The Cadillac

Cadillac

Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...

 Type 53 was the first car to use the same control layout as modern automobiles- with the gear lever and hand brake in the middle of the front two seats, a key started ignition, and three pedals for the clutch, brake and throttle in the modern order. This Cadillac was driven by a 77 horse power V8 engine. The Type 53 remained in production for one year only, in 1916.

When this car debuted in 1916 it succeeded the Cadillac Type 51

Cadillac Type 51

The Cadillac Type 51 was a large, luxurious automobile introduced in September 1914 as a 1915 model. It was Cadillac's first V8 automobile, replacing the four-cylinder Model 30...

. The following year the Cadillac Type 55 replaced the Type 53.

Although this car did not gain great popularity, it created the modern layout of an automobile that is still used today. This layout became popular with the Austin 7

Austin 7

The Austin 7 was a car produced from 1922 through to 1939 in the United Kingdom by the Austin Motor Company. Nicknamed the "Baby Austin", it was one of the most popular cars ever produced for the British market, and sold well abroad...

, which copied the control layout from the Cadillac Type 53.

Recent

This vehicle was showcased during the eighth episode of the 10th series of Top Gear

Top Gear (current format)

Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...

, a BBC Two

BBC Two

BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...

show about cars.