Cadillac DeVille

"DeVille" and "De Ville" redirect here. See also Cadillac Coupe de Ville.

The DeVille (also De Ville and de Ville) name has been used on many of Cadillac's luxury car models. After the Fleetwood was dropped from the Cadillac lineup the DeVille became the largest Cadillac sedan.The DeVille name was replaced by DTS (DeVille Touring Sedan) for the 2006 model year.

History

The name "DeVille" ("of the city" or "town" in French) derives its name from its town car body, which featured an open chauffeur's compartment and enclosed passenger compartment. The term "Town Car" was used by Lincoln in 1922 to describe a one-off vehicle built for Henry Ford. [1] In Cadillac parlance the "DeVille" name would be used exclusively to designate a deluxe trim level in body styles of the "hardtop" or pillarless type. Through the later fifties pillarless body styles became available in the lesser 62 series but pillared sedans were not available in the DeVille line until the 1965 model year when the DeVille became an independent trim line including a convertible and pillared sedan for the first time.

The first Cadillac to bear the name was the 1949 Coupe De Ville, with a 4-door hardtop version appearing in 1956 (a one-off Sedan de Ville was built in 1954[2]). Both cars were based on the Series 62. Beginning in 1965, DeVille denoted Cadillac's mainstream model, falling between the Calais and the Fleetwood.

For 1968, the DeVille gained slight exterior changes to comply with new federal safety and emissions legislation, and as with the rest of the Cadillac lineup, a new 472 in³ (7.7 L) V8 engine rated at 375 hp (sae gross).

In November 1971, a showroom-stock 1971 Coupe DeVille placed third in the annual coast-to-coast Cannonball Run, posting the highest average speed of the event, 84.6mph (136.2km/h) (excluding stops) and averaging 8.9mpg-US (26L/100km; 10.7mpg-imp).

1965 - 1970

All GM fullsize lines were completely redesigned for 1965, yet DeVille retained its 129.5-inch (3,290mm) wheelbase. The Series 62 on which the DeVille was based was now called Calais. Rounded body styling gave way for sharp, angled lines. Tailfins disappeared, and headlights were now stacked vertically allowing for a wider grille. The pillared sedan variant returned. Power was still supplied by the 429cuin (7,030cc) V8, which was replaced by the 472cuin (7,730cc) for 1968.