1975 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Caribou

Description

The 1975 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Caribou marked a unique chapter in Cadillac's history by blending luxury with utility in a way that few vehicles have. Starting with a standard Coupe DeVille, the Caribou Motor Company, of Grover City, California, would transform the Cadillac into a luxury "passenger car pickup” — think high-end El Camino or Ranchero — by modifying the rear section of the DeVille to include a pickup truck bed, while retaining the interior and front-end styling of the original vehicle. Caribou began building these conversions as early as the mid-1950s and continued to create variations through the 1980s. Sometimes confused with similar Cadillac Mirage pickup conversions built by custom vehicle icon Gene Winfield, most of these Caribou conversions were designed and engineered by Lou Schorsch. 

This rare and meticulously maintained 1975 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Caribou (one of fewer than 100 produced in ’75) kept its powerful 500 cubic-inch V8 engine, plush upholstery, wood trim, as well as all the amenities expected in a Cadillac, including air conditioning, power steering, brakes, and windows, and a premium sound system. This rare ’75 Cadillac not only received the Caribou conversion, but it was given more upgrades during a two-year refurbishment beginning in 2013. 

Highlights 

• Refinished in red paint over red interior and woodgrain trim with red leather upholstery 

• Powered by a 500 cu-in V8 

• Three-speed automatic transmission  

• Modifications under current ownership include: 

  • Fresh paint 

  • Wood-lined pickup bed 

  • Removal of the factory vinyl top 

  • New Edelbrock carburetor and intake manifold 

  • New A/C compressor 

  • 9-inch Ford rear end 

  • Wilwood rear brake calipers 

  • Tubular exhaust headers 

  • MagnaFlow exhaust system 

  • Ignition kill switch 

  • Center console with cup holders 

• The chassis number (6D47S5Q166505) decodes as: 

  • 6 – Cadillac 

  • D – DeVille 

  • 47 – Two-door hardtop 

  • S – 500 cu-in V8 

  • 5 – 1975 model year 

  • Q – Detroit assembly plant 

  • 166505 – Sequential production number 

Features 

• Reinforced fiberglass construction 

• Caribou badging 

• Power steering, brakes, windows, locks, and seat 

• Automatic Climate Control 

• AM/FM/8-Track stereo with power antenna 

• 100 mph speedometer 

• Hankook Optimo H724 235/75R15 white wall tires 

Known Imperfections 

• Minor paint imperfections 

Included 

• Spare tire with cover stowed behind passenger seat 

• Caribou Motor Corporation literature 

• 2018 Cadillac & LaSalle Club Grand National Meet Senior Award 

Ownership History 

The Louisiana owner of this 1975 Cadillac Caribou purchased the car in December 2013 and gave it a two-year refresh with additional upgrades.