9781422285145

 BELOW: A Cadillac Sedan De Ville, 1957.

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Cadillac De Ville The inaugural De Ville typified automobile styling of the 1950s, with impressive tailfins and twin bullet-shaped taillights, and was powered by a 390 ci (6.4 L) OHV

The Cadillac De Ville was one of the most enduring models in the company’s history, with production running through eight generations from 1959 until 2005. The name originally designated a level of trim and was first applied to the luxury Series 62 Coupe De Ville in 1949, one of the first pillarless hardtop coupes ever produced. A sedan version was introduced in 1956 and, when sales of the Sedan De Ville exceeded its Series 62 counterpart, it was only a matter of time before the De Ville became a model name in its own right with the launch of the first generation, originally labeled the Series 6300.

of a shorter Town six-window hardtop – only available during 1961 before being replaced by the Park Avenue four-window hardtop. The next couple of years saw the hardtop range being standardized to four-window vehicles, the engine was modified without changing the output or displacement, while 1964 saw the first convertible. The same year, a 429 ci (7 L) engine was also made available. Further changes in body style occurred as the De Ville aged gracefully, with the tailfins being made smaller until they finally disappeared altogether. The fifth generation, launched in 1977,

V8 engine. The list of standard equipment was impressive and included power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats, and two-speed windshield wipers. From 1960, the body styling received a smoother treatment, with the tailfins being somewhat downsized while the amount of chrome was toned down. The second generation, introduced in 1961, received a gentle facelift and saw the addition