Cadillac Wheels, founded by Frank Nasworthy in 1972, holds a significant place in skateboarding history. Nasworthy’s vision led to a resurgence of skateboarding in the 1970s, thanks to a groundbreaking innovation: urethane skateboard wheels.

In the early days of skateboarding, skateboards had clay wheels. These wheels were noisy, rough, and didn’t provide a smooth ride, meaning the slightest stone, could cause the nastiest road rash!

Frank Nasworthy, a teenager from Norfolk, Virginia, was caught up in the 1960s skateboard craze but remained a committed surfer.

In 1970, he stumbled upon a backyard shop called Creative Urethanes in Washington, DC. They produced urethane wheels for roller skates.

Frank realized that these urethane wheels could revolutionize skateboarding by replacing the terrible clay wheels, so he took home 30 sets of urethane wheels from Creative Urethanes. When he replaced his clay wheels with urethane ones, the ride became smooth, stable, and quiet. These early urethane wheels didn’t have precision bearings like today’s skateboard wheels; they used loose ball bearings. People who tried these urethane-wheeled boards were amazed by the difference, which would now be considered a game changer for skateboarders.

Inspired by the smooth ride of Cadillac cars, Nasworthy founded Cadillac Wheels in 1972.

Cadillac Wheels became the world’s first urethane skateboard wheel company, and their skate wheels set the standard for all skateboard companies, revolutionizing riding on concrete and asphalt. The first shipment of Cadillac Wheels arrived in April 1973, embossed with the iconic words “Cadillac Wheels.”

Cadillac Wheels played a pivotal role in shaping skateboarding culture. Nasworthy’s invention transformed skateboarding, making it more accessible and enjoyable.

Even today, Cadillac Wheels remains a respected name in skateboarding, known for quality and innovation.

Cadillac Wheels Skateboard Videos

Bruce Logan and Frank Nasworthy Skateboarding, 1976 Skate Video

"part of a school film about progress and inventions, Here they talk about the new Urethane skateboard wheel. Do you recognize the narrator? I also don't know why the camera man has the skateboard cut out of the image when showing Bruce skating"

Cadillac Wheels Skateboard Concourse and Indian Harbor Beach Skateboarding Footage

"Film footage of Frank Nasworthy's Cadillac Wheels Skateboard Park in Lighthouse Point, Florida and Indian Harbor Beach Skate Park 1978. Skaters, I can I.D. Guy Hoffman, Mark Lake, and myself could use help with the others. The Monster Hole! 13 feet deep, with 9 feet of trans and 4 feet of vert! You get to see the one of the beginning attempts at the Hip to Canyon Airs at CWSC and the beginnings of the Lake Flip at IHB. Film footage provided by Guy Hoffman."

"My husband was showing our boys the old Cadillac Wheels Skateboard Park and realized he was in the video. ( Bryon B) The small guy with the orange helmet. He skated the park every weekend. He and his brother, Todd were on the skate team, and traveled to contests in Florida. Thanks for this great memory."

"I remember that skate park I lived in pompano beach, Florida. I use to ride my skateboard there. I think it was 1979. the park was closed down so we use to jump the fence and skate all day, that was a killer pool and back then their was just a handful of us there, dam that brings back some great memories. Thanks."

"I remember that park so well.  I remember when it closed, when the pro shop burned down (arson, IIRC), I remember that people would sneak in and ride anyway.   And eventually the city dug trenches through it but that simply encouraged you to Ollie over the damaged areas.   Finally it was bulldozed and the land was left as it was for many, many years, nothing left but piles of dirt.   And in the last couple of months,  the property has finally been redeveloped,  to tennis courts.     And I would KILL to get my hands on another Flite Airborne Mark Lake model deck!    Guy Hoffman lived right around the corner from me."