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Cadillac Coupe de Ville

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See also Cadillac DeVille.
Cadillac Coupe DeVille
1977-1984 Cadillac Coupe de Ville
Overview
ManufacturerCadillac
Production1949–1993
Body and chassis
ClassPersonal luxury car
RelatedCadillac Eldorado
Cadillac Calais
First generation 1949-1953
Cadillac Coupé De Ville 1950
Overview
Production1949–1953
Body and chassis
Body style2-door convertible
2-door hardtop
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine331 in³ V-8
Second generation 1954-1956
Overview
Production1954–1956
Body and chassis
Body style2-door convertible
2-door hardtop
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine331 in³ V-8
365 in³ V-8
Third generation 1957-1958
1958 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (front)
Overview
Production1957–1958
Body and chassis
Body style2-door convertible
2-door hardtop
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine365 in³ V-8
Fourth generation 1959-1964
1960 Cadillac Coupe de Ville two door hard top. There were about 21,000 of these made
Interior of 1960 Cadillac Coupe de Ville
Overview
Production1959–1964
Body and chassis
Body style2-door convertible
2-door hardtop
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine390 in³ V-8
429 in³ V-8
Fifth generation 1965-1968
Overview
Production1965–1968
Body and chassis
Body style2-door convertible
2-door hardtop
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine429 in³ V-8
472 in³ V-8
Sixth generation 1969-1970
Overview
Production1969–1970
Body and chassis
Body style2-door convertible
2-door hardtop
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine472 V8
500 V8
Seventh generation 1971-1973
1971 Coupe de Ville (front)
Overview
Production1971–1973
Body and chassis
Body style2-door hardtop
2-door coupe
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine472 in³ V-8
500 in³ V-8
Eighth generation 1974-1976
Overview
Production1974–1976
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
LayoutFR layout
PlatformC-body
Powertrain
Engine472 V8
500 V8
Ninth generation 1977-1984
1978 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
Overview
Production1977–1984
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
LayoutFR layout
PlatformC-body
Powertrain
Engine425 in³ V-8
368 in³ V-8
4.1 L HT-4100 V8
350 in³ LF9 diesel V8
Tenth generation 1985-1988
Overview
Production1985–1988
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
LayoutFF layout
PlatformC-body
Powertrain
Engine4.5L 155 hp V8
Transmission4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase110.8 in
Length196.4 in
Width72.5 in
Height55 in
Eleventh generation 1989-1993
Cadillac Coupe DeVille
Overview
Production1989–1993
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
LayoutFF layout
PlatformC-body
Powertrain
Engine4.9L 200 hp V8
Transmission4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase110.8 in
Length202.7 in
Width73.3 in
Height54.9 in

The Coupe deVille (sometimes spelled Coupe Deville or Coupe DeVille) was a model of Cadillac from 1949 through 1993. The name has become famous through pop culture, with references in pop songs, movies, and other media.

Model History

The Coupe deVille was introduced by Cadillac late in the 1949 model year. Part of the Cadillac Series 62 line, it was a closed, two-door coupé, Cadillac's first pillarless hardtop. Intended as a prestige model, at $3,497 it was one of the most expensive models of the Series 62 line. It was luxuriously trimmed, with leather upholstery and chrome 'bows' in the headliner to simulate the ribs of a convertible top. The first-year Coupe deVille sold 2,150 units, but 1950 sales were more than double, and 1951 more than doubled those of the previous year. By 1961 it was one of the company's most popular models, with annual sales above 20,000.

In 1956 the Coupe deVille was joined by the Sedan deVille, a four-door hardtop sedan. The Sedan deVille would ultimately outlive its two-door predecessor. In 1959 the DeVille line was separated in a distinct Series 63.

The Coupe deVille, like other Cadillacs, grew substantially larger and more powerful from 1949 through the early 1970s. By 1973 it was 4 in. (101.6 mm) longer in wheelbase, 17 inches (431.8 mm) longer overall, and more than 900 lb (408 kg) heavier, and its standard V8 engine had grown from 331 in³ (5.4 L) to 472 in³ (7.7 L).

1974

The Coupe deVille remained a pillarless hardtop through the 1973 model year, but for 1974 was restyled as a pillared two-door with then-fashionable opera windows behind the side windows. The Sedan deVille remained a pillarless four-door through 1976. New rectangular headlights with wraparound turn signals appeared in 1975, and the grille was no longer recessed. The 472 in³ engine was discontinued for 1975, leaving the 500 as the sole engine.

1977

When General Motors initiated the redesign of the B-body and C-body for the 1977 model year the DeVille (and all other full-size GMs) shrank by 9.8 in (249 mm) and about 750 lb (340 kg). The new standard engine was a 425 in³ (6.9 L) V8.

All GM fullsize lines received a facelift for 1980. Along with the facelift, the 425 engine was replaced by the 368 in³ V8-6-4. This engine's reliability was worse than expected, so an all-new aluminum-block V8 was introduced for 1982. The same year, the 350 in³ LF9 diesel became an option.

1985

In 1985 the DeVille was downsized again, this time dropping some 26.2 in (665.5 mm) in length and another 800 lb (363 kg). It also adopted front-wheel drive, moving to the new C-body platform.

The declining popularity of full-size coupes eventually led to the discontinuation of the model in 1993. For 1994, The DeVille (now identified on the car with a capital " D") series was comprised of the four-door Sedan DeVille and (Sedan) DeVille Concours. Starting in 1997, it was known simply as the Cadillac DeVille for several years, although the Concours version was available through 1999. Subsequently, Cadillac added a 'DTS' model to the Deville series, an abbreviation for Deville Touring Sedan.

50's models with their extravagant fins are probably the best known versions of the car. Models from this era have commonly appeared in movies and music videos and also on postage stamps.

A movie of this name directed by Joe Roth appeared in the early 1990s.

In the 2006 animated film Cars, The minor character "Tex" (voiced by Humpy Wheeler) resembles a 1975 Coupe de Ville

It sometimes seems that songwriters know no other kind of car. The Coupe de Ville is simply pre-eminent among cars referenced in American popular music, whether rap, country, pop or blues, and this process is still going on some ten years after the model was discontinued.

Coupe de Ville songs

Neil Young has a song of that title, and the car figures in songs by:

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