- Cadillac Calais
Infobox Automobile
name = Cadillac Calais
manufacturer = General Motors
production = 1965–1976
class = Full-sizeluxury car
predecessor = Cadillac 6200
successor =Cadillac Seville
body_style = 2-doorcoupe
4-door sedan
wheelbase = Auto in|129.5|0 (1965-1970)
Auto in|130|0 (1971-1976)
engine = 429 in³ "OHV"V8
472 in³ "OHV"V8
500 in³ "OHV"V8
platform = FR C-body
related=Buick Electra Oldsmobile 98 The Calais is a full-size luxury car made by Cadillac from 1965 to 1976. In 1965, Cadillac renamed the entry-level Series 62 the Calais, after the Frenchresort town ofCalais . It was available in 2 and 4-door hardtop versions as well as the "formal-roof" 4-door sedan, which was a hybrid with frameless, hardtop-like windows, but with a pillar between them. With the exception of having no convertible, the Calais mirrored the slightly more expensive and well-equipped DeVille.The primary differences between the Calais and the Deville were trim levels and standard equipment. While the Deville was delivered with such amenities as
power windows and 2-waypower seat s as standard equipment, hand-cranked windows were standard on the Calais. These amenities were, of course, optional at extra cost on the Calais; for 1967,power windows became standard on the Calais line, although apower seat was still optional even in the later-year models.Leather seating areas and vinyl roof trim were available on the Deville, but not on the Calais (although a high-grade vinyl and cloth, similar to what was seen on top-line
Buick Electra s, were available). Another item not available on the Calais was the Cadillac-exclusive Firemist paint, an extra-cost metallic paint. Both the high-endBuick andOldsmobile models shared theGM C platform with Cadillac. Cadillac, alwaysGeneral Motors ' technology leader, offered all of their famous optional equipment, such asTwilight Sentinel and the GuideMatic headlight dimmer, on the Calais. In 1965, the new Turbo-Hydramatic, standard on the 1964 Deville, but not the lower-priced Series 62, became standard throughout the Cadillac range – even the Calais. The 429 in³ (7.0 L)V8 also remained the standard engine.Pricing of the Cadillac Calais started at nearly US$5,000 and the line was only a few hundred dollars more than the
Buick Electra 225 and theOldsmobile 98 .Like all other Cadillacs, the Calais received the 472 in³ "OHV"
V8 in 1968. In 1971, the wheelbase was extended to Auto in|130|0, while the big 500 in³ engine arrived in 1975. 1976 was the last year for the Calais, with the similar Deville continuing.
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