“The DeVille Concours eloquently speaks the language of the road.” Or so says a 1994 Cadillac brochure. I’m imagining this 1994 Cadillac DeVille Concours being an outstanding car for long road trips, combining a whisper-quiet and smooth ride, decent gas mileage, along with tons of room inside, and also for luggage. It’s listed here on eBay in Southlake, Texas, and the seller is asking $12,700, or you can make an offer. Thanks to T.J. for the tip!
Since there was no Coupe DeVille by the seventh generation (model years 1994 through 1999), there is no need to say Sedan DeVille Concours; there was no other body style available in this era. Legendary GM designer Chuck Jordan worked his magic on this generation of the DeVille, along with design VP Wayne Cherry. It’s a body style that is usually a love it or hate it design. What’s your take on this generation of the DeVille?
The seller’s photos are hit or miss. With so much sun and space in Texas, a few of the photos appear to have been taken with a wide-angle lens or setting, so they could be close to the car. I’m not sure why, but they make the car look even more bulbous than it does otherwise. A few verticals, shady photos, no overall front interior photos, plus no engine photo (!!), make for a bit of a disappointing presentation. Still, for what is shown, this appears to be a really nice car.
Here’s really the only interior photo showing the driver’s side, and it’s a vertical for some reason. For a big car like this, we want to see big, sweeping views of its big, sweeping beauty, not short, cropped images. All that nonsense and rambling said, I still haven’t seen a single flaw on or in this car. Even the bottom of the driver’s seat leather looks like new, as does the fat steering wheel. For 12-grand, this sure looks like a nice driving and road trip car to me.
The back seat looks perfect, but we want to see the engine! That’s what separates the Concours model from the rest: GM’s Northstar LD8, a 4.6-liter DOHC V8 with 275 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, a 75-horsepower bump in power. Backed by a 4T80-E Turbo-Hydramatic four-speed automatic sending power to the front wheels. For a two-ton car, a 7.5-second 0-60 time is pretty respectable even today. The seller says this is an 18,000-mile one-owner car, and it looks like a jewel. Would any of you use this DeVille Concours as a daily driver or a road trip car?
The pride of Del Boca Vista
Good write-up.
I agree with you Scotty, given the condition and mileage this seems like a good deal.
I don’t know anything about the Northstar LD8, I do see mixed comments about the Northstars in general.
I am sure our very knowledgeable readers will chime in.
If I was in the market for an aging luxury ride and delivery wasn’t too expensive (yeah right), I would look at this very seriously.
Good luck, I am sure someone will grab this.
I didn’t pay much attention to this generstion of Cadillac, but this one definitely caught my attention. Its in outstanding condition. I remember when these were new, a Cadillac Sedan Deville didn’t go from zero to 60 in less than 8 seconds, or even the 8 second range in many, many, years. The only thing I’d do is try to source that one missing hub cap. Great find T.J. great write up too Scotty. I enjoyed it.
They have pretty serious issues especially these early ones, mainly with the head bolts. Retrofitting it to proper head studs is a $3,000 to $5,000 job. And it’s not a matter of if it will need it, but when.
They are also known as chronic oil leakers to use oil in the combustion process as well. The engine is great on paper, but it wasn’t so good.In execution. It improved over the years but with this , you are dealing with a very early one.
If you’re willing to go into it with those asterisks, I would say go for it. I personally wouldn’t , unless the price was a lot lower.
I had a 95 Eldorado with the same engine. They use metal pipes instead of hoses for coolant that run across the back of the engine. I wanted to change the heater hoses, and from pulling the hoses off, the cheap metal pipes started leaking. It was very expensive for the dealer to replace those pipes, so I bypassed them with silicone hoses. There are also two belts, one big serpentine belt, and one small one for the water pump, which is driven off the back (or right side) of one of the overhead cams. It ran fine, and had plenty of power. This is a very nice car for someone, provided that they know what to expect from age, including what I just wrote above.
Interesting Northstar but shaped like a bar of soap left in the shower too long.
When i got married in 94 i rented one of these. I had gotten friendly with the manager over the years so i had one three days for my wedding. Had the 4.9 and was amazed at the comfort and overall power. Even had a very nice exhaust sound. I was actually sad to give it back.
I recently purchased a 1995 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham with only 18,000 miles. Mine has the 5.7 liter engine, which I prefer over the Northstar. They are extremely comfortable and a pleasure to drive. Not an easy vehicle to park in parking spaces because of its size.
Looks like a Buick Roadmaster from its side view.
Nothing stand out as Cadillac.
Not even a feather crested hood ornament?
Just lipstick on a pig for me.
I grew up in a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury family but my mother’s brother and his family were Cadillac diehards. I wasn’t a big fans of this generation either. Sorta mundane exterior but nice interior. For whatever it’s worth, part of the Concours model moved the standard DeVille’s standup hood ornament to the grill and added minuscule rear fender skirts below the side chrome trim. The Fleetwood Brougham was, IMHO, a much more desirable car for fairly close to the same price.
Not interested, 1) because I have never had good luck with a GM vehicle I know others have owned them and they have great that hasn’t been my experience 2) its the front wheel drive model I would prefer the rear wheel drive it changes how it rides and I like the comfortable ride of the rear wheel drive. Otherwise nice car
North Star? Hard pass. I can see those tortured head gaskets failing from here.
I recall when these were kind of a big deal as Cadillac was attempting to attract a younger buyer. A sporty Sedan deVille to compliment the Eldorado Touring Coupe and Seville SCS. More of a driver’s car than an SDV, Fleetwood or Sixty Special. I believe Car and Driver around then published a short list of vehicles that could accelerate to sixty mph in less than 10 seconds. So, yes, this car was special in the market place.
Wouldn’t kick it off my parking spot that’s for sure. She may not be much in the speed department
but it’s the comfort side of things
where this old gal shines. Almost
bought one (’96 Fleetwood brougham) back in 2020 from a guy over in Naples for $5K. The
check from my Mom’s estate came 5 days too late and I lost the car to another gentleman who
had the cash. Oh yeah, before I forget, we were playing a show in
Des Moines Iowa back in ’76 and
there was this really nice lady who went on before we did and she was a female Jerry Lee Lewis! She was poundin those keys like they owed her money. Well, she was getting heckled by
people in the audience because of her weight and this guy in the
back of the venue said something
about heavy women. To which
she replied to him “That’s alright
honey, us fat girls are built for
comfort not speed!”. And the whole place went batsh*t crazy!
Almost everyone there was laughing, clapping, or cheering for her. It’s the same way with a
Cadillac– they’re built for comfort not speed. Makes me wonder if
that young lady might’ve owned one.
SOLD.
Best Offer Accepted/