1973 Cadillac DeVille

The Cadillac DeVille, for 1973, was the company's most popular model, with 112,849 examples produced of the coupe. A further 103,394 examples of the Sedan DeVille were produced. The DeVille was responsible for over seventy percent of Cadillac's production. Power was provided from an overhead valve V8 engine displacing 472 cubic inches and offering 375 horsepower. it had a cast-iron block, hydraulic valve lifters, five main bearings, and a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor. The engine was backed by an automatic transmission and power brakes provided the stopping power. The Eldorado came with a 500 cubic-inch V8 with 365 horsepower at 4,400 RPM.

The Calais and DeVille rested on a 130-inch wheelbase, while the front-wheel-drive Eldorado was shorter at 126.3-inches, and the rest of the line was longer with the Sixty Special being 133-inches, the Series 75 at 151.5-inches, and the commercial chassis having a 157.5-inch wheelbase.

In many respects, the Deville was a Calais model with more trim, better and more luxurious appointments, a rear armrest, and a standard power seat. The Deville had bright body underscores with rear extensions. They had DeVille's signatures on the rear roof pillars. In the front were new energy-absorbing bumpers. The front grille was widened and had an egg-crate design. Between wide-spaced headlamps were vertical rectangles that housed the parking lamps. There were square bezels with round lenses. In the back, the rear bumper housed an angled license plate recess.

1973 was part of the 'Fourth Generation' of styling that arrived in 1971, the year that GM redesigned its entire full-size vehicle line. The 1973 DeVille's gained a greater amount of interior space and were unmatched for interior width until the early 1990s. The '4th Gen' DeVille used the 472 CID big-block backed by GM's TH-400 three-speed automatic until 1975 when it began using the even larger 500 CID V8.

The styling by Bill Mitchell, introduced in 1971, would continue through 1976, with various updates along the way. A wide egg-crate grille was used in 1974 with dual round headlamps mounted close together in square bezels. Even further outboard were double-deck wraparound parking lamps. The rear fender sides became flatter, and the thin beltline molding was re-positioned by several inches. An optional 'Air Cushion Restraint System' (a.k.a airbags) became optional in 1974, providing front seat occupants protection during a frontal collision. A fully padded Cabriolet roof treatment and the d'Elegance package was also new additions to the options list. Dual rectangular headlamp lenses were added in 1975, flanked by rectangular cornering lights wrapped around squared-off front fenders. The previous egg-crate grille was replaced by a new cross-hatched pattern grille, with Cadillac script on the header. On the D-pillars of the sedans was a new thin opera window. The list of standard equipment was further expanded with the addition of power door locks, high-energy ignition, steel-belted radial whitewall tires, and front fender lamp monitors. The Astroroof with sliding sunshade joined the options list, and an ordinary sunroof panel was also optional. The prior door pull straps were replaced by new hinged door pull handles.

Styling changes in its final year of '4th Gen' styling saw further updates to the grille, now wearing a finer crosshatching pattern. The taillamp bezels received new chrome-like trim, and eight different color accent stripes became available. Coupe de Villes sported a new vinyl roof with top molding that served as a continuation of the door 'belt' molding.

The 'Fifth Generation' of DeVilles, introduced in 1977 and built through 1984, was styled by Bill Mitchell. They were smaller than before, with a 121.5-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 221.2 inches. They were over nine inches shorter, four inches narrower, and shed 1/2 ton than the previous generation, but had a larger trunk and more leg and headroom. These were the first DeVilles devoid of fender skirts.

The DeVille nameplate would be part of Cadillac's lineup for many years, serving the company through the mid-200s.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2013