A Brief History Of Cadillac 1960-1980: Innovation And Excess
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The 1960s and 1970s would see yet another wave of innovations, technology, luxury, and excess for Cadillac.
In 1960, Cadillac introduced self-adjusting brakes. In addition, 1962 was a banner year for Cadillac safety and comfort advancements. Brake master cylinders switched to a dual reservoir system with separate hydraulic systems for front and rear brakes, some six years ahead of federal regulation. The three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission debuted, and would remain a fixture at GM for years to come.
For the 1964 model year, Cadillac debuted fully automatic heat and air conditioning, called Comfort Control, a first for the auto industry. Front seat belts became standard, and Twilight Sentinel, which activated headlights at night and turned them off during the day, became available.
1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham
The 1965 model year continued the addition of luxury features to the Cadillac line. Tilt-telescopic steering was available for the first time, as were automatic load-leveling Delco Superlift rear shocks.
1966 saw Cadillac sales crest the 192,000 mark. With variable-ratio power steering available in 1966, parking became easier, while also providing better stability at highway speeds. Optional heated seats and stereo sound systems were offered for the first time.
The front-wheel-drive Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado hardtop personal luxury car debuted for the 1967 model year. The design was clean and elegant in its simplicity. Front-wheel drive allowed for nearly flat floors in the cabin.
1976 Cadillac Eldorado
1968 was marked by the addition of numerous federally mandated safety traits, including side-marker lights, front shoulder belts, soft instrument panel knobs and interior surfaces, and an energy-absorbing steering wheel and column. The Cadillac 472 cubic-inch V8 bowed for 1968. Sales for the brand topped 200,000 cars for the first time.
For the 1970 model year, displacement was increased in the Cadillac Eldorado to a massive 500 cubic inches that delivered 400 horsepower. In 1971, Cadillac debuted the first computer-controlled rear anti-lock brake system as optional equipment.
The early 1970s saw Cadillac models grow in size and optional luxury equipment. The 1972 Cadillac Fleetwood’s wheelbase increased 1.7 inches, with overall length swelling by four inches. The Calais was 2.4 inches longer. Smoother ride was a hallmark of the 1972 Caddies, with engine displacement, standard equipment, and weight all on the rise.
1978 Cadillac Seville
1973 saw record sales for Cadillac, just ahead of the 1974 introduction of Air Cushion Restraints (air bags) being introduced to protect drivers in the event of a frontal collision. In 1975, Cadillac became the first U.S. auto manufacturer to utilize electronic fuel injection. The 500 cubic-inch V8 was adopted across the Cadillac model range. In May of 1975, the range-topping mid-size 1976 Cadillac Seville was introduced as a competitor to European luxury marques. The optional Air Cushion Restraint System was dropped in 1976 due to lack of demand.
Cadillac celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1977. As General Motors downsized all of their B-, C-, and D-body cars, this meant the Fleetwood Brougham no longer had its unique longer wheelbase, riding on the shorter 121.5-inch platform shared with the DeVille. Both cars would be taller, shorter, narrower, but with more trunk space, leg room, head room, and were nearly 1,000 pounds lighter. Both came equipped with the 425 cubic-inch V8, a smaller bore version of the 500 cube monster, producing 180 horsepower. The cars were now differentiated only by exterior trim and interior appointments. Sales figures for Coupe DeVille and Sedan DeVille models topped 234,000.
1979 Cadillac Eldorado
Cadillac introduced a digital trip computer for the 1978 Cadillac Seville. The 1979 Cadillac Eldorado would be the next model put on a diet in order to conform to federal emissions and economy standards. 1979 was also the best sales year in Cadillac history with the brand capturing four percent of the new-car market, with more than 345,000 Caddies finding new homes.
The next decade would see reductions in size and displacement throughout the Cadillac line, new technologies, and the addition of a poorly received compact based on the Chevy Cavalier.
To be continued.
