Landyacht
Encyclopedia
Landyacht is colloquial term in the United States
and parts of Canada
, used to describe the large sedans that American automobile
manufacturers produced, particularly full-size, rear-wheel drive sedans, from the 1950s through the 1990s. Features commonly found in vehicles that are referred to as landyachts include not only very generous exterior proportions, but also somewhat vague steering and a "spongy" ride with a feeling that is often described as being "floaty." Today, the term is applied to large, traditional American sedans, regardless of the actual characteristics featured in the vehicle, and to recreational vehicles.
s that ride on land, evoking the relative size, maneuverability, and luxury of the water vessel.
The term is most commonly applied to the large American cars of the pre oil crisis
era. American automobile manufacturers placed much of their emphaisis in the engineering of their vehicles on size and amenities during this time, as consumers were not concerned with fuel efficiency due to low gas prices, a lack of environmental awareness, and rising prosperity among the middle class
. Cars of this era remain known for size, large and powerful V8 engines coupled with 3 or 4 speed automatic transmissions, excessive fuel consumption
, and emphasis on ride comfort at the expense of handling.
Design, as much as size, distinguished the landyacht sedans. While European and later Japanese car manufacturers often produced cars just as large and expensive, American marques distinguished themselves with eye-catching and innovative - though sometimes kitschy and absurd - design and marketing. Cars from Cadillac, Lincoln, Buick, and other American brands featured elaborate, often overdone, styling, in contrast to the more understated styling of German and British cars. In addition to simply being a large car, landyachts often included the following:
. Arguably, Cadillac's discontinuation of the Fleetwood
sedan in 1996 marked the demise of the last "true" landyacht.
Despite the comeback of full-size
rear wheel drive sedans in the US, such as the Chrysler 300
, modern cars are usually now only referred to as Landyachts in a derogatory sense and performance oriented cars such as the 300 share few distinguishing characteristics with the sedans from the 1950s, 60s and 70s for which the term was originally coined.
The term is, however, applied to modern cars as well. Most commonly it is applied to vehicles using the General Motors B platform
, which was cancelled in 1996, as well as the Cadillac Deville
and its successor the Cadillac DTS
(despite its front wheel drive layout), even though these cars would have been considered mid-sized before the oil crisis.
Interestingly enough, the term is not applied to even the largest and most opulent non-domestic vehicles. Though German sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S Class and the Japanese Lexus LS 430 rival their American counterparts in terms of size and opulence, they are distinguished by more sophisticated construction, much higher cost (Land Yachts usually compete in price with the entry level cars from foreign luxury marques) and a greater focus on handling, build quality and materials. However, some Korean luxury cars such as the Hyundai XG 350 (also appropriately called Grandeur
and Azera) and the Kia Amanti do share many attributes with true Land Yachts, such as focus on comfort and ride quality above handling, and some styling characteristics.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and parts of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, used to describe the large sedans that American automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufacturers produced, particularly full-size, rear-wheel drive sedans, from the 1950s through the 1990s. Features commonly found in vehicles that are referred to as landyachts include not only very generous exterior proportions, but also somewhat vague steering and a "spongy" ride with a feeling that is often described as being "floaty." Today, the term is applied to large, traditional American sedans, regardless of the actual characteristics featured in the vehicle, and to recreational vehicles.
Origins
The term essentially describes large cars and RVs as yachtYacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s that ride on land, evoking the relative size, maneuverability, and luxury of the water vessel.
The term is most commonly applied to the large American cars of the pre oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
era. American automobile manufacturers placed much of their emphaisis in the engineering of their vehicles on size and amenities during this time, as consumers were not concerned with fuel efficiency due to low gas prices, a lack of environmental awareness, and rising prosperity among the middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
. Cars of this era remain known for size, large and powerful V8 engines coupled with 3 or 4 speed automatic transmissions, excessive fuel consumption
Fuel economy in automobiles
Fuel usage in automobiles refers to the fuel efficiency relationship between distance traveled by an automobile and the amount of fuel consumed....
, and emphasis on ride comfort at the expense of handling.
Design, as much as size, distinguished the landyacht sedans. While European and later Japanese car manufacturers often produced cars just as large and expensive, American marques distinguished themselves with eye-catching and innovative - though sometimes kitschy and absurd - design and marketing. Cars from Cadillac, Lincoln, Buick, and other American brands featured elaborate, often overdone, styling, in contrast to the more understated styling of German and British cars. In addition to simply being a large car, landyachts often included the following:
- vinyl roofVinyl roofVinyl roof refers to a vinyl covering for an automobile's top. This covering was originally designed to give the appearance of a convertible to models with a fixed roof, but eventually it evolved into a styling statement in its own right. Vinyl roofs were most popular in the American market, and...
s (sometimes called carriage tops or Brougham tops) - opera windowOpera windowOpera Windows are small porthole sized side windows in the C-pillar of some cars. Typically offered in unison with a vinyl roof, they were a very common design feature of American automobiles during the 1970s. The design was new at the time, "... and would prove to be very popular, indicated by its...
s - Heavy chromeChrome platingChrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
brightwork, especially on the fenderFender (vehicle)Fender is the US English term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well . Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire. Fenders are typically rigid and can be...
s and grilleGrilleA grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive... - Heavily cushioned, very roomy interior, usually upholstered in leatherLeatherLeather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
, vinylVinylA vinyl compound is any organic compound that contains a vinyl group ,which are derivatives of ethene, CH2=CH2, with one hydrogen atom replaced with some other group...
