Nothing was more exquisite, more dashing, or more flowing with prestige than a Cadillac Coupe DeVille convertible for decades. Over the course of its evolution, a DeVille convertible was the pinnacle of aspirational automobiles. It made a powerful impression, yet they did not see it as extravagant in the traditional sense. Cadillac split the DeVille into its own series in 1965 that included a convertible and pillared coupe. Today, the classic car remains an automotive icon.
Cadillac has gained a reputation for its style, engineering brilliance, and production excellence. For 1965, the Coupe DeVille featured a completely new design. Its clean, modern lines set it apart from any other Cadillac ever produced.
Cadillac was performing well in 1970, so well that it set a new divisional record by selling 238,745 automobiles. There were 83,274 Hardtop Sedan DeVilles built, with prices starting at $6,118 (about $40,427 now). Cadillac decommissioned the third-generation DeVille at the end of 1970, which had been in production since 1965. The 1970 year was the final one for the convertible body type and the final year for pillared sedans until 1977. That was the last hardtop Coupe DeVille.
A Design Classic
With the 1961 Continental, Lincoln redefined American luxury automobile design. They embarked in an age of clean, slab-sided shape with minimum and elegant adornment. Many luxury automobile purchasers appreciated the progression of 1950s motifs shown in the Cadillacs from 1961 to 1964. When the 1961 Lincoln debuted, Cadillac had already begun work on its iconic slab-side 1965 design. It wasn't so much a case of jumping on the bandwagon as it was a matter of time.
The Cadillac Coupe DeVille, along with the Sedan DeVille, was America's favorite luxury automobile in 1965. Even the balanced proportions and elegant harmony of the DeVille took aback even the most experienced fine vehicle aficionado. The Coupe DeVille's elegance and distinctiveness, which have made it the world's most prized luxury coupe, were never more apparent than in the 1965 model.
Cadillac improved on the 1965 appearance by tilting the front end forward for the 1967-1968 model. This, combined with the "banana" taillights, increased the car's length. It was a competitive characteristic at the period. However, by the late 1960s, the Cadillac's vertical stacking headlights were out of fashion. Thus, designers adapted 1969 restyle to the Eldorado flagship model.
The grille in the front, which had 13 vertical spikes dispersed in front of an oval crate netting. It was the most noticeable difference between a '69 DeVille and a '70 DeVille in terms of appearance. They buried the reverse lights within the broad, chromed bumper, and the pointed, vertical taillights outshine in the back.
The DeVille's Massive Engine
These automobiles were massive, as one might expect. A 1970 DeVille measured 225 inches edge to edge, with over 130 inches between the wheel arches. The famed cast-iron block-and-heads unit with the massive 7.7-liter, 16-valve 472 CID OHV V-8 engine provided power for all 1969-1970 DeVilles, with 375-hp at 4,400 rpm.
For 1969-70, the DeVille models had a stiffer, more traditional luxury-car design. Cadillac's new 500-CID V-8–the world's biggest displacement V-8 at the time — was part of the 1970 lineup. In terms of performance, Cadillac outperformed Lincoln's new-for-1969 460 CID V8 and Chrysler Imperial's 440 CID V8. Also, these moving planets could speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and reach a peak speed of 130 mph when they were new.
How Much The Third-Gen DeVille Is Worth Today
Earlier this month, the auto insurance firm Hagerty unveiled its 2022 Bull Market Index. This lists the automobiles that its expert team anticipates will increase in value over the following years. The bulk of the cars on this year's listing are European and Japanese. However, there are a few American cars in the mix, such as the stunning 1965-1970 Cadillac DeVille.
According to Classic.com, a 'Good' condition 1965 Cadillac Deville two-door coupe goes for roughly $25,000. While a near-perfect specimen sells for around $34,000. However, convertible variants are significantly more expensive. With 'Excellent' examples selling for approximately $35,000 and ones in almost pristine condition for $62,000. Investors and speculators may choose to buy a model in excellent condition and undertake part of their own fixes and restoration work, increasing their profit margins when selling the car.
As the DeVille convertible was being phased out, Cadillac debuted the Eldorado convertible in 1971. Cadillac gave it a considerable facelift. According to some, 1970 was the final year of the traditional old Cadillac. Today, a wide chunk of collectors consider the 1964-1970 Cadillac DeVille convertibles to be very reasonable. These convertibles almost always raise eyebrows wherever they go.