1969 Cadillac
Cadillac built a record 266,798 cars for calendar 1969, enough to grab ninth place in
the industry rankings. For the model year, though, it was still 11th at a little over
223,000, up some 3000 units from '68.
Eldorado was much the same as before, except that headlights were no longer hidden
behind flip-up grille panels. Standards were restyled fore and aft, the major change
being a return to horizontal headlamps. Parking lights wrapped around the front
fenders and flanked a taller grille, still prominently vee'd. A somewhat unpopular
change was the elimination of front vent windows. Per Washington edict, no-cost
equipment now included front headrests, energy-absorbing steering column, pushbutton
seatbelt buckles, ignition-key warning buzzer, and anti-theft steering
column/transmission lock. Prices ran from just above $5400 for a Calais to well over
$10,000 for the 75 limousine.
Though hardly the innovator it had been in years past (the Eldorado notwithstanding),
Cadillac made all the right moves during the Sixties. Offering its renowned
combination of luxury, performance, and style, the company managed to defend its
title as "Standard of the World" -- or at least of America. While its return to more
conservative styling actually lagged behind the rest of the industry, it seems only
proper that the company responsible for giving birth to the tailfin should also be
the last to abandon it.
1969 Cadillac Notes
- Dealer introduction for 1969 Cadillacs and Eldorados was held September 26, 1968.
- Production of the Eldorado body for 1969 was transferred from the Fleetwood plant
in Detroit to the Fisher Body plant in Euclid, Ohio.
- Cadillac enjoyed its fifth consecutive record sales year and built over 250,000
units for the first time in company history. (Calendar year figures).
- Strikes again affected the 1969 model run and production of cars built to 1969
specifications peaked at 223,267 units, of which 199,934 were regular Cadillacs.
- Total production fell 2.9 percent over the 1968 model run.
- Cadillac features a sealed cooling system with an overflow tank
- Calvin J. Werner was general manager until July
- George R. Elges became general manager in July
- Carl A. Rasmussen was chief engineer
- Stanley Wilen was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
- F. T. Hopkins was general sales manager
- Cadillac production figures
Calais12,425 (decreased 5,765)
Sedan de Ville80,848 (decreased 1,664)
Coupe de Ville65,755 (increased 1,820)
de Ville convertible16,445 (decreased 1,580)
Eldorado23,333 (decreased 1,195)
Series 6019,845 (increased 1,245)
Series 754,586 (increased 373)