We’ve recently seen a few classics crossing our desks at Barn Finds that have emerged from deceased estates. This 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman continues that trend and is an unmolested survivor. It has a few flaws and imperfections, but with a claimed 16,000 original miles on its odometer, it should offer its next owner years of luxurious classic motoring pleasure.
The history of this Cadillac is slightly vague, although the seller indicates it is a one-owner classic that has been garage-kept. That helps explain why its Georgian Silver paint is free from significant fading or patchiness. That isn’t to say that this classic is perfect, because the seller identifies chips and other minor paint issues in this excellent YouTube walkaround video. It also clearly shows the rust bubbles developing under the Black vinyl top, which is something the winning bidder will probably address fairly quickly to avoid further deterioration. There is no evidence of other areas of developing rust, and the panels are as straight as an arrow. The tinted glass looks exceptional, while the trim and chrome are in good order.
The seller supplies no engine shots in their listing, so I grabbed this as a screenshot from the previously mentioned video. The engine bay houses a 500ci V8, with the car’s luxury credentials cemented by the three-speed automatic transmission and power-assisted steering and brakes. This Caddy demonstrates how deeply emission regulations bit into engine performance during this period, placing 190hp and 360 ft/lbs of torque at the driver’s disposal. However, since buyers focused more on comfort than outright performance, few worried about how their new purchase would perform at the local strip. It is also worth remembering that if someone could afford to drive this car off the showroom floor, they probably didn’t care that they received single-digit fuel consumption figures. The seller claims this Fleetwood has a genuine 16,000 miles on its odometer. I typically treat such statements cautiously, but it appears they may hold verifying evidence in the comprehensive collection of included documentation. The car runs and drives perfectly, with this YouTube video revealing no evidence of noise, rattles, or other problems.
This Cadillac’s interior is a see of Red trim, with the seat leather particularly noteworthy for its lack of visible wear. The carpet and factory floor mats are spotless, and the same is true of the headliner and woodgrain trim. There is evidence of a developing crack on the dashpad to the right of the gauge cluster which might be repairable if the new owner nabs it now. Otherwise, this interior has no visible needs and a long list of creature comforts that function as they should. The buyer receives ice-cold climate-control air conditioning, power windows, power locks, six-way power front seats, a Twilight Sentinel, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM stereo radio with a power antenna.
Although it isn’t perfect, the interest generated by this 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman demonstrates that people like what they see. It has received twenty-five bids since the seller listed it here on eBay in Lynnwood, Washington. Throw in the 126 people who have placed it on their Watch List and the 900 views the listing has received in the past day, and it is easy to see why it has surged beyond the reserve to $12,800. Two days remain for that figure to climb, but how high do you think it will go?
Not a talisman
The price is definitely a Bon Marche compared to today’s glorified trucks masquerading as Cadillac Luxury vehicles. I didn’t know the Talisman came with Leather interior. All I have seen were upholstered in plush velvet. I expect this LAND YACHT will be gone before other comments post with someone making an offer the seller can’t refuse!
It is not a Talisman. It’s just a regular Brougham. Not even a d’elegance.
Love that 500 motor 💪
Talisman did NOT come with leather. Either it’s not a legit Talisman or someone changed seats. That is definitely the pattern that a standard Fleetwood Brougham used.
You could get Leather in some years of Talisman’s but it is
very rare.
Sweet mother of god, enough Mustangs already!
That is a Fleetwood, but NOT a Talisman. I can tell by the seats, pictures of which can easily be found online. Gorgeous car, I wish I could buy it.
Nice Fleetwood, but nowhere in the eBay ad does the seller refer to it as a Talisman…
Correct—that red leather interior is straight FLEETWOOD, and not a Talisman. The whole focal point of the Talisman was the velour captain’s chair front seats with that huge center console! I know—I drove one for a year! Also, the body-colored wheel covers ONLY came in black on C-bodies in 1976. So those have probably been painted. This is a nice `76; don’t get me wrong it’s just not the model the seller has this listed as.
@Will Fox
The 1974 Fleetwood Talisman had 4 velour seats and a full length console going between the two rear seats. That was ONLY for 1974. 1975 and 1976 had a regular bench rear seat. They also had foot stools in the rear set, akin to a limousine.
I owned a 1975 Fleetwood Talisman in 1987. It was red, red vinyl top and red interior. But all was a darker red than this fire engine red interior.
It had the d’elegance options, stand up hood ornament, opera lights, etc.
Back in the mid 1970s you could still order your car the way you wanted it. Even with packages of options you could still change a few things up. My ’75 Talisman had leather interior.
My ’76 Coupe de Ville had the d’elegance package, but tan leather interior.
So, either they ordered the d’elegance package and deleted the velour seating for leather, or they ordered leather interior and separately ordered the d’elegance options separately as there was no c-pillar d’elegance designation.
None of my 1970s Cadillacs had velour interiors. They all had leather.
My ’74 Coupe de Ville, my ’75 Fleetwood Talisman, my ’75 Eldorado convertible and my ’76 Coupe de Ville.
This car represents Cadillac’s pinocle. It’s all been downhill for Cadillac since. Talk about terrible management decisions! Just look at Cadillac now. Pathetic European wannabes!
No where in the sellers description does he list Talisman edition.
I still struggle when I see uneven numbers on the odometer. But that’s me. Beautiful car..
Snake oil salesman. He was minimizing the amount of rust under the top and body damage. He was also panning the camera too fast and racing the motor too fast. I HIGHLY doubt this is a 16,000 mile car judging by my video observation. An engine oil analysis would prove otherwise. It’s not unusual for these cars to retain their condition if maintained properly. So I’m not drinking the Kool aid.
No way this car has 16,000 actual miles and waz garage kept. The only two reasons it rusted under the vinyl top were repeated washings and being driven in foul weather. I drove these cars new and they were a tank.
My brother had a Talisman. I remember a velour interior and an air conditioned center console (keeps the booz cold) that ran from front to back. Imagine a huge 4 door Cadillac that only sat 4 drunks.
This Cadillac is not a Talisman