Vehicle Description
The 1965 Cadillacs were all-new, and the results were arguably the
best-looking luxury cars of the decade. Clean, sleek, and in the
case of this 1965 Calais hardtop, subtle and elegant. There's no
question as to what this car is and from any angle it says that
you've finally arrived.
For the money, this car represents a lot of luxury and style that
you probably can't get anywhere else. Park this next to, say, a
comparable Lincoln of the period and the Lincoln looks downright
frumpy while the Cadillac looks modern and low. It was repainted a
few years ago in its original Aspen White and while it looks
decent, a professional cut and buff would work wonders on this big
coupe. With it you also get super straight bodywork that looks like
it has never needed major surgery and with the long side trim and
fender skirts, straight bodywork is critical. Cadillacs were always
famous for their chrome, and yes, there's plenty here to keep
shiny, all of it in good original condition including the front
bumper and cool rear taillight housings with white lenses that
illuminate red when you hit the brakes. With a little TLC, this car
could be outstanding.
The all-original interior might be showing a few signs of age,
particularly otn he driver's seat, but I don't know if I'd be in a
rush to replace it. Instead, take a good look at that cool textured
upholstery and how cool it would be if you could just stich it up
and keep it a high-grade survivor. The slender steering wheel
frames a wide Cadillac-style instrument panel with lots of shiny
trim to give it a very upscale look. And while the Calais was
technically the "entry level" Cadillac, there's nothing low-rent
about the quality of the materials or the elegant design. Options
include factory A/C plus power windows and seat, so there's really
nothing entry level about it. The door panels are in very good
condition, as is the back seat, and the carpets are protected by a
set of Cadillac-logo floor mats that have probably been there for
decades. And yes, there's a massive trunk that's highly original
and carries what might very well be the original spare tire.
Cadillac's 429 cubic inch V8 made a stout 340 horsepower and moves
the big coupe with the kind of effortless ease that you'd expect
from a major luxury car like this. It's not detailed for show under
the hood but it is quite clean with lots of signs of regular
maintenance and as a result it's easy to start, has a smooth idle,
and cruises through traffic like a great white shark. Recent
service items include a new power brake booster so stops are smooth
and confidence-inspiring. There's also a TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission, which was used for the first time in Cadillacs in
1965, and it powers a rear end big enough to look at home under a
1-ton truck. The underside is quite original but shows signs of a
life outside the snowy, salty northeast and the single exhaust
system offers a new muffler that sounds mellow and smooth, just the
way a Cadillac should. 235/75/15 whitewall radials are fitted with
original hubcaps that give the big Caddy a very understated
look.
Just watch, these cars are going to be hot. How can they not? Great
looks, plenty of power, and a sleek attitude that is just the
epitome of cool. Call today!