Also:
Cadillac 1902-1917: the Birth of the Brand
Cadillac 1920-1940: the Pre-War Years
Cadillac 1940-1960: WW II and Beyond
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Mr. Hatfield.
I believe 1978 was the best year for sales. 378K IIRC.
What a terrific story! My absolute favorite decade for the Cadillac brand was the 70’s followed by the 80’s. This of course has a lot to do with my age and the fact that my parents first Cadillac was a 1975 followed by a 1979. I would love to have any one of the cars pictured above.
It’s cool how GM/Cadillac had things like heated seats, air bags and ABS way back then.
I’ve stated this before – to me the ’79-85 Eldo/Riv/Tor was one of best design out of GM and is vastly overlooked. The pic of the black ’79 Eldo is gorgeous .
The three speed Turbo Hydramatic was introduced in 1964 model year, not 1962. The old four speed transmission was still used in 1964 in the Series 62 and the Series 75.
This was the time when Cadillac was an American luxury car, not a European wannabe. This was the heyday’s of Cadillac. Since their management decided they needed to to more like Mercedes’ they have gone down hill. When I was a young man Cadillac was the car I wanted to own once my children were grown and I could enjoy my senior years. Today I wouldn’t keep a Cadillac if they gave it to me, they look like sports sedans, the European look. This is America,I’ll stick to the American look.
Great article. Keep them coming
The 1967 Eldorado, the 1977-78 Eldorado Biarritz and the 1978 Seville Elegante with the two-tone paint. true wire wheels and the metal roof were astonishingly beautiful automobiles, IMO.
“ Brake master cylinders switched to a dual reservoir system with separate hydraulic systems for front and rear brakes, some six years ahead of federal regulation. ”
Just like AMC and Studebaker before thrm.
The 67 Eldorado is still one of the best looking cars ever made.
IT WAS MY BEST ONE AND WHEN 68 CAME OUT WITH THE FRONT FENDER LIGHTS AND THE REAR SIDE LIGHTS, I ADDED THEM TO MINE. MY FRIENDS ALL MENTION OF ALL THE CADILLACS YOU HAD I LIKED THE 67 ELDORADO THE BEST.
This was the true decline of Cadillac.
Cadillac used to be a special car that had their own chassis, engines and even door handles.
They entered 1960 like that and came out as just another cooperate platform with. Buick, Olds and Chevy engines.
After 1980 little true Cadillac was left.
Compare any of these cars to the Cadillacs from 1930 to 1959. There is a major difference in true Cadillac engineering and design.
Just look at a mid 50’s Eldorado Biarritz sedan. No Chevy there.
IMO, I think the ’70s was the true decline for Cadillac which many people were not aware of at that time.
Also, the ’67 Eldorado started to become mass produced and was headed in the wrong direction with FWD till the ’90s GM management planned the RWD platform for most Cadillac models with Sigma.
The true Cadillacs currently are the Apha models, LYRIC, CELESTIQ and Escalade.
It started in the 60’s slow but picked up by the late 70’s.
It finished it off when it all went FWD in the 80’s.
Much like the real Pontiacs vanished with the end of their unique models and the end of their V8 program.
While the last Trans Am were better looking they were still nothing but a Chevy.
When people pay a ton for a Cadillac they want more than just a reconfigured Chevy. That is why when the DOHC CT6 hurt so much.
GM has fooled the gullible public and duped them so they keep doing it.
Lincoln this year has only sold 79k vehicles total and they no longer fool anyone they are expensive Fords.
Just look at the comments here and you can see who gets it and who is fooled.
The Alpha platform Cadillacs came from the Camaro. I’m not complaining, though, I’ve got an amazing ATS-V.
The decline went downhill when Roger B Smith a bean counter took over as CEO. When he bragged about under his leadership a front left fender from a Chevy could replace the right fender of a Cadillac. He was so proud of taking the complication of making different body styles out of GM’s cost of building cars. That was in the mid 70’s.
