CADILLAC MIRAGE SERIES
It looked like a Cadillac…The 1967 Calais Series had the same distinguished styling that characterized all 1967 rear-drive Cadillacs. The 1967 Cadillac Calais makes a cameo appearance…in the continuing saga of “As the Standard of the World Turns.” A Cadillac Calais was a proud and sound motoring investment, and included the unsurpassed enjoyment of Cadillac ownership. The 1967 Calais was priced favorably with comparably equipped cars of lesser stature. The Cadillac Calais models were impressive in their beauty and stature. The Calais Series provided complete Cadillac luxury, craftsmanship, styling, and long-lasting value. “Standard of the World” in luxury and practicality…the Calais Series represented the easiest step to the “car of cars.” The Cadillac Calais was equipped with the same great V8 engine and Turbo Hydra-Matic Drive that powered all 1967 Cadillacs. How about that.…in the continuing saga of “As the Standard of the World Turns”
As the original ad below illustrates, Traditional Coachworks filled another void in the Cadillac lineup with a nicely-proportioned four-door station wagon version. While that’s hardly cheap, it’s in the realm of affordable, and have you priced a new Cadillac lately? Meanwhile, here’s a notion. We’ve seen well-restored examples changing hands at the Barrett-Jackson auctions and elsewhere in the $40,000 range. Production data is a bit sketchy, but it’s said that approximately 200 to 220 units were built, and it seems that a useful number of them still exist today. Reportedly, it more than doubled the $8,800 list price of the production Coupe DeVille on which it was based. The high-quality Mirage conversion wasn’t cheap. Among the extra-cost options was a golf-club compartment in the right-rear quarter panel, recalling the similar feature in coachbuilt cars of the Classic era.
CADILLAC MIRAGE WINDOWS
One noteworthy feature of the Mirage that distinguishes it from most other Caddy pickup conversions is the pair of opera or quarter windows in the greenhouse, which serve to lengthen the cab section of the body and stretch out the lines. Legendary California customizer Gene Winfield was reportedly associated with the company at some point, which boasted Evel Knievel among its first customers. We wouldn’t dream of even trying to list all the commercial and private builders who performed Cadillac pickup conversions, but one of the more popular examples was the one we feature here: the Mirage, produced in 1975-76 by Traditional Coachworks of Chatsworth, California. (Not to be confused with Cadillac flower cars, which share the general proportions of a pickup but with a stainless steel platform in lieu of an actual pickup bed.) While the factory never saw sufficient demand for a Caddy pickup, a number of specialty shops stepped in to satisfy the limited but enthusiastic demand.
CADILLAC MIRAGE FULL
You know, like an El Camino but in Cadillac form, with full Cadillac Style. No, we mean a more traditional sedan-based pickup.
Cadillac did indeed produce a pickup-the Suburban-based Escalade EXT four-door of 2002-2013. What if Cadillac made a pickup truck? Hold on, many of you are saying. Many a Cadillac fan has wished for an El Camino-style pickup version of their favorite luxury cruiser, and a few builders managed to make their dreams come true.
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