Cadillac first began using the term "brougham" to represent their large, 4 door 5 or 7 passenger car back in 1916.

The term "Fleetwood" comes from a custom coach builder named Fleetwood that became associated with Cadillac in 1927 when styling became very important (Cadillac with the first car company to have a car completely designed by a stylist named Harley Earl in 1927 with the introduction of the La Salle).

Cadillac came out with a new line in 1936 called the Series 60 (previously they had Series 10, 20 30). In 1938, the Sixty Special Sedan was introduced.

After the war in 1946, Cadillac began using the term "Series 60 Special Fleetwood." Also, "Fleetwood" began to designate Cadillacs top of the line cars, the "Series 75 Fleetwood."

The new "pillar less" Coupe Deville was introduced in 1949. It was a 2 door convertible hardtop (I thought this was significant since Deville and Fleetwood were later so closely associated).

The new exclusive "Sedan DeVille" joined the Coupe Deville in 1954.

In 1958, Cadillac introduced the rare, top of the line Series 70 Fleetwood Eldorado Brougham with a hefty price tag of $13,074 (the average Cadillac cost around $5000!).

In 1965, Cadillac for the most part dropped the "Series" designation. They had the entry Calais, the Deville line, the newly dubbed Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham, Fleetwood Eldorado and the Fleetwood 75. The main distinction between the Deville and Fleetwood was the fact that the Devilles were "pillar less" (having no pillar between the front and rear windows) while the Fleetwood retained the pillar. The Deville also had small quarter window in the rear sail panel while the Fleetwood did not. Also, badging for the Fleetwoods contained the laurel wreath and crest while the Devilles usually had only the crest with the traditional "V" underneath it. The Fleetwoods were the ultimate in Cadillac luxury with more rear seat room than the Devilles (which came in a coupe and sedan form; the Fleetwood only came in 4 door form). Also, this was the last year the term "Fleetwood" was associated with "Eldorado."

In 1977 when Cadillac downsized, the term "Sixty Special" was no longer used in the now "Fleetwood Brougham." The Deville and the Fleetwood were now the same dimensions with the Fleetwood still being the top of the line. There were still minor cosmetic differences one of them being the Devilles now had pillars.

In 1981, Fleetwood introduced the "Fleetwood Brougham Coupe." The main difference between the Devilles and Fleetwoods was the use of the laurel wreath and crest for the Fleetwoods and the crest with the "V" for the Devilles. This continued through 1984.

In 1985 with the introduction of the "Cadillac of Tomorrow" (the new, smaller front-wheel drive transverse mounted engines), there were now the Devilles (Coupe and Sedan [which now finally wore the laurel wreath and crest along with the Fleetwoods]), the Fleetwood (Coupe & Sedan) and the Fleetwood Brougham (which was still rear wheel drive).

In 1986, "Fleetwood" became an option package for the Deville as well as a "Fleetwood d' Elegance" package.

In 1987, the Fleetwood Brougham became simply the "Brougham." Only the "Fleetwood d' Elegance" package was now offered. The "Fleetwood Sixty Special" returned (FWD) with a five inch wheelbase extension and additional features not available on the other line.

In 1993, the RWD Brougham was finally redesigned and now named the "Fleetwood." "Brougham" was also used as an upscale option for the Fleetwood. There was no longer a FWD version Fleetwood. There was the Deville (Coupe and Sedan [which incidentally would be the last year for the Coupe]) and now simply the "Sixty Special" sedan which were all FWD. The term "Sedan Deville" was still used until 1996 even though the "Coupe Deville" was dropped for 1994. It became simply the "Deville" in 1997.

Of course, 1996 saw the ultimate demise of the RWD Fleetwood Brougham as well as the use of it's proud name(s).

I'm sure somewhere in Cadillac's future, the names will undoubtedly appear somewhere.