What happened to the ducks in the Cadillac logo and why they disappeared
Published on Jul 20, 2025 at 8:02 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jul 16, 2025 at 2:52 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
What happened to the famous ducks in the Cadillac logo, and why did they disappear from the iconic emblem?
Cadillac is one of the most famous automotive manufacturers in the world, with its rich history stretching all the way back to 1902.
The company was founded by Henry Leland after he was brought in by Henry Ford to evaluate a failing factory and a fight with investors.
The famous ducks appeared in early iterations of the logo, but by the year 2000, they were gone. The question is, though, why were they dropped?
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When did the ducks first appear on the Cadillac logo?
The ducks themselves were actually merlette swans and formed part of the original logo for the company.
They were a knightly symbol, dating back to the Crusades, and were from the family crest of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac.
That same Cadillac is credited with founding Detroit in 1701, which would soon grow into Motor City.
Each duck has no feet or beak, and they continuously fly to reach their ‘ultimate goal.’
Three appeared on each half of the logo, representing the Holy Trinity, a mark of an ancestor’s involvement in the crusades.
There was clearly a lot of history within the birds.
Yet despite this, the company removed them from its cars in 2000.
Why Cadillac took the ducks from its logo
In 2000, to signal the new millennium, Cadillac wanted to slightly update its appearance.
The ducks, in the eyes of higher-ups, symbolized the past and were outdated.
It does seem a shame that they were removed, as they had become part of the company’s identity.
They did make a brief comeback in 2021, appearing on the side of the instrument panels of the then all-new Lyriq.
Up to 2000, Cadillac had only revised the logo, and it hadn’t changed much over the years.
In fact, in 2025, the logo feels remarkably similar to what we have had since 1902, just without the majestic birds.
Perhaps one day, Cadillac will choose to bring them back.
For now, we can only look back fondly on the three birds that formed part of the brand’s original identity.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
