Land yacht (automobile)

A land yacht is an informal term used to describe large automobiles.[1][2][3] While full-size cars are manufactured worldwide, the term is most often applied to American-market vehicles manufactured between 1960 and 1976.[4] While shorter and lighter than the largest full-size vans and SUVs, land yachts are among the largest mass-produced vehicles ever manufactured.

Used generally in reference to cars over 215 inches in length[4], "land yacht" is a term that is essentially exclusive to cars (excluding limousines). In addition to four-door sedans (with a B-pillar or a pillarless hardtop), land yachts were produced as two-door notchback sedans, convertibles, and station wagons.[5][6] Following the late 1970s era of downsizing, "land yacht" gradually took on a negative connotation, as buyers began to value fuel economy, handling, and modern styling over comfort and glamour alone.

While generally associated with American-brand vehicles of the 1960s and 1970s, "land yacht" is a term applicable to more recently produced vehicles, along with several cars from European manufacturers.

American cars

Interior comparison of 1970s "Land yacht" with 2010s luxury car (mid-range Cadillac)
1973 Sedan DeVille
2014 CTS

In the American automobile market, as compact and intermediate (today, mid-size)-size segments came into wider use, full-size cars saw a shift towards the use of increased luxury features and content. Sharing many features of personal luxury cars, full-size sedans offered a greater degree of interior room. Common features of American land yachts included very large exterior proportions, somewhat vague steering, large V8 engines and a soft ride.[7] They were designed "for the open road where living room comfortable seats made the front seat seem like a plush couch with a windshield and steering wheel in front of it."[7]

While the term "land yacht" partially refers to the high level of features and comfort, it is also partially a derogatory reference to the poor handling of many full-size sedans in comparison to smaller vehicles. While "land yachts" were produced by AMC, Chrysler, Ford, and GM, the term is most closely associated with Buick, Cadillac, Lincoln, and Imperial.[8] During the 1970s, many examples were denoted by a "Brougham" trim level.

The largest example of land yachts is the 1974-1976 Cadillac Fleetwood 75, reaching 252.2 inches in length (on a 151.5-inch wheelbase), with a curb weight of over 5,500 pounds.[9][10] As of the 2019 model year, it remains the largest vehicle ever produced by an American-market manufacturer (excluding limousines).

Following the 1977-1985 period of downsizing and transition to front-wheel drive, land yachts fell out of favor. Along with a smaller exterior footprint, manufacturers and buyers sought vehicles with increased fuel economy and better handling. The 1991 redesign of the full-size General Motors line was poorly received by critics and buyers, as the Chevrolet Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, and Cadillac Fleetwood retained design elements including skirted rear fenders and padded vinyl tops. In contrast, the popular 1970s design elements were explictly removed from the redesign of the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car, with Ford abandoning full-size station wagons in favor of minivans.

After struggling to compete with the less controversial Ford redesign, General Motors phased out its full-size model lines altogether after the 1996 model year.[11] While less commonly referred to as land yachts, the Ford full-size vehicles remained in production through the 2011 model year.

German cars

1969 Mercedes-Benz 600,
loaded weight: 3,048 kg (6,720 lb)

Cars built outside America are not generally referred to as land yachts, however several models from Mercedes Benz are of similar size and weight. The 1963-1981 Mercedes-Benz 600 has a length of up to 246 in (6.25 m).

In more recent times, the 2017-present Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman has a total length of 260 in (6.60 m),[12] which is almost 4 in (10 cm) longer than the 1974-1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five.

Other uses of term

Airstream three-axle travel trailer

Airstream, a manufacturer of RV trailers, used Land Yacht as the name of its flagship model line.[13][14][15][16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Burkhart, Bryan; Hunt, David (2000). Airstream: The History of the Land Yacht. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780811824712.
  2. ↑ "Definition of Land Yacht". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  3. ↑ Dirven, René (2003). Metaphor and metonymy in comparison and contrast. Mouton de Gruyter. p. 504. ISBN 9783110173741. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  4. 1 2 Quinteros, Luis (10 October 2010). "Ten Great Land Yachts". Jalopnik. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Stone, Matt (19 August 2013). "American Dreamboats". Hagerty Classic Cars. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  6. ↑ French, Laura (25 April 2008). "The Station Wagon: Though mostly gone, these noble land yachts had rich history". StarTribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  7. 1 2 Sutherland, Jim (4 February 2012). "Why Every Car Guy Needs To Pilot A Giant Old School Land Yacht Barge". thetruthaboutcars.com. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  8. ↑ Kunz, Bruce (25 August 2014). "The Imperial Crown was Chrysler's top-of-the-line land yacht". www.stltoday.com. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  9. ↑ Flammang, James (1999). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976–1999 (Third ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0873417556.
  10. ↑ Niedermeyer, Paul (10 February 2013). "Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Curbside Classic: 1973 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 – The Longest Production Car Ever And The Red Giant Of Broughams". Curbside Classic. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  11. ↑ Krebs, Michelle (19 May 1996). "Buick Roadmaster; A Land Yacht Sails Into the Sunset". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  12. ↑ Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman (UK brochure MBX222PL/0517). Mercedes-Benz Cars UK Limited, Tongwell, Milton Keynes, MK15 8BA. Brochure date May 2017.
  13. ↑ Burkhart, Bryan; Hunt, David (2000). Airstream: The History of the Land Yacht. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780811824712.
  14. ↑ Bleier, Evan. "Airstream's Last Land Yachts Are Sailing Away Into the Sunset". InsideHook.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  15. ↑ Cox, Tara (2013). Airstream: The Silver RV. Shire Publications. ISBN 9780747814054. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "Land Yacht". Airstream. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
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