automobile Company, which had been founded in 1899. The Henry Ford Company was founded November 190 ...
which was located at the intersection of Cass Avenue and Amsterdam Street.
Engine block and cylinder heads were cast at
Saginaw Metal Casting Operations
Saginaw Metal Casting Operations is an automobile engine foundry plant in Saginaw, Michigan. Opened under GM management in 1919, the factory produces engine blocks and cylinder heads for General Motors vehicles. The factory currently occupies 1.9 ...
then assembled at
Tonawanda Engine
Tonawanda Engine is a General Motors engine factory in Buffalo, New York. The plant consists of three facilities totaling and sits upon . The factory receives cast engine blocks from Defiance Foundry in Defiance, Ohio and Saginaw Metal Casting Op ...
before delivery to Detroit Assembly for installation.
In 1902, the
Cadillac Motor Company
The Cadillac Motor Car Division () is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM) that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Its major markets are the United States, Canada, and China. Cadillac models are distributed i ...
began operations, and began building cars at the all new Clark Street facility in 1921, where the factory manufactured Cadillac models until December 23, 1987,
when production of Cadillac's full-size
D-bodies moved to
Arlington Assembly in
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Tarrant County. It forms part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal city of the metropolis and region. ...
, while production of downsized FWD DeVille/Fleetwood/Seville models were relocated to
Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly
Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly, also called Factory Zero, is a General Motors automobile assembly plant straddling the border between Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan. It is located about three miles (five km) from GM's corporate headquarters. Wh ...
and
Orion Assembly
Orion Assembly is a General Motors vehicle assembly plant located in Orion Township, Michigan. The plant currently assembles the Chevrolet Bolt and Cruise AV. As of September 2019, the plant has approximately 1,032 salaried and hourly employee ...
by 1985. It is approximately 2 miles southeast of the
original Lincoln factory located at 6200 West Warren Avenue.
All Cadillac vehicles were built only at this home factory, with production of popular selling models later added to
Linden, New Jersey,
South Gate, California
South Gate is the 19th largest city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, with . South Gate is located southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County.
The city was inc ...
or
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Tarrant County. It forms part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal city of the metropolis and region. ...
in "
knock down kits" starting in the 1930s to meet demand. The bodies were built by Fisher at Fleetwood Plant #18 at 261 W End St, and transferred by rail to Clark Street for final assembly.
From 1984 to 1987, the plant also built the
Oldsmobile 88 and
Custom Cruiser, and the
Chevrolet Caprice
The Chevrolet Caprice is a full-sized automobile produced by Chevrolet in North America for the 1965 to 1996 model years. Full-size Chevrolet sales peaked in 1965 with over a million sold. It was the most popular car in the U.S. in the 1960s ...
and
Impala.
Detroit Assembly used the
VIN codes "Q" and "9."
The site of the plant was redeveloped into the 88-
acre
The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial
Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism.
Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to:
Places
United States
* Imperial, California
* Imperial, Missouri
* Imp ...
Clark Street Technology Park in 1997 by
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
and three other partners. It is now the location for Inland Waters Pollution Control.
LaSalle Factory/DeSoto Factory
For a brief time Cadillac's
LaSalle was built at a separate factory in Detroit called Wyoming Assembly at 6000 Wyoming Avenue just north of Ford Road west of the Ford Drive-In Theatre. It was built in 1917 to manufacture
Liberty Engine
The Liberty L-12 is an American water-cooled 45° V-12 aircraft engine displacing and making designed for a high power-to-weight ratio and ease of mass production. It saw wide use in aero applications, and, once marinized, in marine use both ...
s for airplanes used during WW I, then the factory was used by
Chalmers Automobile to build the
Saxon automobile until 1922. General Motors bought the Chalmers Plant in 1926 and 1927 built LaSalle cars there. The factory is adjacent to the Dearborn neighborhood and is 2.75 miles west of the Clark Street Factory location. After LaSalle was no longer manufactured, it was purchased by
Chrysler
Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...
in 1934 and became a
DeSoto factory until that brand was cancelled in the early 1960s.
The factory is nearby railroad tracks which were very busy supplying coachwork from the Fleetwood Factory or other Fisher factories within Detroit and shipping finished product to cities across the United States.
Vehicles Manufactured
Historical and classic, 1902-1949
=Early Antique
=
*1902-1903
Cadillac Runabout and Tonneau
The first Cadillac automobiles were the 1903 Model built in the last quarter of 1902. These were 2-seater "horseless carriages" powered by a reliable and sturdy piston engine, single-cylinder engine developed by Henry Martyn Leland and built by ...
