For 1972, there were five models offered: Calais (two-door hardtop coupe and four-door hardtop sedan), deVille (two-door coupe and four-door sedan), Fleetwood Sixty-Special (four-door brougham), Fleetwood Seventy-five (four-door sedan, four-door limousine, and commercial chassis used in hearses and ambulances, etc.), and Fleetwood Eldorado (two-door hardtop coupe and two-door convertible)
1972 Cadillac
In 1972, Cadillac marked its 70th anniversary with a refined line of cars that would set sales records. Cadillac built 267,787 cars which included a black Eldorado that President Nixon gave to the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev. Introductions of the 1972 line took place in September, 1971 with production continuing until July 7, 1972. Calendar year production peaked at 266,780 cars and model year output hit 267,787 units. It was a record breaking year.
I.D. NUMBERS
Character
Type
Indication
First
number
“6” to indicate production by Cadillac
Second
letter
indicates the series as follows:
C=Calais
D=DeVille
B=Brougham
L=Eldorado
F=Fleetwood 75
Third & fourth
numbers
indicates the body type:
47=Coupe
49=Sedan
67=Convertible
69=Brougham
23=6 pass Limo
33=9 pass Limo
Fifth
letter
Engine:
R=472 cid
S=500 cid
Sixth
number
Model year.
2= 1972
Seventh
letter
Manufacturing point.
Q=Detroit, MI
E=Linden, NJ
Eighth – thirteenth
numbers
The sequential production code
The GM serial numbering system changed slightly this year to incorporate an alphabetical series code and a new alphabetical code designating engine type. The serial number was again located on top of the instrument panel where it was visible through the windshield.
STYLE
Model Name
Model No.
Body/ Style No.
Body Type
Seating
Factory price
Shipping weight
Production total
Calais
682/C
C49-N
4-dr HT Sedan
6 pass.
$5938
4698 lb
3875
Calais
682/C
C47-G
2-dr HT Coupe
6 pass.
$5771
4642 lb
3900
DeVille
683/D
D49-B
4-dr HT Sedan
6 pass.
$6390
4762 lb
99,531
DeVille
683/D
D47-J
2-dr HT Coupe
6 pass.
$6168
4682 lb
95,280
Fleetwood Sixty-Special
681/B
B69-P
4-dr Brougham
6 pass.
$7637
4858 lb
20,750
Fleetwood Seventy-Five
697/F
F23-R
4-dr Sedan
6 pass.
$11,948
5620 lb
995
Fleetwood Seventy-Five
697/F
F33-S
4-dr Limousine
9 pass.
$12,080
5742 lb
960
Fleetwood Seventy-Five
698/Z
69890Z
Commercial chassis
–
$-
– lb
2462
Fleetwood Eldorado
693/L
L67-E
2-dr Conv. Coupe
6 pass.
$7681
4966 lb
7975
Fleetwood Eldorado
693/L
L47-H
2-dr HT Sport Coupe
6 pass.
$7360
4880 lb
32,099
ENGINE
Engine type
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 at 4400 rpm
Brake horsepower (gross SAE)
345 at 4400 rpm
Torque
365 ft. lbs @2400 rpm
Oil pressure
35 psi
Carburetor
Rochester four-barrel Quadrajet Model 4MV
CHASSIS
Model
Wheelbase
Overall length
Tires
Commercial chassis
157.5 in
–
L-78 x 15
Seventy-Five
151.5 in
250 in
Sixty-special
133 in
232 in
Eldorado
126.3
223 in
All others
130 in
229 in
DRIVETRAIN 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 (Eldorado)
$36
Rear window defogger (other models)
$31
Eldorado grid type rear window defogger
$62
Door edge guards in 2-door
$6
Door edge guards in 4-door
$9
Power door locks for 75s
$115
Power door locks for others
$69
Power door locks with electric seat back release in coupes and convertibles
$69
Dual Comfort seat in DeVille & Eldorado
$103
Front and rear floor mats twin type in 75s
$10
One piece front and rear floor mats for Eldorado
$19
Twin type floor mats in other models
$16
Soft Ray tinted glass
$57
Convertible hard boot
$40
Bumper impact strips
$24
License frame(s)
$6/1; $11/2
Remote control right mirror (standard on 75s)
$26
Brougham and 75 opera lamps
$51
Firemist paint
$128
AM/FM pushbutton Radio
$183
AM/FM signal-seeking stereo Radio
$320
AM/FM radio with tape
$406
AM/FM stereo signal-seeking with rear control in 75s
$410
Full vinyl padded top for DeVille, including “halo” on Coupe DeVille
$152
Custom Cabriolet Eldorado Coupe roof
$360
