When the second-generation Cadillac Seville was introduced, America’s predominant luxury brand was trying to combat a challenge it still wrestles with today: how to win over younger buyers and get them into the showroom. The dramatic redesign of the Seville along with numerous engineering updates, like a switch to front-wheel drive, were all done in hopes of bringing someone other than little old ladies into the car store to check out the Seville. It didn’t work, obviously, but there is newfound appreciation for this wildly different Seville. Find this low-mileage example here on eBay with bids to $14,600 and the reserve unmet.
The mere fact that the reserve remains unmet and that the Seville has gotten this many bids seems to suggest that the “bustle back” Caddy has shed some of it demons from years ago when this model generation was largely ignored. There were numerous quality control issues at the time, including a disastrous diesel engine option, along with the V8-6-4 “variable displacement” technology that never worked as intended. Cadillac certainly was shooting for the moon with its overhauled Seville and the list of industry-first features was long and varied. In the case of this car, it appears to remain in stunning condition.
Opulence, of course, came standard with the Caddy, and deeply cushioned leather seats and thick carpeting was everywhere you looked. This generation of the Seville also introduced a digital instrument cluster along with other novelties like self-sealing tires, memory seats, and heated outside mirrors. The engine options were numerous but sadly, all of them were suffering from malaise-era hangovers, with large displacements and meager output. The seller’s car is equipped with what I believed would be the 4.1L LT8 V8, which had an output of 135 horsepower.
The seller confirms this Caddy was owned by a long-term elderly owner, and it appears he or she checked the box for numerous accessories when new. This includes a brand-new 5th wheel with a corresponding continental kit that was never installed, and that’s the original grille next to it. The reason the grille was removed is because this Seville comes with the “24K Gold Edition” trim option which upgraded the nose trim to “Rolls Royce”-style setup. I can only imagine how much it cost to buy this Seville when new, because it sure seems like the selling dealer got the buyer to check every single add-on possible. What do you think is a fair selling price for this well-preserved Seville?
Stunning Seville 🎩
Stunningly ugly.
Fake convertible top makes no sense – espec on a 4 door that’s not a hardtop.
I’ll take a “fake convertible” like this any day over the myriad of look-alike anonymous SUVs that are all over the roads today.
Depending on which angle you look, they can either look stunning or just plain weird (where’s the rest of it?). Still, I like pseudo-classic cars like this. They’re not making anything like these any more.
My El Dorado has the 350 Diesel which actually runs better than the Hook and Tow 4100 V-8. Can’t tell you how often I’m asked if I wanna sell it. Turned down a $25,000 dollar offern not long after I acquired it. Damn near everything on the car is new/replaced, including the engine and most peripherals. I don’t drive it in the winter because the heater core is by-passed and, I wouldn’t drive it in the winter anyway. I think it was damaged when the head gasket “blew”. That’s why the engine was replaced with a “Goodwrench” factory replacement. These diesel engines are bulletproof when properly cared for.
I once costed out my 84 Seville and it came to about $30,000 in 1984 dollars. Mine has a sunroof, digital dash, and continental kit which I have no idea what that cost.
I like it! GM took a chance, didn’t work out but when these came out it reminded me of the 1930’s cars for rich and famous dudes. I did have a 80 Seville, which I really liked until it got Tboned by a F250 with my wife driving it.
They totaled it and my wife wanted a wagon. Thanks for the posting.
I thought these were ludicrous when they first came out-the kind of shape a bored 10 year old would draw in class-not to to mention the notorious teething problems-but I must admit this one is quite attractive! I’d drive it-I even like the fake landau top! How do they handle? (when properly set up)
A smooth ride as one would expect from an old Cadillac.
I love these Sevilles. It definitely would look like a car again without that crappy looking roof and nose cap. Dealer add-ons never looked good on these cars.
This avenue of US vehicle styling always made me think that they’d been hit awfy hard from behind. You’ve still got the long bonnet and the big buttoned velour cabin left over from the 70s – but then there’s this stumpy down-facing bootlid.
The 4100 was a total disaster. I made a lot of money junking these not so fine automobiles. The trannys were also not one of GMs best. “A” for effort, “D”for actual product.
No problems with my 1984.
Park it next to the 4 dr cuda . .
Ended at $15,600.
Reserve Not Met.