Every time you think all of the pristine seventies luxury barges have been discovered, our favorite car spotter T.J. comes up with another one. This time he has, like the automotive archaeologist that he is, dug up a great example of the last of the huge Cadillac coupes. Feast your eyes upon this 1976 Cadillac Coupe deVille for sale on Craigslist in the northern suburbs of scenic Chicago, Illinois. With just 66,000 miles, no visible rust, and a stunning silver body with a red-leather interior color combination, is this the loaded Cadillac you dream of adding to your collection? Is the $15,900 asking price a fair estimation of its value, or is the seller a bit ambitious in this case?
1976 was the end of the line for the really big Cadillacs. Having been produced from 1971 through 1976, these fourth-generation behemoths fell victim to fuel prices and ever-tightening government regulations. The Cadillac Coupe deVille and Sedan deVille would be downsized in the next year, and Cadillac’s enormous 400+ cubic inch engines would be gone entirely by the time the decade of the eighties rolled around. Many feel that 1976 was the last year for real Cadillacs, as the size, weight, and general characteristics that made Cadillacs so desirable would be slowly whittled away from this point.
The Cadillac coupe you see here is a stunning example of what a Cadillac coupe represented in the mid-seventies. According to the seller, this car spent its entire life in a garage. That is evident by the lack of noticeable fading in the silver paint. As many of us old timers know, GM didn’t have the best success record with silver paint lasting on their cars. A little overexposure to the sun turned cars of this era chalky and flat in no time. With the exception of a bit of cracking in the fiberglass bumper-to-body trim pieces, the exterior of this car is in excellent shape.
We are also told that this is a two-owner automobile. The second owner held on to this luxurious road barge for over 25 years. It is equipped with power seats, power locks, power windows, cruise control, a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, and a rear defroster. It even rolled off the factory floor with an 8-track tape player. Some of you younger readers may need to look up just what those were. For the rest of us, buying this car is an opportunity to put that Freddy Fender tape back into service.
A look at the interior is a testament to just how well this car was cared for. The leather seats show little cracking and none of the splitting at the seams that is typical. There is little fading of the leather or the plush carpeting. All of the dash woodgraining is still intact and the dash pad reveals no cracks. Of particular interest is the little cubby at the passenger’s right foot. This little spot for maps or a collapsible umbrella is just one of the touches that made the Cadillacs of this era so special.
Once you get past the outstanding condition of this Cadillac, then there is more good news. While we didn’t see a picture of the gargantuan 500 cubic inch V-8 that the last of the fourth-generation cars were powered by, the seller tells us that this car runs, drives, and shifts as it should. If you have never driven a Cadillac of this era, you are in for a treat. Imagine a locomotive with a steering wheel riding on a track of marshmallow cream. These cars were big, gulped gas like there was no such thing as OPEC, and provided their owners with an experience that is no longer offered by any vehicle produced today. The price may be high, but the experience is sublime. Hopefully, this car finds itself in the care of someone who will keep it in the same condition.
Do you think this Cadillac is priced correctly? Do you remember riding in or driving one of these fine automobiles? Please share your opinion or experiences in the comments.
I would put a flying lady hood ornament on and ride around in style.
Once saw a 73 Series 75 limo parked with custom ROLLS-ROYCE type grille and Statue of Liberty hood ornament. Vanity plate on front read MAFIA STAFF CAR. You toucha My car, I breaka your face. And it was in Chicago. A descendant of 😉
My first car at 16,but had the Sedan DeVille in Firethorn Red and matching interior. It was 13 years old when my dad gave me the option of the Caddy a Duster or Camero. Being my dad had Cadillac and Lincoln vehicles…I chose the Caddy..lol Fun car..got like 8 friends in it at one point. On date night…the girlfriend..was like an apartment for the 2 of us. 😆 Watch those fingers with the automatic trunk lid…it will crush them. 😉
I got Ma a caddy, She’s as big as a whale, and She’s about to set sail!!!
That 🎵 BIG as a whale 🎶 was actually a Chrysler🎵
that seats about twenty! 🎶 Don’t think it would fit in a 🎵 LOVE SHACK! 🤔. HAPPY DAYS! Oh, the Cunninghams had a DeSoto!
God love Freddy Fender. I remember feeling happy for him when he found mainstream success.
BTW the cubby at the passenger’s right foot is a trash receptacle. In most cars it was plain plastic, stuck full of gum and cigarette wrappers and kicked off routinely. In this cream puff its upholstered.. and looks pristine.
