1966 Cadillac
Cadillac enjoyed its first 200,000-car year for calendar
'66, breaking the barrier by precisely 5001 units. A mild facelift brought a new
front bumper and grille, plus more integrated taillight housings. The 75 switched
to the new perimeter frame and was fully restyled for the first time since 1959.
Variable-ratio power steering was a new option, as were carbon-cloth seat heating
pads. The Fleetwood Brougham became a separate model, still more luxuriously trimmed
than the plain-roof Sixty Special and priced about $320 higher.
1966 Cadillac Notes
- Cadillac features variable-ratio power steering
- Best ever sales and production year in Cadillac history.
- Second year running for sales increases, despite a downturn in the overall market for U.S. cars.
- First season for delivery of more than 200,000 new units.
- A record of 5,570 one-week builds was marked December 5 and a record one-day output of 1,017 cars was achieved October 27.
- The 1966 models were introduced October 14, 1965.
- Towards the end of the summer 1966, a new assembly line was setup to manufacture front-wheel-drive Eldorados conforming to 1967 model specifications.
- Harold G. Warner was general manager until April, then Kenneth N. Scott took the helm until September when Calvin J. Werner became general manager
- Carl A. Rasmussen was chief engineer
- Stanley Parker was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
- Fred H. Murray was general sales manager until September
- L. N. Mays became general sales manager in September
- Cadillac production figures
Calais28,680 (decreased 5,531)
Sedan de Ville72,410 (increased 11,875)
Coupe de Ville50,580 (increased 7,235)
de Ville convertible19,200 (increased 0)
Eldorado2,250 (increased 125)
Series 6019,085 (increased 985)
Series 754,480 (increased 561)