The Cadillac Brougham was a full-size luxury car made from 1987 to 1992 model years.
Cadillac Brougham Design and Introduction
The Cadillac Brougham, featuring a 5.0L to 5.7L V-8 engine and most years coming with a luxurious vinyl-wrapped roof, this vehicle was meant to show success while providing comfort and size. The Brougham name came from Henry Brougham, a British statesman. Originally, the term was used to describe a close compartment horse-drawn carriage with a driver up front. Eventually, with the introduction of combustion engine vehicles, Cadillac began repurposing the name to its models, going as far back as the pre-World War II era. Large luxury sedans are synonymous with the Cadillac name and the Brougham is one of the most iconic Cadillacs to fit that genre. For many people, when the name Cadillac is uttered, the Brougham’s styling is what pops into mind. The Brougham brought a taste of class to the table, without going as far as the chauffeur-driven town car. It was a way for General Motors to showcase their technological and futuristic abilities yet leave the attitude behind. Sales figures started off strong for the Brougham, with over 65,000 units of the 1987 model sold. That figured steadily declined over the years, dropping about 10,000 units per year until the discontinuation in 1992. A total of 233,631 Cadillac Broughams rolled off the assembly line.
Engine and Transmission
A D-body chassis served as the foundation for the Cadillac Brougham 4-door sedan. The most common engine is the 5.0L LV2 V-8 engine with 140 horsepower, used in the 1987 to 1990 models. Rochester Quadrajet electronic four-barrel carburetor was used on these engines. This base-model engine was upgraded to the fuel-injected 5.0L Chevrolet FI V-8 for the 1991 and 1992 model years, which not only improved performance to 170 horsepower, it also had increased reliability. In 1990, a 5.7L V-8 option became available, with increased horsepower of up to 175 - 185, depending on the year. All engines were paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Premier Vinyl Roof Option
One of the reasons that the Cadillac Brougham is seen as an iconic Cadillac is the premier vinyl roof option, first available in 1988. At a high price of $1,095, this option wasn’t cheap, but added a lot to the style of the vehicle. If selected, the entire roof, B-pillar, and rear quarter window surround were covered in a luxurious-looking vinyl sheet. Due to its popularity, the 1990 model made this option standard.
Changes Throughout the Years
Besides the changes to engine and roof, the Cadillac Brougham saw a handful of other changes over its 6-year span. What started off as a re-used grille design from a 1981 Cadillac, changed to an all-new vertical-slat grille in 1989. As 1990 came, the Brougham received an exterior and interior modifications, including upgraded composite headlamps, tail lamps, bumper and lower-body moldings, and a new digital instrument cluster to bring modern technology with improved styling.
VIN Decoding
Vehicle identification numbers (VIN for short) often can tell a tale about the vehicle they’re inscribed on. For the Cadillac Brougham, the case is no different. The 11th digit of the VIN shows the production plant where it was assembled. It that digit shows 9, that was one of the earlier models made at the Detroit assembly plant. If that digit shows a R, then it was made after the Detroit plant closed and production was move to the Arlington, Texas plant. Various changes in production occurred when it moved from Detroit to Arlington, including the use of an electronic ideal load compensator in Detroit, changing to a vacuum-based one in Arlington. The choke system also changed from electric in Detroit to climactic in Arlington.