Beautiful Caddy. I had a 77 Coupe Deville, the first year they made them smaller, with a 425 engine. That was a great car, and this one is too, I hope it finds a good home. The price is ambitious, but hey, you never know. They’re only original once. Put dual exhaust on it so it can breathe, and enjoy the ride.
🎶 🎵 🎹 🎤 Baby we can talk all night
but that ain’t getting us nowhere
I’ve told you everything I possibly can, there’s nothing left inside of me
and baby you can cry all nite, but that’ll never change the way that i feel. 🎶 🎵
I FOUND A COUPE’ DEVILLE hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack box!!
Right on Randall. ✌️🤜
Like Sammy Kershaw says..”cuz my little baby loves me….Cadillac Style”.
The trunk alone seats 4.
I definitely remember these Cadillacs. We used them extensively in the funeral industry. These were the epitome of isolated ride and silence let alone styling. These were the best Cadillacs ever built. They represented everything that America was…GREAT! It’s been a downhill slide ever since.
Absolutely, my 89 Brougham deElegance was still a real Cadillac. Should have kept it. Next 93 Brougham had several issues (including premature rust though of rear wheel openings allowed moisture in trunk and rear seats), carpet was no longer cut pile and thin so called chrome trim covering peeled off as did the top layer of bonded leather drivers seat. That was my last Cadillac, but only the beginning of the final descent into the world of SUVS and crossovers!
I bought an 1982 Coupe De Ville , and while it was big and beautiful, unfortunately by then they had computers and mine constantly had lights pop on so I decided to trade it for an Acura 😞and they didn’t even want it ,I got a token $2,000 for it ,wish I kept it…
best way to go out ,in style!
Love those old Caddys, beautiful car.
Had the opportunity to buy a white over red 76 Coupe de Ville. But my champaign tastes were on a beer budget 😕. Another SOB (not Saab 🤮) story. 😔 😢
These Caddys in this condition just scream ‘one last cross-country trip’.
Then pull the engine/tranny and replace that junk 6.2 diesel in my square body Crew Cab to make it a reliable puller.
Just kidding!
Not really.
😁
I love it.
What, no AC?
It not only has A/C, It has automatic climate control. The temperature control is to the right of the headlight switch.
I had a white 76 with a white leather interior and a white Padded top plus sunroof.Every option in the book.Drove it from Ottawa Canada to Holmes beach in Florida a few times.My mother was a shopper.We had to leave the spare on the island and a friend took it home.Drove everyone nuts playing “Charlie on the MTA”by the Kingston Trio again and again.I think we had eight of those overhead luggage sized 8 track tapes.I have been fortunate to have owned many wonderful cars in my life but this one and a 1969 Z28 are the two I regret most selling.Traded on a 78 CoupeDeVille.Stupid.I’m starting to cry!
You had one helluva car. I know I used to pick them up and wash and wax them. Triple white is hot also Black with white interior is hot like a tuxedo.
Your mother sounds like my kind of lady! Too much is never enough. That’s my mantra in vehicles. Devine Decadence in OTT excessive overchromed LAND YACHTS.
When I was younger I always looked to get these or a Lincoln instead of the hot rod cars like the chevelles because of the comfortable ride. now not saying how old I am, gas started to climb above $1.00 A gallon and it was to expensive to keep driving it to work at $3.35 A hour so I got a 72 Toyota now I think you would be at $75-$100 bucks to fill this thing up but man what a ride.
Yes sir these cars had 26 gallon tanks. Gas was .48 a gallon when I start driving any I remember being a kid seeing gas station with a sign .29 a gallon. Filled up my 66’ Belvedere for $7 but as you mentioned wages were low as well.
Yea strange how the powers that be have left gas at a sort of reasonable price, compared with the price of EVERYTHING ELSE! Take this Caddy that I’m sure cost around $12k-$14k. But a new one will cost you at least 5-4x more! Where gas is 3-4x as much depending upon where you live. Never mind houses and land. Especially when income has not kept up.
I’m happy I could experience the big Cadillac automotive ride with my ‘69 Fleetwood years ago. A joy to own and drive! Happy New Year!
Hi Tim. Very simple. All cadilacs from 1976 till 1992 were beautiful, powerful, super comfortable. I love them all & one day, I’m gonna get one.
My Dad had a 1964 Caddy Sedan de Ville with a 429 cu in…..loved it. A/C worked so well the Chrome a/c vents would ICE-up (metal not plastic) Belive it or not…it would get 21 MPG between Sacramento and Los Angeles everytime…miss it.
