Named after a French explorer who founded Detroit, Cadillac started as the remnants of Henry Ford's failed first car company in 1902. Engineer Henry M Leland was called in to liquidate the assets of the Ford business and decided instead to restart manufacture using Leland's own engine. The marque was named 'Cadillac' after an aristocratic ancestor of Leland and the badge was based on a coat of arms from Quebec. Cadillac achieved many firsts, including the first series production V8-powered car, the Model 51, from 1915.