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14,380 Miles! 1985 Cadillac Seville

This beautiful 1985 Cadillac Seville is a low mileage, a time-warp specimen with just over 14,000 miles from new. The bustle-back styling is just as riveting today as it was all those years ago, and while we’ve seen plenty of these second-generation Sevilles looking absolutely pathetic in the forgotten corner of a used car lot, ones that still shine like new with fresh white-wall tires will stop you in your tracks. This example is mint all the way through, from perfect chrome bumpers to the cushiest interior you’ve ever seen. Find the Cadillac here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $19,500 and the option to submit a best offer.

The seller makes the bold statement that the Cadillac belongs in a museum, and to be fair, it looks like it should at least be kept indoors and not used as a daily driver. Then again, should it be kept off the road, never again seeing the sort of usage that approaches daily-driver levels of activity? I’m not so sure. It’s a collector car, sure, but not one that will ever rise much higher than it’s current asking price – and even then, the seller is open to best offers. The Seville of this generation was significant for its styling, but not for any sort of major boost to the Cadillac brand as an engineering powerhouse or serious competitor to the European marques.

Still, the Seville introduced numerous features that would later become commonplace on high-end models. A digital gauge cluster; run-flat tires; memory seats; heated outside mirrors – the list goes on. The diesel engine also came into a new sort of prominence with this era of the Seville, but again, it wasn’t the sort of engineering triumph that made the Seville a stand-out; instead, reliability woes made it notorious fairly quickly, and even the gasoline engine suffered from engine management issues. Fortunately, those problems aren’t likely to anything the next owner has to deal with in the short term given the low odometer reading. However, with an interior like this, you may be racking up the miles quickly.

The Seville isn’t alone in the seller’s collection of pristine Cadillacs, and even he calls it one of the best older models he’s ever owned. The engine bay is pristine, as is the hood pad which has usually fallen off in chunks by now is completely intact. Cadillacs from the 1980s aren’t typically among the most desirable models from a pure value standpoint, but as a hobby car that’s easy to maintain and loves to eat up highway miles, it’s a very sensible choice for first-time classic car shoppers. The seller has numerous other Cadillacs from this era for sale, so check out his website here if you want to scope out the full collection.

Comments

  1. Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

    This car is gorgeous. Reminds me of the car from the movie Casino that blew up, even thought that one was an Eldorado Biarritz. I won’t speak of the value, because I’m not sure, but these cars felt special in their day. I grew up with an 83 Sedan Deville and later a nicer but smaller 87 sedan Deville and Cadillacs really felt special back then. Seems like everyone has one now and they blend in with other makes.
    The author is right when he’s says these look striking when polished to the nines and dumpy sitting in the back of the lot with faded paint and missing hubcaps. This one looks too nice to drive and too nice to leave parked. Good luck to the new owner.

    Like 9
  2. Avatar daniel wright

    I thought the 4100 engine is what killed most of these early on. I remember sitting in one at a car lot in the late 1990’s and wishing we could take it home. They really were lovely cars despite the weird bustle butt.

    Like 3
  3. Avatar CCFisher

    My best friend had an ’82 in college. I drove it on occasion. The HT4100 was not worthy of the rest of the car. It felt great off the line, but once it shifted into second gear, it felt like it stopped accelerating altogether.

    This is a lovely example, but make mine black and silver two-toned Elegante with the real wire wheels.

    Like 2
  4. Avatar Kevin J Burke

    One of our electrical contractors kept one of these in our warehouse. He got mad when I put a ” Scud missile practice Fifty cents ” on the windshield. Still a nice car.

    Like 4
  5. Avatar Jasper

    My father’s boss’s wife had one. For whatever reason, they’d shuffle cars once every blue moon. Dad was amused/mortified when he drove it home. It was god awful and gaudy back then and time hasn’t done it any favors. Hers was light green with a dark green “Cabriolet” top and the fake buckles on the trunk. Those Jiffy Pop wire wheel covers were all bent and wobbled when they spun. Yuck and no thanks, I’ll take an Imperial if I want a weird American luxury car with questionable quality and a weird trunk.

