Cadillac History 1978

1978 Cadillac Notes

• Introduced: September 29, 1977.
• Edward C. Kennard was general manager
• Robert J. Templin was chief engineer
• Wayne Kady was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
• F. T. Hopkins was general sales manager until March
• L. B. Pryor became general sales manager in March
• Model year production (U.S.): 349,684 for a 3.9 percent share of the industry total and the second highest Cadillac total ever.
• Calendar year production (U.S.): 350,761.
• Calendar year sales by U.S. dealers: 350,813 for a 3.8 percent market share.
• Model year sales by U.S. dealers: 347,221.
• Record sales greeted Cadillac for the third year in a row.
• The model year total beat 1977’s mark by 6 percent.
• The new Seville diesel (engine built by Oldsmobile) sold only about 2,800 copies, barely half the early prediction.
• But it was introduced late in the model year.
• Sevilles in general hit a new production high.
• Eldorado did well also, as buyers snapped up the last of the vast Eldos before the 1979 downsizing.
• A three-month shutdown of the Linden, New Jersey plant, to tool up for the new E-body 1979 Eldorado, Toronado and Riviera models, contributed to a loss in calendar year production of DeVilles this year.
• Cadillac asserted that the company “consistently leads all U.S. luxury car makes in repeat ownership. Once you own a Cadillac,” they suggested, “it is difficult to accept anything less.”
• Cadillac production figures

1978 Automotive Notes

• The “Big Four” produce nearly nine million cars
• Sub-compacts account for 10% of domestic sales while compacts are nearly 28%
• Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard becomes effective
• A gas-guzzler tax is enacted
• Firestone recalls 7.5 million 500-series steel-belted radial tires
• Automotive news magazine estimates that federal requirements have added $519.65 to the price of a car between 1968 and 1978
• GM news:
  • Thomas A. Murphy was chairman of the board at GM
  • Elliott M. Estes was president of GM
  • Impala/Caprice is year’s best seller
  • Chevette is best-selling US sub-compact
  • Chevrolet outsells Ford by over 450,000, followed by Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Buick
  • GM’s mid-size cars are downsized, but the new “Aeroback” (fastback) models don’t sell well
  • GM drops the Vega and Astre
  • Cadillac introduces “Tripmaster,” a travel computer to register elapsed time, fuel mileage, etc.
  • Buick introduces the LeSabre Sport Coupe with a 150/165-bhp turbocharged V-6
  • Buick’s mid-size cars include a down-sized Century and Regal, but the Regal outsells the Century
  • Corvette has a new fastback roofline with a huge rear window; 6200 Indy 500 Pace Car Replicas and 2500 Silver Anniversary editions are produced
  • Last year for the 4-4-2 nameplate until 1980s revival
  • Full-size Oldsmobile gets a diesel V-8 or Buick’s 231-cid (3.8) V-6 options
  • Pontiac adds a fastback and wagon version of the Sunbird
  • LeMans is downsized to a 108-inch wheelbase
  • Pontiac Ventura is replaced by the Phoenix
• Ford news:
  • New compact Fairmont and Zephyr are built on the “Fox” platform which will become the basis for many future Fords
  • Ford drops the Maverick and Comet
  • Henry Ford II fires Lee Iacocca from presidency
  • 1971-76 Pintos are recalled because of propensity to catch fire in rear-end collisions
  • Final year for the big LTD
  • Mustang II “King Cobra” gets a 302-cid (5.0 litre) V-8 option
  • On its 75th anniversary, Ford issues a Diamond Jubilee Thunderbird
• Chrysler news:
  • In 7th and 8th place, Plymouth and Dodge drop behind Mercury in sales
  • Chrysler introduces first domestic built front-drive subcompacts: Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon with 1.7-litre VW engines
  • Dodge drops the Royal Monaco, Plymouth drops the Gran Fury
  • Last year for the Dodge Monaco and Plymouth Fury
  • Chrysler hires Lee Iacocca
  • Last year for the 440-cid (7.2 litre) V-8, the 400 (6.6 litre) V-8 is standard except in LeBaron
  • LeBaron engine choices are the Slant Six, 318-cid (5.2 litre) V-8, or 360-cid (5.9 litre) V-8
  • Magnum XE joins Dodge’s Charger SE. 400-cid (6.6 litre) V-8 is top engine option
• AMC news:
  • AMC drops the Hornet name, but facelifts the model calling it Concord
  • Last year for the Gremlin
  • Last year for the Matador
• Other makes news:
  • Volkswagen of America produces front-drive Rabbit in Pennsylvania
• Top American Automobile Corporations for 1978

• Top model year production for 1978