The Cadillac Calais was the entry-level Cadillac from 1965 to 1976. It was, in effect, the old Series 62 renamed after the French port city of Calais, and it was mechanically identical to the more expensive de Ville while offering noticeably less equipment.
Cadillac Calais at a glance
| Maker | Cadillac, General Motors |
|---|---|
| Production | 1965-1976 |
| Predecessor | Cadillac Series 62 |
| Related | Cadillac de Ville |
| Engine | 429 cu in (7.0 L) V8, 340 hp |
| Transmission | Turbo-Hydramatic automatic, standard |
| Bodies | 2-door and 4-door hardtop, formal-roof 4-door sedan |
| Convertible | not offered |
| Price, 1965 | just under $5,000 |
| Standard trim | cloth and vinyl, no leather |
| Options in 1965 | radio $165, power windows $119 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Calais. No free photographs were found.
History of the Cadillac Calais
Cadillac renamed its entry-level Series 62 as the Calais in 1965, taking the name from the French port city, itself derived from the Calais of Greek myth. The car was identical in styling and mechanics to the de Ville, and the difference lay in trim and standard equipment. There was no convertible in the Calais line.
What the saving bought
The 1965 Calais came with hand-cranked windows and manual seat adjusters, and even the radio and power windows were extra-cost options. It did without leather, initially without a vinyl roof and without Cadillac’s extra-cost Firemist metallic paint. Against that, power brakes, power steering, the automatic transmission, cornering lights, dual back-up lights, full wheel covers, a remote-controlled outside mirror, heater, defroster and front and rear seat belts were all standard. The 340 hp 429 cu in V8 was the standard engine, and the new Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, standard on the 1964 de Ville but not on the Series 62, became standard across the Cadillac range including the Calais. Prices started at just under $5,000, about a quarter more than a Buick Electra 225 or Oldsmobile 98.
Model-year changes
For 1966 the grille gained a coarser mesh divided by a bright metal centre bar, and Cadillac introduced variable-ratio steering and optional heated front seats. The Calais was extensively restyled for 1967, with a forward-leaning front end, an eggcrate grille, stacked headlights and a new coupe roofline inspired by the Florentine show car of the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Power windows became standard that year, and 1967 was the last model year for pillared sedans. For 1968 the grille insert had a finer mesh, and front and rear side marker lights became mandatory.
Design and features
- Entry-level pricing: the cheapest way into a new Cadillac, at just under $5,000 in 1965.
- Less equipment: hand-cranked windows and manual seats were standard, with power items on the option list.
- de Ville mechanicals: the same 429 cu in V8 and Turbo-Hydramatic transmission as the more expensive car.
- No convertible: the open body was reserved for the de Ville and Eldorado.
Cadillac Calais versions
- 2-door hardtop: the coupe, with its own roofline from 1967.
- 4-door hardtop: curved, frameless side windows without a centre pillar.
- Formal-roof sedan: hardtop-style windows with a pillar between them.
- Later cars: power windows standard from 1967 and steadily more standard equipment.
The Calais was the cheaper twin of the de Ville, and it took the place of the Series 62 in the range. More Cadillacs are in the Cadillac collection.
Video: Restored 1965 Cadillac Calais Walkaround
Video by Mike Anthony’s Archives on YouTube.
Sources
- Cadillac Calais, English Wikipedia: history, equipment, prices, model years