    Like 8
  6. Avatar Steve Clinton

    IMHO, one of the ugliest cars GM ever produced.

    Like 6
  7. Avatar ken tilly UK Member

    Beautiful collection of motor cars. I don’t think this young man is short of a few bucks either. Lovely cars, lovely backdrops.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Arby

    At least this was after the “V8-6-4-2-0”

    Like 1
    • Avatar Miguel

      What do you mean? That was a very strong engine.

      Are you implying the 4.1L is better than the V8-6-4?

      Like 2
    • Avatar Mike

      The basic 6.0 engine was reliable enough. It was the electronics that sucked. Fortunately you could unplug the electronics and the engine ran great on 8 cylinders all the time.

      Like 1
  9. Avatar Robert White

    Butt Fugly for sure.

    Bob

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Frank

    I had an ’82, bought it reasonable and it was a nice ride. Always had issues with the automatic heater controls.
    Was down on power for a luxury car and agree it was Fugly

    Like 1
  11. Avatar DeeBee

    I always thought the rear looked like the designer had a golf game he didn’t want to miss.

    Like 1
  12. Avatar John

    Ralph.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Miguel

    Not just no but hell no.

    The last year to buy for this car is the 1981 with the V8-6-4 engine.

    Anything with the 4.1L engine is a hard pass, no matter how nice the rest of it is.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Bob McK

    I have owned two of these and still love the style. Many hate them… So sad that it takes 20K to buy this one. I believe this is the most expensive one I have ever seen. Someone is going to love this parked in their garage.

    Like 4
  15. Avatar Bob C.

    I was never crazy about this generation, but I would still take it over the shrunken down next generation. That was when I would ask myself, “This is a Cadillac?” NO!

    Like 2
  16. Avatar Lance Platt

    That 135 horsepower gasoline engine in the front and that ugly bustle back rear end made this model stand out in the worst ways. This car for sale looks in awesome condition for a thirty five year old Cadillac. What it lacks in power to weight ratio and looks is offset by the best of GM luxury options and a comfortable ride. Would make a unique show car because of its peculiarities.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar JoeNYWF64

    I guess the long hoods on cars back then with a lots of empty space between the radiator & front of the car was just a styling trend – maybe to protect the radiator? Today, it’s the direct opposite – 1 good smack in the front & you not only have tons of expensive body damage, but you can destroy a lot of essential mechanicals – dumb! – especially with the mickey mouse “bumpers” on current vehicles.
    Is this gen Seville ALSO(like the prev gen) based on the late ’70’s Nova with a front subframe?
    I’ll always remember the prior gen of this car as the 1st American car that did not come as a 2 door! Arrgh!
    & the Plymouth Cricket as the 1st import with no 2 door variant. That car did not last long here.

    Like 0
    • Avatar SubGothius

      This gen Seville is when they became the sedan variant of the Eldorado, sharing basically the same FWD platform.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Matt Sully

      This Generation GM E Body was on the same chassis as the Eldorado, Buick Riviera, and Olds Toronado. Longitude mounted engine with the TH3254L Automatic transmission. They should have put the 307 Olds V8 like the Riviera, and Toronado. More reliable with more Torque. I had an 85 Fleetwood Brougham RWD with the HT4100 and like previous comments stated it felt ok off the line, but midrange and top end power was on the level of a Chrysler 2.2 carbureted engine. I had a 83 Riviera with the 307 Olds V8 and it would run off from my 85 Fleetwood RWD like the Caddy was sitting still.

      Like 0
  18. Avatar Fran

    That same car was on CL Knoxville TN for 6300.00. LOL

    Like 2
  19. Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

    I just looked up the eBay ad and there is another one of these in silver/grey also with 14xxx miles for almost half the money currently.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar courtney

    I’ll keep my 77 olds Tornado alot more room that that thing.

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Patrick Curran

    Cadillac was really on a bad roll during this era with some infamous “lumps” for power under the hood. The V8-6-4, the HT 4100 V8, the Diesel (blame Olds for that). Certainly GM at their very best!
    The “Standard of The World” once stood for something but unfortunately, it has been a distant memory for many, many years.

    Like 0

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