1976 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
The 1976 Coupe DeVille closed out six years of fourth-generation production as the last full-size version of the nameplate. The 1971-1976 GM C-body platform set a record for interior width (64.3 inches of front shoulder room on Cadillac) that would not be matched until full-size GM rear-wheel-drive models returned in the early 1990s.
For 1976, the grille received finer crosshatching, and cornering lamp bezels gained additional bright trim. Vinyl tops used integral padded Elk grain material, with the Cabriolet padded landau roof treatment among the more popular options.
Standard equipment included power windows and door locks, variable-ratio power steering, a power six-way seat, automatic climate control, and an AM/FM stereo with power antenna.
Under the hood sat a 500 CI V-8 rated at 190 horsepower (SAE net) and 360 lb-ft of torque, paired with a three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic.
The nameplate itself traced back to the 1949 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, introduced as a pillarless two-door hardtop in the Series 62 lineup and inspired by the 1949 Coupe de Ville show car displayed at the 1949 GM Motorama.
By 1976, Cadillac built 114,482 examples of the Coupe DeVille alone (its best year), before a substantially downsized successor arrived for 1977.
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