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| GM D-body | |
|---|---|
 1973 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Model years | 1936–1996 |
| Assembly | Detroit Assembly,Detroit,Michigan, U.S. Arlington Assembly,Arlington, Texas, U.S. |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury car |
TheGM D platform (informally,D-body), was aGeneral Motorsautomobile platform designation, used in two series (1936–1984 and 1965–1996) for largebody-on-framerear-wheel drive automobiles. For the majority of its existence the D-Body represented the largestCadillac, either theFleetwood Series 75 or theFleetwood Limousine.
In 1985 GM downsized and redesignated its traditional large carrear wheel drive GM C platform as the new much smaller and lighterfront wheel drive GM C platform. It also shifted its traditional, D platform Fleetwood limousine to the new C platform, ending production of the historic D platform. In turn, it redesignated the former RWD C platform the new D platform, and maintained production of a few RWD holdovers on it.
The original D platform was closely related to GM's other two rear-wheel drive large car platforms: the mainstreamGM B and the upscale C platforms. But save for the limited production top-of-the-line 1936–1942Buick Limited, the original GM D-platform was exclusive to Cadillac, GM's most luxurious brand. As GM's largest, the "new" D platform designated in 1985 was reserved to Cadillac through the end of its production in 1996.
During most of the 20th century the D-Body represented GM's largest and most exclusive car platform. The D-body was used for theCadillac Series 85 from 1936 through 1937, for theCadillac Series 90 from 1936 through 1940, for theBuick Limited from 1936 through 1942, for theCadillac Series 72 in 1940, for theCadillac Series 67 from 1941 through 1942, for theCadillac Fleetwood Series 75 from 1936 through 1976, and for theCadillac Fleetwood Limousine from 1977 through 1984.
In 1985 GM reassigned the name of its traditional large carrear wheel drive GM C platform to its new much smaller and lighterfront wheel drive GM C platform. Most of its large cars made the downsizing shift with it. However, the former C platform continued in limited use, being redesignated the "D platform" and employed by the 1985–1986Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, its direct successor 1987–1992Cadillac Brougham, and 1993–1996Cadillac Fleetwood, which reverted from being front-wheel drive 1985–1992 to rear-wheel drive[1]
Compounding the confusion, theCadillac Series 70 Fleetwood limousine, which had been built on the venerable original GM D platform (that traced its origins to 1936), was replaced in 1985 by the dramatically downsized C-platformCadillac Series 75. This marked the end of the original D platform. Two years later the C platform Series 75 was discontinued, bringing to a close the Cadillac limousine era.
Early designation D-bodies (1936–1984), with the exception of theBuick Limited, which was produced inFlint, Michigan, were all produced atDetroit 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 toArlington Assembly,Arlington, Texas where it remained until the 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 theSigma 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.
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