— 72 in wheelbase
single-cylinder engine
A single-cylinder engine, sometimes called a thumper, is a piston engine with one cylinder. This engine is often used for motorcycles, motor scooters, go-karts, all-terrain vehicles, radio-controlled vehicles, portable tools and garden machinery ...
*1903-1904
Cadillac Model A — 72 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
*1904 Cadillac Models A and B
**
Model A — 72 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
**
Model B — 76 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
*1905 Cadillac Models B, C, D, E and F
**
Model B — 76 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
**
Model C — 72 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
**
Model D — 100 in wheelbase
four-cylinder engine
The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized.
Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...
**
Model E — 74 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
**
Model F — 76 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
*1906 Cadillac Models H, K, L, and M
**
Model H
The Triumph Model H (also known as the 'Type H' and 'the Trusty') is a British motorcycle made by Triumph Engineering Co Ltd in Coventry, England.
A total of 57,000 Triumph Model H motorcycles were made from 1915 until production ended in 1923.
...
— 102 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine
**
Model K — 74 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
**
Model L — 110 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine
**
Model M
Model M designates a group of computer keyboards designed and manufactured by IBM starting in 1985, and later by Lexmark International, Maxi Switch, and Unicomp. The keyboard's many variations have their own distinct characteristics, with ...
— 76 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
*1907 Cadillac Models G, H, K, and M
**
Model G — 100 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine
**
Model H
The Triumph Model H (also known as the 'Type H' and 'the Trusty') is a British motorcycle made by Triumph Engineering Co Ltd in Coventry, England.
A total of 57,000 Triumph Model H motorcycles were made from 1915 until production ended in 1923.
...
— 102 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine
**
Model K — 74 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
**
Model M
Model M designates a group of computer keyboards designed and manufactured by IBM starting in 1985, and later by Lexmark International, Maxi Switch, and Unicomp. The keyboard's many variations have their own distinct characteristics, with ...
— 76 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
*1908 Cadillac Models G, H, M, S and T
**
Model G — 100 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine
**
Model H
The Triumph Model H (also known as the 'Type H' and 'the Trusty') is a British motorcycle made by Triumph Engineering Co Ltd in Coventry, England.
A total of 57,000 Triumph Model H motorcycles were made from 1915 until production ended in 1923.
...
— 102 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine
**
Model M
Model M designates a group of computer keyboards designed and manufactured by IBM starting in 1985, and later by Lexmark International, Maxi Switch, and Unicomp. The keyboard's many variations have their own distinct characteristics, with ...
— 76 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
**
Model S
The Tesla Model S is a battery-powered liftback car serving as the flagship model of Tesla, Inc. The Model S features a dual-motor, all-wheel drive layout, although earlier versions of the Model S featured a rear-motor and rear-wheel drive l ...
— 82 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
**
Model T
The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. The relati ...
— 82 in wheelbase single-cylinder engine
*1909-1911
Cadillac Model Thirty
The Cadillac Model Thirty is an automobile that was introduced in December 1909 by the Cadillac Division of General Motors, and sold through 1911. It was the company's only model for those years and was based on the 1907 Model G. The 1912 Model ...
**1909 — 106 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine
**1910 — 110 in wheelbase; 120 in wheelbase (limousine) four-cylinder engine
Fisher
Fisher is an archaic term for a fisherman, revived as gender-neutral.
Fisher, Fishers or The Fisher may also refer to:
Places
Australia
*Division of Fisher, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives, in Queensland
*Elect ...
**1911 — 116 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine Fisher
*1912 —
Cadillac Model 1912; 116 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine Fisher
*1913 —
Cadillac Model 1913; 120 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine Fisher
*1914 —
Cadillac Model 1914; 120 and 134 in wheelbase four-cylinder engine Fisher
*1915 —
Cadillac Type 51
The Cadillac V8, introduced as the Type 51, is a large, luxurious automobile that was introduced in September 1914 by Cadillac as a 1915 model. It was Cadillac's first V8 automobile, replacing the four-cylinder Model 30, and used the all new GM ...
; 122 and 145 in wheelbase
V8 Fisher
*1916 —
Cadillac Type 53; 122 132 and 145 in wheelbase V8 Fisher
*1917 —
Cadillac Type 55
The Cadillac V8, introduced as the Type 51, is a large, luxurious automobile that was introduced in September 1914 by Cadillac as a 1915 model. It was Cadillac's first V8 automobile, replacing the four-cylinder Model 30, and used the all new GM ...