Full vinyl Eldorado padded top
$157
Power seat options
$89-115
Shoulder belts in convertible front seat or rear seat all models
$31
Tilt and Telescope steering wheel
$92
DeVille/Eldorado/Brougham sun roof with vinyl or padded roof mandatory
$610
Sunroof with Eldorado Coupe Custom Cabriolet treatment
Stanley Wilen was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
F. T. Hopkins was general sales manager
Cadillac production figures
Calais7,775 (increased 846)
Sedan de Ville99,531 (increased 30,186)
Coupe de Ville95,280 (increased 29,199)
Eldorado40,074 (increased 12,706)
Series 6020,750 (increased 5,550)
Series 754,377 (increased 763)
1972 Automotive Notes
Sales for 1972 topped 8.6 million cars
US Congress revokes the price freeze and auto excise tax
Buzzers and warning lights remind occupants to fasten seatbelts
Almost all engines run on low-lead regular gasoline
Advertized horsepower and torque are published as “net” instead of “gross.” Although the much lower figure is a more accurate measurement, most people erroneously suppose that pollution equipment attributed to the lower figures.
As convertible sales declines, most automakers offer a powered or manually operated sunroof
The Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) in Detroit changes its name to the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association (MVMA)
Eaton Corp. tests air bags with human passengers
Prestolite introduces a maintenance-free battery
Fiberglass radial-ply tires are big sellers
GM news:
Edward N. Cole was president of GM
Richard C. Gerstenberg was chairman of the board at GM
GM cars get energy-absorbing bumpers — a year ahead of government requirements
Chevrolet takes back the lead over Ford by 174,000 units
Chevelle and Monte Carlo still offer the big 454 V-8, but the Monte Carlo SS departs
Last year for Chevelle SS option
Last year for Camaro SS and big block engine
Two Corvette show cars — the GT 2-Rotor and the Aero-Vette 4-Rotor — carry experimental Wankel rotary engines
Pontiac offers solid-state ignition systems to replace breaker points
Pontiac’s GTO is now a Le Mans option package
Firebird and Camaro sales continue to drop and GM worries about the future of performance cars
Oldsmobile moves from fifth to third followed by Plymouth and Pontiac
Last year for the Cutlass convertible, the 4-4-2 is just an appearance and handling option
Buick Skylark hardtop offered an optional sliding fabric sunroof
Buick GS455 returns, but the GSX is only an appearance package
GM tests an OBD (on-board diagnostic) system which will later become common
GM plans to install a Wankel rotary engine in the Vega for 1975, but it doesn’t materialize
Ford news:
Ford is the only automaker to offer new models: Torino/Montego, Thunderbird, and Continental Mark IV
200 Mercurys with air bags go to Allstate Insurance as part of a pilot project
Ford adds a 3-door wagon to Pintos with a woody-look Squire option
The larger Torino gets body-on-frame construction
Ford sells nearly half a million Pintos
The Cobra muscle car is dropped
Mustang loses the big-block V-8s and discontinues the Boss 351
Thunderbird shares the structure with Continental Mark IV, but there is no sedan
Thunderbird has four-wheel disc brakes available with “Sure-Track” anti-lock braking
The White House gets an armor-plated 34-inch stretch Lincoln Continental
Ford signs an agreement to develop a Sterling external-combustion engine, but it doesn’t materialize
Chrysler news:
Chrysler offers solid-state ignition systems to replace breaker points
An electronic digital clock is standard on Imperials and optional on other Chryslers
Chrysler replaces the 383-cid (6.3 litre) with a 400-cid (6.6 litre)
Dodge and Plymouth replace the 426-cid with the 400-cid (6.6 litre), but keeps the 440-cid (7.2 litre)
Charger R/T and Super Bee are dropped
There are no more Plymouth convertibles or the GTX or big-block Barracudas