Expanding its range of single-engined aircraft in an attempt to satisfy what then appeared to be an insatiable market for this class of aeroplane, the company introduced the Cessna Model 177 at the end of September 1967. Generally similar in overall configuration to other members of the Cessna family of fourseaters, it was distinguished easily by a cantilever monoplane wing. Other 'advanced' features included weight-saving integral wing fuel tanks, an improved version of Cessna's Land-O-Matic fixed tricycle landing gear, and what was regarded as an 'easy handling' control system. The Model 177 was, at the time of introduction, the designation of the basic model: a de luxe version, named Cardinal, included full blind-flying instrumentation, more extensive equipment, and luxury interior appointments as standard.

Powerplant of the initial version was a 112kW Avco Lycoming O-320-E21D engine, but later versions had increased power and in late 1970 a third member of the family was added, the Cardinal RG, which introduced retractable landing gear actuated by an electrically powered hydraulic fuel injection engine.

In 1971 Cardinal II and Cardinal RG II versions appeared, these differing by having more comprehensive equipment as standard. In 1976 the Model 177 was withdrawn, the Cardinal becoming regarded as the basic model of the remaining four versions. Two years later the Cardinal also disappeared, the Cardinal II being renamed the Cardinal Classic, but at the end of 1978, at which time more than 4,000 of the Model 177 and Cardinal versions had been built, all Cardinal production was terminated.