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 body styling, which featured an open chauffeur's compartment and enclosed passenger compartment. This configuration elevated the vehicle from mere transportation to a bona fide status symbol. "Town Car" was first used by Lincoln in 1922 to describe a one-off vehicle built for Henry Ford. (see http://www.lincoln.com/about/ ) 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). 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, 84.6 mph (excluding stops) and averaging 8.9 miles per gallon.

DeVilles have always been a notable car throughout history and have been used countless times by politicians, spiritual leaders, and are notable in many movies.

1971 - 1976

As with all GM fullsize lines, the DeVille was redesigned for 1971. The standard engine remained the 472, still rated at 375 SAE gross horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque. The car was still essentially a Calais with more options and different exterior trim.