Cadillac Calais |
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Wikipedia: Cadillac Calais
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History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Cadillac Calais page on 28 January 2018, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Calais was the entry-level Cadillac model that was sold from 1965 to 1976. Cadillac renamed its low-priced Series 62 "Calais" in 1965, after the French town and resort which overlooks the narrowest point in the English Channel. In Greek mythology, Calais was also one of two winged sons of Boreas, god of the North Wind, and Oreithyea. The Calais shared its styling with the better-equipped, more expensive De Ville.
1965–1970
In 1965 Calais tailfins were canted slightly downward, and sharp, distinct body lines were featured. The rear bumper was straight and the rear lamp clusters were vertical. The headlight pairs were vertical, permitting a wide grille. Side windows were curved and frameless. Perimeter frame construction allowed positioning of the engine forward in the frame, thus lowering the transmission hump and increasing interior room. The Calais was available as a 2- or 4-door hardtop as well as a "formal-roof" 4-door sedan, which was a hybrid with frameless, hardtop-like windows, but with a pillar between them. With the exception of having no convertible, the Calais mirrored the better-equipped, more expensive De Ville.
The primary differences between the Calais and the De Ville were trim levels and standard equipment. While the De Ville was delivered with such amenities as power windows and 2-way power seats as standard equipment, hand-cranked windows were standard on the Calais, with power a US$119 option. At the same time, however, AM radio was a US$165 extra, as was air conditioning, at US$495, on either. Standard equipment included power brakes; power steering; automatic transmission; dual back-up lights; windshield washers and dual speed wipers; full wheel discs; remote controlled outside rear view mirror; visor vanity mirror; oil filter; five tubeless black tires; heater; defroster; lamps for luggage, glove and rear passenger compartments; cornering lights and front and rear seat belts.
1971–1976
The new 1971 GM full-size bodies, at 64.3" front shoulder room (62.1" on Cadillac) and 63.4" rear shoulder room (64.0" on Cadillac) set a record for interior width that would not be matched by any car until the full-size GM rear-wheel drive models of the early to mid-1990s. Pairs of individually housed round headlamps were wider apart, with a winged Cadillac crest set between each pair. The V-shaped grille had an eggcrate style insert and was protected by massive vertical guards framing a rectangular license plate indentation. A wide hood with full-length windsplints, a prominent center crease and hidden windshield wipers was seen. A Cadillac crest decorated the nose and new indicator lamps appeared atop each front fender. A horizontal beltline molding ran from behind the front wheel housing, almost to the rear stopping where an elliptical bulge in the body came to a point and where thin rectangular side markers were placed above and below the chrome strip. The rear wheel openings were again housed in fender skirts. Taillamps were of the same type as before but were no longer divided by a chrome bar. Long horizontal back-up lamps were set in the bumper, on either side of a deeply recessed license plate housing. The Calais wheelbase was extended to 130 in (3,302 mm).
| Price | $5,059 - $5,247 |
| Engine | V8 |
| Engine Displacement | 429 cu. in. |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Horsepower | 340 bhp @ 4600 rpm |
| Torque | 480 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm |
| Wheelbase | 129.5" |
| Type & Item # | Name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Collector Card - Cadillac Collection 65 | 1965 Calais |
