I’m old enough to remember when owning a Cadillac meant (a) you had “arrived,” (b) you were considered rich, and (c) you were driving the very best luxury car made in America. Yes, Cadillac used to have that kind of image and prestige back in the day. Cadillac offered two levels and the “entry level” series name was changed in 1965 from the Series 62 to the Calais. I guess choosing the name of a French port city and a Greek mythology figure sounded more exotic than Series 62. Though identical in styling and mechanics to the more expensive and better-equipped De Ville series, the Calais was still a Cadillac and a nicely-equipped one at that. I’d love to know the story behind this two-owner, 60,000 mile time capsule. It’s in remarkable original condition and currently residing in Beverly Hills, Michigan. With an asking price of $28,500, this super clean Caddy is listed for sale here on craigslist. I’d like to thank T. J. for sending this classy Calais our way.
With a major restyling in 1965 that featured crisp, sculpted lines, stacked headlights, and no signature tail fins (the first since 1947), the 1966 models saw only minor trim and grille revisions. This Caddy’s original Strathmore White paint presents very well for its age. I’m not spotting any issues with the chrome, glass, and trim and there’s no rust or body damage visible. There are also photos included of a large and very clean trunk area.
The formal-looking original black interior looks almost new. The black vinyl and Delrio cloth bench seats aren’t showing any wear, stains, or rips, and the matching black door panels, dash and instrument panel, and carpet appear to be in very good condition. All ’66 Caddy’s came with a Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and power steering and brakes. This Calais was ordered with optional power seats, power windows, and A/C (that the seller says blows ice cold air). It also has the original factory AM/FM radio and a power antenna.
Up front, the Calais is powered by a 429-cubic-inch, 4-bbl carb V8 that generated 340 horsepower when it left the factory. Mileage is listed at 60,000 (which is most likely original based on the Caddy’s impressive overall condition), and the seller says that it “runs great and can be driven anywhere.” Cadillac’s 1966 sales brochure stated, “The Calais Series represents your easiest step to the “car of cars” – and the unsurpassed enjoyment of Cadillac ownership.” This one appears to be quite a time capsule. Do you agree?
From back when cars like this were works of art!
I know this sounds strange but whenever I see a ’65 or ’66 Cadillac, I still hear that amazing horn. We had a lunch aid from my elementary school who had a black 4 door who gave me a ride home from school once when I was sick. What a ride!!! Whenever she was on our street visiting her friend she’d blow the horn to say hi. This 2 door is just stunning. Look at those lines. Just beautiful.
Back when Cadillac was still “Standard Of The World”. The Calais was the hardtop version of the Series 62. In the 80s GM would sully the name by sticking it on a cheap Oldsmobile. Caddys from the entire 60s all looked great. They were still passable in the 70s too. But from the 80s on? We won’t talk about those.
Lincoln is even worse these days. Sad to say it looks like only Cadillac is still America’s luxury car.
I’d buy this car if it were available for around $20k, but it’s still the cheapest version of the Cadillac line up that year and even though it’s stunning, it’s NOT a Coupe DeVille.
Father in law got one when he “arrived”. Four door hardtop, barely fit in the garage!
very nice caddy. exceptionally clean and elegant looking. i today’s world who care if it was the base model. it’s only an emblem and they can be removed.
WHO CARES that this is the “base” model? It has everything one could possibly need or want in a car that you intend actually to DRIVE. Clearly, the original owner wanted Cadillac quality, the right comfort options, and not the “status-symbol” — and I am exactly on that page, myself. This looks inviting in every way — and if I could afford it, I suppose that I also could afford that gas-guzzling power-plant. And that is where I would have some apprehension: our modern unleaded ethanol-laced fuel is not exactly a happy match for 1960s high-horsepower monster V-8s. And I am not into the fuss of adding lead-substitute and octane-booster to every fill-up, simply to be able to drive this car without mechanical distress under the hood. But, if we still could get its fuel (other than at the airport), and I had the funds, I’d be all-in on this one!
Sharp!
My last new car for many years was the 65 Calais. Drove that car for three years, put 150k miles on it and it never cost me a nickle. New tires and a new battery at the end was the only repair ever made to that car and those were expected items anyway. It was a four door sedan and frequently hauled six people at one time into Atlanta for a night on the town starting at the Playboy Club on Lucky Street.I’d buy this car if somebody could finance it for me.
This 66 is gorgeous. I had a part time job doing valet parking in the 60s and I parked some of these. Never got to take one for a long drive, but they really made a lasting impression on me. Very plush, comfortable and classy. I wonder if as Harrison Reed pointed out, since modern fuels aren’t wholly compatible with this vintage ride if hardened valve seats would be necessary to keep it useable with modern fuels? I hope it goes where it can be appreciated and enjoyed.
GM did some pretty weird 💩 back then. On the ’65 Cadillac, the taillight lens had visible screws where you could remove the lens to replace the bulb, but they didn’t like that. A couple of screws were too ugly on a Cadillac. So, to remedy that, 1966 Cadillacs had no visible screws. In fact, they had no screws at all. Need to replace a taillight bulb? You have to drop the entire rear bumper. Yep. True story.
But other than that, ’65 & ’66 are amoung the most beautiful Cadillacs designed.
Pops had a ’66 Sedan de Ville in black for a little while. I actually got to drive that one once in awhile.