; 125 and 145 in wheelbase V8 Fisher
*1918-1919
Cadillac Type 57; 125 132 and 145 in wheelbase V8 Fisher
=1920s
=
*1920-1921
Cadillac Type 59; 122 and 132 in wheelbase V8 Fisher
*1922-1923
Cadillac Type 61; 132 in wheelbase V8 Fisher
All vehicles listed below were manufactured at Clark Street Assembly
*1924 —
Cadillac Type V-63
The Cadillac V-63 is a large luxury automobile that was introduced in September 1923 by Cadillac as a 1924 model, replacing the previous Type 61. It used the GM C platform and was replaced by the Cadillac Series 355 in 1931. It retained the name ...
; 132 and 145 in wheelbase V8 Fisher
*1925 —
Cadillac Type V-63
The Cadillac V-63 is a large luxury automobile that was introduced in September 1923 by Cadillac as a 1924 model, replacing the previous Type 61. It used the GM C platform and was replaced by the Cadillac Series 355 in 1931. It retained the name ...
; 132 138 and 145 in wheelbase V8 Fisher
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a coastal town in the Borough of Wyre in Lancashire, England, at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 25,939 at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census.
Fleetwood acquired its modern character in the 1830 ...
*1926-1927
Cadillac Series 314; 132 138 and 150 in wheelbase V8 Fisher Fleetwood
*1928 —
Cadillac Series 341-A; 140 and 152 in wheelbase V8 Fisher Fleetwood
*1929 —
Cadillac Series 341-B; 140 and 152 in wheelbase V8 Fisher Fleetwood
=1930s
=
*1930 Cadillac Series 353, 370 and 452 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 353 — 140 and 152 in wheelbase V8 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 370 — 140 143 and 152 in wheelbase
V12 V12 or V-12 may refer to:
Aircraft
* Mil V-12, a Soviet heavy lift helicopter
* Pilatus OV-12, a planned American military utility aircraft
* Rockwell XFV-12, an American experimental aircraft project
* Škoda-Kauba V12, a Czechoslovak experim ...
Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 452 — 148 in wheelbase
V16 Fisher Fleetwood
*1931 Cadillac Series 355, 370-A and 452-A Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 355 — 134 and 152 in wheelbase V8 Fleetwood
**
Series 370-A — 140 143 and 152 in wheelbase V12 Fleetwood
**
Series 452-A — 148 in wheelbase V16 Fisher Fleetwood
*1932 Cadillac Series 355-B, 370-B and 452-B Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 355-B — 134 and 156 in wheelbase V8 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 370-B — 140 and 156 in wheelbase V12 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 452-B — 143 and 149 in wheelbase V16 Fisher Fleetwood
*1933 Cadillac Series 355-C, 370-C and 452-C Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 355-C — 140 and 156 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 370-C — 134 140 and 156 in wheelbase V12
**
Series 452-C — 143 and 149 in wheelbase V16
*1934 Cadillac Series 10, 20, 30 and 452-D Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 10
Series may refer to:
People with the name
* Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series
* George Series (1920–1995), English physicist
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Series, the ordered sets used i ...
— 128 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 20
Series may refer to:
People with the name
* Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series
* George Series (1920–1995), English physicist
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Series, the ordered Set (music), ...
— 136 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 30
The Series 30, often shortened as S30, is a software platform and application user interface created by Nokia for its entry level mobile phones, lower than Series 40. S30 phones are not capable of running Java apps. In 2014, Microsoft acquired ...
— 146 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 355-D
**
Series 370-D — 146 in wheelbase V12
**
Series 452-D — 154 in wheelbase V16
*1935 Cadillac Series 10, 20, 30 and 452-D Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 10
Series may refer to:
People with the name
* Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series
* George Series (1920–1995), English physicist
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Series, the ordered sets used i ...
— 128 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 20
Series may refer to:
People with the name
* Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series
* George Series (1920–1995), English physicist
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Series, the ordered Set (music), ...
— 136 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 30
The Series 30, often shortened as S30, is a software platform and application user interface created by Nokia for its entry level mobile phones, lower than Series 40. S30 phones are not capable of running Java apps. In 2014, Microsoft acquired ...
