Manufacturer General Motors | Model years 1926-1996 | |
 | ||
Assembly Detroit Assembly, Detroit, Michigan
Arlington Assembly, Arlington, Texas, USA Class Full-size car luxury car | ||
The D platform, or D-body was an automobile platform designation, used from at least 1936 until 1996, and exclusive to GM's most luxurious brands: Cadillac and Buick. It was closely related to the GM B platform and C platform. For the majority of its existence the D-Body represented the largest Cadillac (Fleetwood Series 75 or the Fleetwood Limousine).
Contents
1936-1984 Original D-Body
During most of the 20th century the D-Body represented GM's largest and most exclusive car platform. The D-body was used for the Cadillac Series 85 from 1936 through 1937, for the Cadillac Series 90 from 1936 through 1940, for the Buick Limited from 1936 through 1942, for the Cadillac Series 72 in 1940, for the Cadillac Series 67 from 1941 through 1942, for the Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 from 1936 through 1976, and for the Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine from 1977 through 1984.
1985-1996 former RWD C-Body
When most of GM's largest cars moved from the rear wheel drive GM C platform to the front wheel drive GM C platform in 1985, the D-body designation was reassigned to the rear wheel drive GM C platform which continued to be used by the 1985-1986 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, 1987-1992 Cadillac Brougham and 1993-1996 Cadillac Fleetwood. In turn the 1985-1987 Cadillac Series 75, which took the place of the Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine, was produced on the new front wheel drive GM C platform, and production of the old GM D platform came to an end.
Production
Early designation D-bodies (1936-1984), with the exception of the Buick Limited, which was produced in Flint, Michigan, were all produced at Detroit Assembly, Detroit, Michigan. Since all Fleetwood Broughams were being produced in Detroit prior to the name change, initially all late designation D-bodies (1985-1996) were built there as well. During the 1988 model year production of D-bodies was shifted to Arlington Assembly, Arlington, Texas where it remained until last D-bodied car was built in 1996.
Production ended in 1996, leaving GM without a rear wheel drive luxury sedan. Later Cadillac introduced smaller cars on the Sigma platform. The spiritual successor of the D-Body Fleetwood is the Sedan de Ville d'Elegance which was later replaced by the Sedan de Ville High Luxury.