Cadillac Models & History 1996
The Northstar, in either its 275 or 300 horsepower variation, now powered all front-wheel drive Cadillacs.
- The Arlington, Texas-produced Fleetwood (and optional Fleetwood Brougham package), the lone front-engine, rear-drive Cadillac, was in its final year of production.
- Introduced in early 1996 as a 1997 model was the all-new rear-drive Catera. This midsize luxury sedan was a joint venture between Cadillac and Opel, assembled in Germany, and powered by a 3.0-liter dual overhead cam V-6.
- All US 1996 Cadillacs received daytime running lamps (standard on Canadian Cadillacs since 1990) and a new remote keyless entry fob in dark gray with light gray buttons and white icons.
- The fob functions were: lock, unlock, trunk open and fuel door open. The fobs were identified on the back with a “one” or “two” indication, allowing two separate drivers to personalize seat position that adjusted to the driver when the key was placed in the ignition.
- Additionally, all front-drive Cadillacs featured an ignition key anti-lockout feature that protected the driver from accidental lockout by disabling the driver’s power door lock if the key was left in the ignition.
- Also, all front-drive Cadillacs received the new communication-based electronics architecture called Class 2, a new designation for an electrical communication protocol on 1996 vehicles that also provided common emissions diagnostic capability in connection with federally mandated On-Board Diagnostic II requirements.
V.I.N. DATA
The 1996 Cadillac had a 17-symbol vehicle identification number (VIN) stamped on a metal tag attached to the upper left surface of the cowl visible through the windshield. The code was as follows: | ||
POSITION | DIGIT | MEANING |
1 | 1 or 4 | manufacturing country (United States) |
2 | G | General Motors |
3 | 6 | Cadillac |
4 & 5 | car line series |
|
6 | the body style: |
|
7 | the restraint code |
|
8 | the engine |
|
9 | check digit | |
10 | model year | T = 1996 |
11 | the assembly plant | |
12-17 | the production sequence number |
HISTORICAL NOTES
1996 Cadillac Notes
- Cadillac’s model year production totaled 174,406 compared with 200,577 the year previous.
- Based on sales at 170,379 automobiles in 1996 (vs. 180,504 the year before),Cadillac’s share of the U.S. market was 2.0 percent compared with 2.1 the year previous.
- The 1996 sales figure listed included 1,676 early launch 1997 Catera sedans sold in the 1996 model year.
- John F. Smith replaced John O. Grettenberger as general manager of Cadillac.
- In September 1996, faulty computer chips forced the recall of 587,000 Cadillacs.
1996 Automotive Notes
- John F. Smith, Jr. was president of GM
- John F. Smith, Jr. was also chairman of the board at GM
- Top model year production for 1996
1996 Automotive Notes
- GM news:
- Ford news:
- Chrysler news:
- AMC news:
- Other makes news:
- Top American Automobile Corporations for 1996
1. General Motors……………………………………….?
2. Ford……………………………………………………….?
3. Chrysler………………………………………………….?
4. AMC……………………………………………………….?
5. Others…………………………………………………….?
- Top model year production for 1996
Ford…………………………………………………………………………….1,036,048
Pontiac…………………………………………………………………………541,844
Chevrolet………………………………………………………………………537,711
Lincoln/Mercury……………………………………………………………389,711
Buick…………………………………………………………………………….342,538
Saturn……………………………………………………………………………313,937
Oldsmobile…………………………………………………………………….300,032
Dodge……………………………………………………………………………280,416
Cadillac…………………………………………………………………………162,249
Plymouth……………………………………………………………………….185,705
Chrysler…………………………………………………………………………….52,071
Acura……………………………………………………………………………..105,443