Cars - Cadillac Calais

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	Cars - Cadillac Calais

In 1965, Cadillac renamed the entry-level Cadillac Series 62 the Calais, after the French resort town of Calais. 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 line mirrored the slightly more expensive and well-equipped Cadillac Deville series.

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-way power seats as standard equipment, hand-cranked windows were standard on the Calais. These amenities were, of course, optional at extra cost on the Calais; in later years of the model's run, power windows were made standard on the Calais line, although a power 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 very nice-grade vinyl and cloth, similar to what was seen on top-line Buick Electras, were available). Another item not available on the Cadillac Calais was the Cadillac-exclusive Firemist paint, an extra-cost metallic paint. Both the high-end Buick and Oldsmobile models shared the GM C platform with Cadillac. Cadillac, always General Motors' technology leader, offered all of their famous optional equipment, such as Twilight 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 the Oldsmobile 98.

Like all other Cadillacs, the Calais received the 472 in³ OHV V8 in 1968. The wheelbase was extended to 130 in in 1971, 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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