— 146 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 370-D — 146 and 160 in wheelbase V12
**
Series 452-D or 60 — 154 in wheelbase V16
*1936 Cadillac Series 36–60, 36–70, 36–75, 36–80, 36–85, 36-90 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 36-60 — 121 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 36-70 — 131 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 36-75 — 138 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 36-80 — 131 and 160 in wheelbase V12
**
Series 36-85 — 138 in wheelbase V12
**
Series 36-90 — 154 in wheelbase V16
*1937 Cadillac Series 36–60, 37–65, 37–70, 37–75, 37–85, 37-90 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 37-60 — 124 and 160.75 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 37-65 — 131 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 37-70 — 131 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 37-75 — 138 and 156 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 37-85 — 138 in wheelbase V12
**
Series 37-90 — 154 in wheelbase V16
*1938 Cadillac Series 38–60, 38-60S, 38–65, 38–75, 38-90 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 38-60 — 124 and 160 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 38-60S — 127 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 38-65 — 132 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 38-75 — 141 and 160 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 38-90 — 141 in wheelbase V16
*1939 Cadillac Series 39-60S, 39–65, 39–75, 39-90 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 39-60S — 127 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 39-61 — 126 and 162_ in wheelbase V8
**
Series 39-75 — 141 and 161_ in wheelbase V8
**
Series 39-90 — 141 in wheelbase V16
=1940s
=
*1940 Cadillac Series 40-60S, 40–62, 40–72, 40–75, 40-90 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 40-60S — 127 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 40-62 — 129 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 40-72 — 138 and 165_ in wheelbase V8
**
Series 40-75 — 141 and 161_ in wheelbase V8
**
Series 40-90 — 141 in wheelbase V16
*1941 Cadillac Series 41-60S, 41–61, 41–62, 41–63, 41–67, 41-75 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 41-60S — 126 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 41-61 — 126 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 41-62 — 126 and 163 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 41-63 — 126 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 41-67 — 139 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 41-75 — 136 and 163 in wheelbase V8
*1942 Cadillac Series 42-60S, 42–61, 42–62, 42–63, 42–67, 42-75 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 42-60S Fleetwood — 133 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 42-61 — 126 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 42-62 — 129 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 42-63 — 126 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 42-67 — 139 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 42-75 — 136 and 163 in wheelbase V8
*1946 Cadillac Series 60S, 61, 62, 75 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 60S Fleetwood — 133 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 61 — 126 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 62 — 129 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 75 — 136 in wheelbase V8
*1947 Cadillac Series 60S, 61, 62, 75 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 60S Fleetwood — 133 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 61 — 126 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 62 — 129 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 75 — 138 in wheelbase V8
*1948-1949 Cadillac Series 60S, 61, 62, 75 Fisher Fleetwood
**
Series 60S Fleetwood — 133 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 61 — 126 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 62 — 126 in wheelbase V8
**
Series 75 — 136 in wheelbase V8
Modern Era
*
Cadillac Seville
The Seville was manufactured by Cadillac from 1975 to 2004 as a smaller-sized, premium model. It was replaced by the STS in 2004.
Origin of the name
The name of "Cadillac's first small car" was selected over a revival of LaSalle or the GM des ...
*
Cadillac Calais
The Cadillac Calais was the entry-level Cadillac model that was sold from 1965 to 1976. Cadillac renamed its low-priced Series 62 in 1965 as the "Calais", after the French port city of Calais that overlooks the narrowest point in the English Cha ...
*
Cadillac DeVille
The Cadillac DeVille is the nameplate used by Cadillac over eight generations, originally used to designate a trim level of the 1949 Cadillac Series 62 and later to designate a standalone model in the brand range. The last model marketed specif ...
*
Cadillac Eldorado
The Cadillac Eldorado is a luxury car manufactured and marketed by Cadillac from 1952 until 2002 over twelve generations.
The Eldorado was at or near the top of the Cadillac line. The original 1953 Eldorado convertible and the Eldorado Brougham ...
*
Cadillac Fleetwood
The Cadillac Fleetwood is a model of luxury car that was manufactured by the Cadillac division of General Motors between 1976 and 1996. The "Fleetwood" name was previously used as a prefix on several of Cadillac's models dating back to 1935. F ...
*
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
The Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was a luxury car manufactured by Cadillac from 1977 through 1986. In 1987, the Fleetwood Brougham name was shortened to simply Brougham, with production continuing through 1992 with only minor updates.
Cadillac u ...
See also
*
List of GM factories
This is a list of General Motors factories that are being or have been used to produce automobiles and automobile components.[List of Chrysler factories
List of Chrysler factories contains all the vehicles manufactured by Chrysler LLC (currently "Stellantis North America") and the brands of the group before it merged to Fiat S.p.A. to form FCA.
This list should only include vehicles under the Chr ...]
*
List of former automotive manufacturing plants
List of former automotive manufacturing plants. The table below lists former automotive industry manufacturing factories and facilities.
List of plants
See also
* List of automobile manufacturers
* Brownfield land
* Ford Piquette Avenue Plant ...
References
{{General Motors factories
General Motors factories
Chrysler factories
Economy of Detroit
Former motor vehicle assembly plants
Motor vehicle assembly plants in Michigan
1921 establishments in Michigan
1987 disestablishments in Michigan
Mill architecture