Started before that but it fell off the cliff under Roger.
Sad you got so many down arrows for telling the truth. Cadillac WAS special, then in the 70S the homogenization to JUST ANOTHER CAR started.
that’s when cars hhad stlye and class.
And then came the Cadillac Cimmaron, a 4 door Chevy Cavalier. Then came the ELR, a 2 door Chevy Volt priced $40K higher
Kind of tired of the old bashing the Cimarron at every chance a person gets. Question for you little buzzard: Do you know the true story about the Cimarron and the purpose it served, or do you just know the same tired story that has been pushed? It’s a serious question and I’m giving you the opportunity to do some research and learn about it.
There’s some factual truth to those stories and what you bring up. For example, the Cimarron did look too much like the other J-cars and it was introduced about 2 years too early. Yet, there was a lot good about that car and it served a purpose that the other Cadillac’s just couldn’t at that time. Had they waited 2 more years, made the 1985 body changes to the 1984 (instead of the 1982 intro), given it the updates/improvements that the 1983 received and then properly marketed the car, things would have been much different. But even the 1982, being rushed out, had many differences from the Cavalier. Did those differences make it worth a lot more? Probably not and that’s why they should have waited till 1984 and introduced it with all the changes I referenced.
The car was still a Chevy and cooperate platform. Why pay more for a car with leather seats?
Been there driven them and it was a grave mistake.
Ford is going this mistake now with Lincoln and paying a price in sales. They have not moved 70,000 Lincoln’s total this year.
Too much Ford not enough Lincoln.
Well CR.8, I will highly disagree with you on that. It seems like you are just regurgitating the same old worn out stuff. And what exactly makes it so bad that GM uses the same platform (both then or now) for different brands? You make that sound so terrible when they all do it. And no, it wasn’t a “grave mistake”. Yes, they made errors, but grave no. The true embarrassment was from them rushing it out when following the things I brought up would have made a huge difference. But instead of owning up to their lack of good judgement, they instead placed all the blame on the car itself and mostly just for the 1982 model.
I proudly own a very pristine example of the last year (1988) and it’s a fantastic car to drive even after 61K and 35 years of age. I did an enormous amount of research on them and spent 20 years looking for one. I’ve watched interviews of people who worked on the Cimarron and countless videos giving great detail of the car along with the differences between it and the other J-cars.
Time to stop just repeating words from haters.
This was another GM MANAGEMENT self inflicted blunder brought about by pathological cheapness. The masterminds only provided enough money to change the grill and taillights. Oh and the cash to have emblems made. Typical GM, 20 cents to solve a 50 cent problem….
They were built like TANKS in those daze. Now they are built like little bugs buzzing around.
CADILLAC HAS NOT LEARNED THAT LUXURY IS LONG, LOW AND WIDE WITH 0 TO 60 BETTER THAN THE COMPETITION. THEY HAVE A DECENT CAR IN THE CT6 AND WHAT DO THEY DO, CANCEL IT AND GIVE IT TO CHINA. MY XLR WAS FUN, BUT I HAD TO GIVE IT UP WHEN CADILLAC RAN OUT OF REPLACEMENT PARTS.
I owned several early 1980s Cadillacs and they were slow and riddled with engine/drivetrain/emissions problems. ALL generally suffered poor build quality. It took a long time for Cadillac to rebuild its reputation after building a series of real dogs. I returned to Cadillacs in the 2000s and had several outstanding cars. I just bought a 2022 in Feb, and it is remarkable.
All Time Favourites, The 1979 Cougar XR-7 , 2002 Buick LeSabre and the 2017 Cadillac CT6. All retired long before their time.
Really liked the older, FULL Size rides (with bench or 60/40 seating. Not all this console garbage.
CT6 the LAST full size ride (until maybe the Celestiq…but i’m NOT going electric…what happened to hybrids, anyway)