Cadillac Introduction Models & History 1964
Designrevisions for ’64 were minor. Even lower tailfins created a straight-through beltline, accentuating length; grilles got a body-color horizontal bar; and taillamp housings were reshaped. A new automatic heating/air-conditioning system maintained a set temperature regardless of outside conditions—a Cadillac feature ever since. More significant was a 6.4 Liter bored and stroked to 7 Liter, good for 340 bhp. Unit volume improved to near 166,000.
HISTORICAL NOTES
1964 Cadillac Notes
- Cadillac introduces automatic temperature control for heat and air conditioning to maintain temperature at pre-set value
- Cadillac introduces Twilight Sentinel which automatically controls the lights
- Harold G. Warner was general manager
- Charles F. Arnold was chief engineer
- Stanley Parker became 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
Series 6252,979 (decreased 12,894) Sedan de Ville54,301 (increased 8,576) Coupe de Ville38,195 (increased 6,446) Eldorado1,870 (increased 45) Series 6014,550 (increased 550) Series 754,064 (increased 62)
1964 Automotive Notes
- Chevrolet introduces the intermediate size Chevelle
- Mercury introduces the Comet Caliente
- Oldsmobile introduces the Jetstar 88 and Jetstar I
- Studebaker introduces the Challenger
- Ford introduces the Mustang
- Plymouth introduces the Barracuda
- All cars have front seatbelts
- Hardtops are on a quarter of new cars
- V-8 engines move from 66% to 69% of new cars this year
- Studebaker uses GM engines
- GM makes “Park-Reverse-Neutral-Drive-Low” the standard configuration for automatic transmission selector, others adopt it next year
- Chevy II gets the 283-cid V-8 (4.6 litre) and 4-speed manual transmission as options
- Corvair uses a transverse rear camber-compensating spring to improve handling
- Dodge Dart and Plymouth Valiant get a 273-cid V-8 (4.5 litre)
- Studebaker SS Roadster prototype will become the Excalibur in 1965
- Thunderbird features “Silent-Flo” ventilation
- Mercury adds a Cyclone hardtop
- Oldsmobile Cutlass adds the 4-4-2 muscle car
- Pontiac introduces the GTO muscle car
- John F. Gordon was president of GM
- Frederic G. Donner was chairman of the board at GM
- Top American Automobile Corporations for 1964
1. General Motors4,217,407 (increased 382,398) 2. Ford1,928,999 (increased 70,781) 3. Chrysler1,274,616 (increased 196,981) 4. Others422,419 (decreased 82,532)
- Top model year production for 1964
Chevrolet2,094,556 Ford1,501,628 Pontiac738,317 Plymouth596,221 Buick510,490 Special184,632 LeSabre135,167 Wildcat84,245 Electra 22568,792 Riviera37,658 Dodge501,781 Oldsmobile493,991 Rambler379,412 Mercury298,609 Corvair191,915 Cadillac165,909 Series 6252,979 DeVille92,496 Eldorado1,870 Series 60 Special14,550 Series 754,064 Chrysler153,319 Thunderbird92,465 Studebaker36,697 Lincoln36,297 Imperial23,295 Corvette22,229 Checker6,310 Alfa-Romeo65,193 Alpine350
Keyword: Cadillac Introduction History 1964