Big, formal, and elegant is one way to describe this 1964 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. It comes across, at first, with a big visual statement just like this 1967 Imperial convertible featured a few days ago but it’s definitely in nicer shape – I’d rate it a well-maintained survivor. Spotted by hard-working T.J., this Standard Of The World coupe is located in Burlington, Washington and is available, here on craigslist for $16,500.
Cadillac put up strong numbers in ’64 vs. its competition with 184K copies to Lincoln’s 36K and Imperial’s 23K. Even if you include all of Chrysler’s 153K units, the combined ChryCo’s brands still didn’t surpass Cadillac. As part of the “Brilliant” DeVille series, as Cadillac opined back in ’64, this coupe was joined by a convertible and a pair of four-door hardtops that were both referred to as “sedans” in spite of their missing B-pillar. One was a four-window version while the other included what amounted to a rear vent window and was known as the six-window sedan.
Our subject car was purchased back in ’84 from the estate of the original owner and has been garaged ever since. We’re told that the finish, which looks like “Royal Maroon” is original and I can’t find a nit to pick – it’s fabulous looking. Interesting to see is the continued usage of minimized tail fins, gone from lesser brands, they were still in vogue at GM’s top division and would maintain some sort of a reduced presence into ’65.
I always find a Cadillac engine compartment without an A/C compressor to be a surprising sight as I have a tendency to think that it was standard equipment by ’64 but it wasn’t. And with this car, having been domiciled in the Pacific Northwest, A/C was probably considered an unnecessary expense. Anyway, what we’re looking at is a clean, 65K mile 340 gross HP 429 CI V8 engine. With no A/C comes no fan shroud either. The seller mentions that there is a Turbo-Hydramtic automatic transmission in place so that would be a first-year model 400. The old Hydramatic gearbox, which dated to 1940 – albeit with changes and modifications over the years, was available too but I recall the Turbo 400 was a mid-year introduction and phased the old Hydramatic out. There’s no word on how this elegant Caddy performs but there’s no reason to suspect any issues.
Sheathed in white leather upholstery, the interior shows the only warrantable demerit in the form of creased leather. It’s to be expected but the effect is to show as dirty, at least in the case of the front seat. But a deep leather cleaning would spruce things up a bit – and it’s not serious matter. The interior layout is elegant and purposeful but not extravagant.
Like it? You bet I do and I’m not really a Caddy kind of guy. I really appreciate large two-door hardtops, a body style that I’m convinced we’ll never experience again. I don’t suggest living in the past but dipping your toe into it occasionally is a worthwhile experience and you can do it with this DeVille, right?
I think your hunch on big coupes is correct. The last of the Mohicans were the Cadillac Eldorado, Lincoln Mark VIII, and Buick Riviera. And they have been gone more than 20 years now. If there was going to be a revival, it would have happened by now. Buyers today value space and efficiency (i.e. crossovers). These cars are the direct opposite of that. Heck, at the rate we’re going, I’m gonna be happy to still see sedans around in 5 years!
Nice recovery from the giant tail-fin era.
I had a “64 Sedan deVille in high school back in ’74. Paid 385.00 for it w/ only 85000 miles on it and no rust. mine had the climate control a/c and ended up needing a heater core, nightmare of a job. I worked nights in a gas station then and the newest Caddy I ever saw without a/c was ’71 or ’72. Also remember a ’63 on local car lot that had zero options no a/c, manual windows and seat no power locks and no radio. It was in beautiful shape and only 500 bucks. I knew who bought and it was destroyed in a matter of months.
Geezer,I’m having a very very hard time believing that they made cads without these options,that’s why they were top of the line cars!
Series 62 was base model, those were options.
Then because the Calais.
I sold Cadillacs back in the early 80s … sure they all had AC, PW, PDL, AM/FM, but also had an “entry level” with a “velour” bench seat, no tilt wheel or CC, steel wheels with wheel covers … I’d switch buyers from a “loaded” Pontiac Parisienne with a price of $14,995 to a “loss leader” Coupe with a price of $13.995 … people would go for the name rather than a Pontiac with more equipment …
Thats a nice looking car, how is the RUST situation up there?
I love this car. Being in Georgia I would have to have a/c, and if it had factory air, a 1964 a/c system would probably need to be rebuilt any way. I think I would rather buy a car like this and put a Vintage Aire system in it so I would have a better more efficient system. V. A. probably makes a system for this car that comes with an original looking control panel so it wouldn’t look added on. Oh well, just my thoughts as I don’t have any more room or extra money to buy any more toys. Doesn’t cost anything to dream, yet.
The TH 400 was new for 64, but it was not a mid-year change. It was only used on deVilles and the Eldo convert. Ser. 62s (and 75s) continued w/the old Hydramatic until 65.
Thx!
JO
Chuck, thanks for clearing that up. I always wondered why some ’64’s had a different trans. I had a ’64 parts car that had the original hydramatic. Also had regular a/c system not climate control like mine, must have been a Series 62. Had a lot of parts I couldn’t use. A customer had ’64 that came from factory with no radio, ordered that way by a woman that was deaf. It didn’t have a block off plate, just no spot for a radio. Ambulances probably used the same dash trim piece also.
Grandfather had a black Coupe, with AC – in Louisiana you needed it … he’d reluctantly let me use it on date night at the drive-in … had a nice big back seat … he would question why the rear tires wore out so quickly – loved to do burnouts with it … traded it for a ’69 which I enjoyed with equal pleasure … now that I’m a LOT older I’ve often contemplated buying either year – they’re just big boats and so much fun to drive …