The 1966 Cadillac Dealer brochure was an extravagant piece of
literature, filled with lofty prose and beautiful drawings. "All
1966 Cadillac DeVille models offer a rare combination of fine car
luxury and elegance and with a highly individual flair. The visual
excitement created by the DeVille's beauty is more than matched by
Cadillac's brilliant new performance. In every way, the DeVille
creates a measure of motoring excellence entirely its own.". This,
ladies and gentlemen, is when Cadillac was King.
For consignment, a big, bold and elegant 1966 DeVille 4 Door
Hardtop. The DeVille was available in four body types; Coupe with
two doors, Sedan hardtop with swooping rear pillars and four doors,
2-door Convertible, and the Sedan De Ville which has four doors and
a more formal rear pillar. This one is a fine example with some
great color and a title verified 92,367 actual miles.
Exterior
Bathed in what must be gallons of Sandalwood paint, it was one of
20 colors available on the DeVille in '66. Twenty! I don't think
there's a make and model today that's available in nearly that many
options. Anyway, it looks great on this car having been reapplied
but not over restored. A double gold pinstripe tracks the length of
the car on the shoulder line giving some interest to the acres of
monochrome paint. Other points of interest include the stacked
headlights, the big grille, and the integrated chrome bumper. The
side marker lights are like geometric crystal sculptures with the
Cadillac crest subtly attached. The door handles, mirror, body
molding, and window trim are in excellent condition. More shiny
metal can be found in the epic tail light housing and rear bumper
which is integrated, not protruding beyond the body, and it puts a
period at the end of the long sentence that is the rear deck. Minor
imperfections include some chipped paint on the rocker panels, a
spot of touch up, and some overspray on the rubber filler between
the bumper and body.
Interior
What goes best with Saddlewood paint? Why, Antique Saddle on the
inside, of course! It starts with the classy door panels with long
and straight patterns to mirror the car's overall shape. The window
lock and window controls and the door actuator are set in a brushed
aluminum base. That alone tells you, you've arrived. And for good
measure, the Caddy crest is nearby to remind you. The stitched and
buttoned split bench looks fresh out of a western saloon and the
backseat is large and a bit limousine-like. From there you can see
the back of front seats which continue to design features and have
an interesting plastic and metal shell. The brown continues on the
three spoke steering wheel with a horn button on each spoke. The
dash is simple by today's luxury car standards and consists of a
horizontal speedometer, a clock, and some basic gauges. An AM/FM
radio is tucked behind a decorative panel and the passenger side
has a sweeping cove for extra room. The plush, rust colored carpet
is in good condition and the stitched headliner is excellent. The
trunk, of course, is enormous and covered in standard gray mats
that show some use.
Drivetrain
A 429ci V8 topped with a 4-barrel carburetor and tied to a TH400
3-speed automatic was factory rated at 340 horsepower and with
4,458 pounds in tow, that comes in handy. Power is sent to the rear
wheels with 2.94 gears, the standard on many GM cars in this era.
Power drum brakes are found on all four wheels. Visually, the
engine bay is very clean.
Undercarriage
It shows some age but nothing outrageously flawed underneath. It
has its share of surface rust on the usual spots and some light
pitting, but nothing structural or invasive. The single exhaust
tracks down the length of the car, intersects with a stock style
muffler, then out the back. Independent suspension with coil
springs is found in the front with four link and coil springs in
the rear. We note some oil on the rear differential which seems to
be emanating from the bolts or seal.
Drive-Ability
Land yacht may be the best way to describe the view from the
driver's seat. I came to work in a Mini Cooper and I'm pretty sure
I could park it under the hood of this glorious piece of American
steel. We roll the Caddy onto our test loop and the car simply
floats on air, aided in part by the 75 series tires on 15-inch
wheels. Enough power for a calm and confident ride, just don't ask
me to parallel park the thing. We note the radio turns on but we're
not getting reception so no Sinatra today. The power wing windows
and the power seat both work, but both have some sticky
hesitation.
This is a car from a bygone era, when Cadillac was A+ number one,
top of the list, King of the Hill. This is what class and
sophistication looked like in 1966. There was only one guy in the
neighborhood with one of these and we gladly got out of the street
to let him pass. Here's a fine example that still commands
attention and on cruise night, you'll be King.
B6293825
B-DeVille Hardtop Sedan
6-1966
293925-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
08A-1st Week August
ST 66 68339-1966 DeVille 4 Door Hardtop Sedan
BODY FWD59790-Detroit Body #
TR 383-Antique Saddle Leather
PAINT 42-Sandalwood
E-Soft Ray Glass
N-Power Vent Windows
Y-6 Way Power Seat
M-Power Locks
K-Automatic Climate Control
B-Rear Window Defogger
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
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