2001 Cadillac DE Ville

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. 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). Both cars were based on the Series 62. Beginning in 1965, DeVille denoted Cadillac's mainstream model, falling between the Calais and the Fleetwood.