Electric starters were first installed by Cadillac on production models in 1912, with the same system being adopted by The Lanchester Motor Company later that year. These starters also worked as generators once the engine was running, a concept that is now being revived in hybrid vehicles.

The Debutante was exhibited at the Chicago Auto Show as a concept car in 1950 with leopard skin upholstery and a 24-karat gold instrument panel.

The 1959 Cadillac featured huge iconic tailfins and unique bullet-shaped tail lights.

It had memory power seats, automatic locks, and yes, even magnetic whiskey glasses.

Some vehicles still don't have an equivalent of the Autronic Eye. When oncoming lights tripped the photonic switch, a buzzing hive of vacuum tubes and capacitors in the amplifier known as the Autronic Brain took over and activated the low beams. The system automatically turned the high beams back on once the oncoming car passed.

Cadillac's 1948 models featured an all-new postwar body with styling advances including tailfins inspired by the Lockheed P-38 fighter plane.

In 1974, Cadillac became one of the first car manufacturers to offer driver and front passenger airbags ("Air Cushion Restraint System"), but the option was unpopular and was discontinued after the 1976 model year.

Cadillac's logo is based on a sort-of-faked coat of arms for Le Sieur Antoine De La Mothe Cadillac, the man who founded Detroit in 1701.

Cadillac was awarded the Dewar Trophy in 1908 after three engineers disassembled three cars for a group of judges and let the judges shuffle all the parts. Three days later, all three cars operated flawlessly and were driven 500 miles.

In 1915, Cadillac introduced a 90-degree flathead V8 engine with 70 horsepower at 2400 rpm and 180 pound force-feet of torque, allowing its cars to attain 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). This was faster than most roads could accommodate at the time.