That is entirely true. All my 65s and 66’s were exactly as you said, but they did make the 66 with two bulbs in the tail light instead of one to make it last a little bit longer before you needed to change them.
Either Cadillac made unbelievably high quality seat springs or the drivers of this car weighed about 5 pounds if everything is original. There is no sign of any sagging anywhere. I suspect some high-end reconditioning.
That girl’s got to be at least 24 feet long!
I would have to build a custom garage to keep her out of the weather.
That is too nice to leave outside.
That would be a great Sunday driver to a car show.
19 feet.
I remember seeing one with crank windows, I’m sure that’s pretty rare as most owners wanted power everything…it’s a Cadillac, dammit!
Most of the time if you wanted power windows you ordered a de Ville which came standard with p/w. The entry level Calais came standard with crank windows.
I think the person who ordered this Calais back in ’66 was frugal and didn’t want to pay for all the standard equipment offered on the de Ville. So they ordered the Calais and hand picked what options they wanted.
I never owned a ’65 or ’66. Did the higher trim levels have power vent windows in the front? I noticed this one has cranks for them. I once worked in a parking garage where I regularly drove a ’66 Fleetwood, and I’m pretty sure it had power for all four vent windows like my ’63 Fleetwood did.
Hey Michael LG
Do not quote me on this, TCK is a better source especially for the ’65/’66 Cadillacs, but I think the power vent windows only came on the Fleetwoods as standard equipment. You could possibly order them as an option on other models such as the Eldorado but not sure on the de Ville and pretty sure that’s a no on the Calais.
How about it, Cadillac Kid? What’s the real answer?
My parent’s first Cadillac was a ’76 Calais, possibly the last year that model was offered. It was my father’s boss’s leased car that he purchased. Midnight blue with a lighter blue 3/4 vinyl roof and black interior. The ’76 was one of the longest Caddy’s ever and was super smooth and quiet on the highway!!👍👍
Oh my God! That’s my car! Although mine was a 4-door hardtop painted metallic turquoise with a matching leather and brocade interior. And yeah, mine had all The goodies you got on a Sedan DeVille of that year. I bought it off my parents to keep my drunken uncle from wrecking it. I finally grew a set and gave my Dad $1,500 and my ’54 Ford 3/4 ton pickup truck for the privilege of owning a REALLY nice
Cadillac. I was 16 then and just started touring that summer. I made $5K for 3 Months of traveling. Not bad for 1970 money. I bought my car, helped my parents pay down their mortgage, and still had enough to
buy my school clothes, and still had enough cash to live well playing music 🎵🎶 over the road. First thing I did when I came home that fall was to take my car down to Fanning Cadillac,
had all the rear bulbs changed and a trailer hitch installed on it so that I could pull a small to medium sized trailer to carry our
band equipment when my buddies and I played music on
weekends during the school year.. I’d come home, hit the books, have dinner, and if I was lucky, I got to jam out at the drummer’s house. Other than normal maintainable, I had no real trouble with my car and it NEVER left us stranded. Sure wish I had it back today. I’d have no shortage of young ladies wanting to drive it! Just got done
watching the Lions and Packers
play and had a really good meal to boot. And from our house to yours, Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 Day to all and it’s time to take a nap.
I was just about to make a post asking Angel if she had heard from you, Ken. I haven’t seen a post from you in weeks and got afraid that we lost a member of our community.
Angel; 4 standard power vent windows on the Fleetwood. I had a few of those and still have the window controls. Lots more buttons(8).
Had a 67 Coupe DeVille in 1978 which I purchased from a coworker while employed as a mechanic at Cadillac dealership. I think I paid 100 dollars for it. Everthing worked and it road like a Cadillac albiet a ratty looking one. Somebody hit me and I got 600 dollars for it. Used it towards our honeymoon.
@ PRA4SNW: Thanks for your concern. I’ve been working a lot here
lately helping my kids get our store 🏪
ready for the holidays. We still have to
decorate for Christmas 🎄 yet, but we’re getting there. One upside to it is
that I’ve gotten to see my 4-year-old grandson for 2 weekends now. I worked for his Mom before she went off to nursing school. She used to be a
shift manager here before she left for
bigger and better things. That young man is smart as a whip and speaks 3
languages. English, Spanish, and sign
language for the deaf. So far, he’s the only grandson I have right now. Dad thing was that I couldn’t stop and have
Breakfast 🥞 with him as my store 🏬
was packed full both times. Yeah, I dropped Angel 😇 a line on 🦃 Day just
before I settled my brain for a long nap
after eating too much trptafsn from the
turkey 🦃. Well, at least I got to see the
Packers beat the Lions in football 🏈
before I crashed and burned. And yes
Angel 😇 I love my football 🏈. Now about this car, I almost bought one like
it over 40 years ago. It was a ’65 Calais
like this one, only it had crank windows,
Strato bucket seats, and a center console with a basket 🧺 handle shifter for the automatic tranny. Shoulda bought it, but my wife wouldn’t
let me have it. That to me, was a rare bear 🐻 indeed. I’ve often wondered
what that car would’ve been like with an M-22 Muncie 4-speed in that center
console. Well folks, time for me to go
check on my kids so I can get home 🏠
And take a nap 💤. Gotta open up tomorrow morning 🌄. Hey Angel! Get
a look at the ’53 Eldorafo! Now THAT’S
what I’m talking about! Night Angel (insert 💋 here) Night all!