Cadillac Calais History 1973

CALAIS

New energy absorbing bumpers were seen on GM cars this year and brought Cadillac styling refinements with them. Grilles were widened and had an intricate egg crate design. Larger, vertical rectangles housed the parking lamps between wide spaced headlamps, which had square bezels, but round lenses. Bumpers ran fully across the front of the cars and wrapped around each end. Vertical guards were spaced much wider apart, at a point outboard of the grille. The rear end had a bumper with a wider, flatter upper section housing an angled license plate recess. Border outline moldings, vertically “veed,” paralleled the fender edge shape at the rear body sides. Single, rectangular rear side marker lamps, horizontally mounted, were placed over and under the rear tip of the thin belt line trim. Cadillac scripts were seen on the front fender sides, below the belt molding, behind the wheel opening. Cloth upholstery was standard and equipment features were comparable to 1972.

MODEL DESCRIPTION
Model Body/style
Number
Body Type Seating Price Weight Production
total
Calais
6C C47/G 2-door Hardtop Coupe 6 pass $5886 4900 4,202
6C C49/N 4-door Hardtop Sedan 6 pass $6038 4953 3,798

 

ENGINE
Engine type V-8 Overhead valves. Cast iron block
Main bearings Five
Valve lifters Hydraulic
Displacement 472 cubic inches (7.7 litres)
Bore and stroke 4.300 x 4.060 inches (109 mm x 103 mm)
Compression ratio 8.5:1
Brake horsepower (net SAE) 220 @ 4400 rpm
Torque 365 ft. lbs @ 2400 rpm
Oil pressure 35 psi
Carburetor Rochester four-barrel Quadrajet Model 4MV

The 1973 Cadillac engines were the same as the 1972 except for a new EGR (exhaust gas recirculation system). The ’73 model was now calculated by the SAE net horsepower rating.

CHASSIS FEATURES
Model Wheelbase Overall length Tires
Commercial chassis 157.5 in L-78 x 15
Seventy-Five 151.5 in 251 in
Sixty-special 133 in 232 in
Eldorado 126.3 222 in
Calais & DeVille 130 in 231 in
The chassis features are the same as 1972 except overall length is two inches more on Calais/DeVilles/Broughams; one inch more for Seventy-Fives; one inch less for Eldorados.

 

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS
Cruise control $92
Controlled differential (except Eldorado) $56
Eighty-Amp generator $41
Heavy-duty cooling system $56
Exhaust emission system, required on all cars built for California sale $15
Trailer Towing package (Eldorado) $62
Trailer Towing package (all other models) $92
Trackmaster $205

 

CONVENIENCE OPTIONS
Automatic Climate Control $523
Automatic Level Control $77
Rear window defogger $31
Lefthand remote control thermometer mirror $15
Door edge guards in 2-door $6
Door edge guards in 4-door $9
Lighted righthand visor vanity mirror $43
Power door locks $69
Power door locks with electric seat back release in coupes and convertibles $69
Dual Comfort seat in DeVille $103
Twin type floor mats $16
Soft Ray tinted glass $57
Bumper impact strips $24
License frame(s) $6/1; $11/2
Remote control right mirror $26
Firemist paint $128
Theft deterrent system $80
AM/FM pushbutton Radio $183
AM/FM signal-seeking stereo Radio $320
AM/FM radio with tape $406
Full vinyl padded top for DeVille, including “halo” on Coupe DeVille $152
Power seat options $89-115
DeLuxe robe and pillow $85
Shoulder belts in rear seat $31
Tilt and Telescope steering wheel $92
DeVille sun roof with vinyl or padded roof mandatory $610
Remote control trunk lock $56
Trunk mat $8
Twilight Sentinel $40
Expanded vinyl Calais upholstery $41
Expanded leather upholstery in DeVille $169
White sidewall L78-15 tires $41
Steel-belted radial ply tires, size L78 x 15 with Space Saver spare $156