The Cadillac Escalade nameplate first hit production in 1998, with the latest fifth-generation model introduced for the 2021 model year. Now the full-size luxury SUV is being reimagined for the 1968 model year with the following rendering.
Coming to us from digital automotive artist Abimelec Arellano, these renderings aren’t the first time the Cadillac Escalade has been conceptualized in the body styling of an earlier era. In fact, Arellano has previously rendered the Cadillac Escalade in the 1977 model year and 1959 model year.
Now, however, we’re getting a look at the iconic SUV nameplate as if it was produced in the late ‘60s. Looking over the renderings, its appears as though the artist took inspiration from the 1968 Cadillac Coupe DeVille with regard to the front end, with classic ‘60s style for the fascia, including two-tiered rounded headlamps and a broad, slated front grille section.
As for the body, the artist says that this 1968 Cadillac Escalade is based on an early ‘70s Chevy Suburban, as opposed to a 1968 Chevy C10 pickup truck.
“The aesthetics of the window frames suit the Caddy’s style much better, and at this point in time, Cadillac use to get platforms and tech long before any other GM division,” the artist writes, justifying the use of the Suburban body style.
Further touches include a swath of chrome trim around the wheel wells, windows, windshield, and lower body lines, which works well with the black paint and helps to underline the luxury vehicle’s premium appointment. The door handles are also done in chrome, as are the bumpers, while a set of white wall tires sit in the corners.
Overall, we would expect this 1968 Cadillac Escalade to offer a nice blend of luxury and practicality, and although it’s definitely ahead of its time, we think the “bigger is better” attitude of the American auto industry prior to the gas crisis fits all the same.
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Comments
Great concept. But would be more period accurate with the following adjustments:
– Windshield wiper arms and blades in natural aluminum.
– Revise the driver’s side mirror in the rear 3/4 view to match the correct mirror shown in the front view.
– Black limo tint did not exist at this time. Period deep tint would have been a midnight blue.
– Electric heated grille rear window defroster didn’t exist when this concept would have been assembled in 1967.
Well, while this concept is one that looks good. If we are are going to call it out for the period inaccuracies, how about the fact that he used a 73-91 suburban body for a 60S (68) concept. Otherwise it looks great and sure the bodylines work better together than the older 67-72 suburban it is not even close to correct. Fictional and inaccurate but fun to look at. the other renderings/concepts were way better.
It hearse to look at it…!
That’s the first thing I thought
“Promise her anything. But give her CORTEGE”.
Top marks for that. Let’s go have a bier.
Touche! Well played, sir.
They used a 73-91 suburban (squarebody) as a base for this rendering, I think 67-72 would of been more correct.
This chop is an anachronism in more ways than I can count. I turned 15 in 1968. At that age, you don’t have the money to buy a new car, but you do have the money read about them at every opportunity and to notice every one that you see. The 15-year-old that I was in 1968 is still a part of my soul.
This chop is simply not 1968. Digitally cobbling together a 1968 Sedan DeVille and a mid-1970s Suburban creates a source of irritation that serves as an Easter Egg hunt for anachronisms and deformations to both the Cadillac and Suburban source material.
“The aesthetics of the window frames suit the Caddy’s style much better”
Ah, no. Pretty much any other Suburban windows (or anything else, for that matter) would look better with the crisp lines and chisel tip fenders. I confess, I hated them at first sight in ’72.
IT SCREAMS TOO MUCH FUNERAL HOME HEARSE, & NOT ENOUGH SOCCER MOMS LIVERY.
Great hearse design.
Oh, yes! Some folks are just dying to ride in one…
The axles are GM 8.5 inch 10-bolts. They were not used on a square body truck until 1979. So late 70s, not early 70s.
The axles are GM 8.5 inch 10-bolts. They were not used on a square body truck until 1979. So late 70s, not early 70s.
Click bait
Its sort of a glass is half full or half empty thing. For the people who this looks like a hearse it could also be an ambulance (besides being black). ’68 Cadillacs also served as ambulances, which seems more optimistic to me than a hearse.
Looks like a hearse.
Black is the new favored bad ass color.