Coupe DeVille, a name that had been around for over two decades, was advertised as
"America's favorite luxury car."
The mid-1970s edition had a vinyl cabriolet roof with chrome accent strip at the leading edge, and a squarish quarter window (considerably larger than most such windows at this time).
Sedan DeVille continued the pillarless hardtop that had been part of the GM tradition for years, but would soon be doomed to extinction.
Sedans also featured narrow sail-shaped fixed windows in the roof quarter panels.
DeVille's crosshatch grille was dominated by a framed set of vertical bars, peaking forward slightly at the center.
An upper horizontal bar above the grille mesh held a Cadillac script at the side and swept down alongside the grille, then outward to wrap around the fenders just above the bumpers.
Quad rectangular headlamps met wraparound cornering lamps.
Set into traditional tall housings at rear fender tips were vertical inward-facing and outward-facing side lamps.
Horizontal taillamps were below the deck lid; backup lamps in toward the license plate housing.
Script nameplates were on rear quarter panels, just above the bodyside molding.
New Magnan ribbed knit upholstery came in six
colors; Merlin Plaid or Manhattan velour each in two. Eleven
leather combinations were available. Distinctive
simulated-rosewood appliques and laminates highlighted doors and
dash. 50/50 seats had individual fold-down center armrests. The
standard 500 cu. in. V-8 (whose days were numbered) could have
either a four-barrel carburetor or fuel injection.
The special-edition Coupe DeVille d'Elegance now carried standard opera lamps behind the quarter windows, which were optional on other DeVille coupes.
D'Elegance hoods omitted the customary "V" and crest, substituting a distinctive stand-up see-through ornament along the chrome windsplit.
Styling highlights included dual accent stripes on front and sides of hood, door surfaces, and rear deck (in choice of eight colors).
Interiors contained new loose-pillow style 50/50 seats in two-toned Magnan ribbed knit cloth (four colors).
A "DeVille d'Elegance" script was on the instrument panel and sail panels (coupe only).
The package also included wide brushed-chrome lower door moldings, and bodyside moldings with colored vinyl inserts to match the vinyl roof color.
Coupe DeVille's Cabriolet roof option, with Elk Grain vinyl padded vinyl top, added for 1976 a decorative Cadillac crest on the sail panels.
Also part of the package: a standup see-through hood ornament, chrome roof moldings, and French seam around the backlight.
Cabriolet roofs had been available on Coupe DeVille since 1974.
Model
Series Number
Body Style
Body
Type
Seating
Factory Price
Shipping Weight
Production Total
DeVille
6C
D47
2-door Coupe
6
$9067
5025
114,482
DeVille
6C
D49
4-door Hardtop
Sedan
6
$9265
5127
67,677
ENGINE
Item
Carburetor engine
Fuel Injected
engine
Type
V-8 90-degree, overhead valve V-8.
Cast iron block and head.
Displacement
500 cu. in. (8.2
liters)
Bore & stroke
4.300 x 4.304
in.
Compression ratio
8.5:1
Brake horsepower
190 @ 3600 R.P.M.
215 @
3600 R.P.M.
Torque
360 lb.-ft. @ 2000 R.P.M.
400 lb.-ft. @
2000 R.P.M.
Main bearings
Five
Valve lifters
Hydraulic valve
lifters
Fuel distribution
4 Bbl. Rochester M4ME
Fuel
Injection
CHASSIS DATA
Wheelbase
130.0 in.
Overall length
230.7 in.
Coupe Height
53.8 in.
Sedan Height
54.3 in.
Width
76.4 in.
Front Tread
61.7 in.
Rear Tread
60.7 in.
Standard tires
GR78 x 15-B SBR wide WSW
TECHNICAL
Transmission
Three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic standard
on all models; column shift (400 series)
Gear ratios
(1st) 2.48:1; (2nd) 1.48:1; (3rd) 1.00:1: (Rev)
2.07:1 or 2.09:1.
Standard final drive axle ratio
2.73:1
Optional axle ratio
3.15:1
Axle type
Hypoid rear axle
Steering
variable ratio power assisted
Front suspension
upper/lower control arms, coil springs,
rod-and-link stabilizer bar
Rear suspension
four-link drive, coil springs
Body construction
separate body and perimeter
frame
Wheel size
15 x 6 JK
Brakes
front ventilated disc. rear drum with power
booster
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