, velourVelourVelour or velours is a plush, knitted fabric or textile. It is usually made from cotton but can also be made from synthetic materials such as polyester. Velour is used in a wide variety of applications, including clothing and upholstery....
, or cloth - whitewall tireWhitewall tireWhitewall tires or white sidewall tires are tires having a stripe or entire sidewall of white rubber.-Background:Early automobile tires were made entirely of natural white rubber. However, the white rubber did not offer sufficient traction and endurance, so carbon black was added to the rubber...
s (especially in the 1950s and 1960s) - Simulated wood panelling on station wagons.
Modern use
After the oil crises of the 1970s and 1980s, American automakers never fully recovered from the decline in popularity of full-size sedans and coupes. Japanese automakers had successfully penetrated the market by catering to an American auto market that had become more interested in fuel economy and reliability than aesthetics and glamor. By the 1990s, American car-makers had learned to compete, producing smaller, more efficient - albeit visually uninspiring - mid-size cars like the Ford TaurusFord Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
. Arguably, Cadillac's discontinuation of the Fleetwood
Cadillac Fleetwood
Lawrence P. Fisher was the Fisher brother most closely involved with Cadillac in its early years. In 1916 he joined the Fisher Body Company which had been formed by two of his brothers in 1908. Larry was one of four of the seven Fisher brothers who brought Fisher Body Corporation under the General...
sedan in 1996 marked the demise of the last "true" landyacht.
Despite the comeback of full-size
Full-size car
A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. In the United States, the EPA uses "large car" to denote full-size cars....
rear wheel drive sedans in the US, such as the Chrysler 300
Chrysler 300
The Chrysler 300 is a full-size upscale car first shown at the 2003 New York Auto Show as a concept car. Sales in the U.S. began in the spring of 2004 as an early 2005 model year car. Designed by Ralph Gilles, the new 300 was built as a high-end sedan while the SRT-8 model was designed to be the...
, modern cars are usually now only referred to as Landyachts in a derogatory sense and performance oriented cars such as the 300 share few distinguishing characteristics with the sedans from the 1950s, 60s and 70s for which the term was originally coined.
The term is, however, applied to modern cars as well. Most commonly it is applied to vehicles using the General Motors B platform
GM B platform
The B platform, or B-body, was General Motors' full-size rear-wheel drive automobile platform. It was closely related to the C-body and D-body and was used for coupés, sedans, and station wagons....
, which was cancelled in 1996, as well as the Cadillac Deville
Cadillac DeVille
The de Ville was originally a trim level and later a model of General Motors' Cadillac marque. The first car to bear the name was the 1949 Coupe de Ville, a prestige trim level of the Series 62 luxury coupe. The last model to be formally known as a de Ville was the 2005 Cadillac Deville, a...
and its successor the Cadillac DTS
Cadillac DTS
The Cadillac DTS is a full-size luxury sedan produced by General Motors, an American automobile company. The DTS replaced the Cadillac DeVille as General Motors' largest luxury car for the 2006 model year...
(despite its front wheel drive layout), even though these cars would have been considered mid-sized before the oil crisis.
Interestingly enough, the term is not applied to even the largest and most opulent non-domestic vehicles. Though German sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S Class and the Japanese Lexus LS 430 rival their American counterparts in terms of size and opulence, they are distinguished by more sophisticated construction, much higher cost (Land Yachts usually compete in price with the entry level cars from foreign luxury marques) and a greater focus on handling, build quality and materials. However, some Korean luxury cars such as the Hyundai XG 350 (also appropriately called Grandeur
Hyundai Grandeur
The New Grandeur and the third generation of the Mitsubishi Debonair were the products of a joint development between Hyundai and Mitsubishi Motors. Mitsubishi was responsible for the powertrain, and Hyundai was responsible for the body and trim design...
and Azera) and the Kia Amanti do share many attributes with true Land Yachts, such as focus on comfort and ride quality above handling, and some styling characteristics.
See also
- Definition and list of full-size carsFull-size carA full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. In the United States, the EPA uses "large car" to denote full-size cars....
- List of largest passenger vehicles in the United States
- Passenger vehicles in the United StatesPassenger vehicles in the United StatesNote: this article adopts the U.S. Department of Transportation's definition of a passenger vehicle, to mean a car or truck, used for passengers, excluding buses and trains....
- List of car manufacturers