You are so right happy New Year I was a owner of a new 1978 Caddy Seville that was good years for Cadillac
Dad bought Mom his boss’ midnight blue ’76 Coupe de Ville off a 2 yr lease with 6k miles! The first of many Cadillacs that they would own but definately the smoothest and most luxurious of them all. Enjoyed/slept through many back seat trips to Silver Lakes in the desert. Took my driver’s test in this and reallized if I could parallel park this, I could park anything!!🤣😂
The 1974-1976 Fleetwood Talisman edition Cadillacs were even more luxurious.
The Fleetwoods were always a cut above and Talisman kicked it up another notch. My late brother once had a 78 Series 75 Limo. THE STANDARD of the Standard of the WORLD. At this point, after 89 and 93 Fleetwood Broughams, I find only CADILLACKING vehicles available. Glorified TRUCKS! 🤮
To your posting below, I also owned a ’72 Caprice. Triple black coupe with, as you mentioned, the brocade interior, with those aluminum wire wheel caps with the knurled knob. 400 ( 402) under the hood and I added dual exhaust from the manifolds back. Those brocade interiors were classy. Had similar patterns in my ’70 Caprice and my Dad’s ’70 & ’68 Impalas.
Erik, I managed a gas station in 1974 and one of my regular customers had a white Fleetwood Talisman with a tan crushed velour interior. Center console front and back. One of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful interiors I’ve ever seen. An aside, don’t forget the ’75-’76 Park Avenue option on the Electra 225. Those could also be had with a full length front center console. Those 2 years of being just an option were the most luxurious years of the Park Avenue in my opinion.
For me, my 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues and 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance were the most beautiful and elegant interiors. All three had plush tufted velour seats and equally luxurious beautiful doors and dash. Carpet was deep cut pile. Don’t agree with many that leather is the ultimate luxury. Even with the vehicles named, the same interior offered in leather (extra cost) didn’t have the panache. In the mid 80s, GRAND MARQUIS base GS had a nice cloth interior while upscale LS was only available in leather. To each his own!
Before Velour seats became a symbol of luxury, my 69 Delta Royale and 72 Caprice had brocade interior seats. Next 74 Grand Ville had plush cloth seats. Love my current Town Car Signature Limited, but its leather seats are comfortable, the styling of them doesn’t quite live up to the luxurious image of past vehicles mentioned in my other post. At least it is STILL a Luxury Sedan as opposed to SUVS and crossovers!
Hello Captain Jon. If you come back, check my January 9 post! I ain’t just a whistlin DIXIE!
If you’ve never driven one of these or similar you don’t know what you’re missing. They’re not a Vette or Ferrari, Porsche but if you want a luxurious ride experience that when you go over uneven railroad tracks you feel nothing and a quiet ride.
Did I mention comfortable?
I would not change a thing, just put some miles on it
I FOUND A COUPE’ DEVILLE hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack box!!
My whole life revolves around cars, and these cars were the stuff of My dreams! When I was a child in the early seventies, My grandmother drove a Sedan DeVille! My fondest memories were watching the fender mounted signals ( fiber optic tech back then) when she hit the directional it would show! The high beams had the characteristic blue light on that signal! There were no car seats and I remember kneeling on the back seat watching the ceiling mounted interior break light! These cars are unique American treasures and the price is actually low! If I could I would buy that and proudly drive it around Fort Myers!!
Back in 2001, I bought a 76 Sedan DeVille off a guy who lived off the East Trail way out in farmland for $2500. Baby blue with blue interior, with a 500 under the hood. Used to take it to see live music at the Orbit, Indigo Room, and plenty other places and hang out with Annrae, Lace, and by buddy Zito from the old 99X. Had a lot of fun with that car. 2002, we moved to Tallahassee. Pay scale in the panhandle was half of Naples, but we survived until the crash of 07. Things got progressively worse until we decided to call it a day and move back to Naples. I ended up giving my neighbor the Caddy, along with my 85 Caprice 2dr. Walked away from my business and many other things and just moved back to Naples and started over.
Those fender mounted directional ìndicaters and rear indicator lights were just two of the things that made Cadillac stand out. Unfortunately, like Traditional Cadillac Luxury sedans, now Gone With the Wind! For me current CADILLACKING vehicles? Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!
Geez, Clark Gable has just checked in! Bows and salutations to you buddy! LOL!
Oh, sorry, I ain’t your dear! LOLx2!
I have a 1976 coupe Deville in the early 90s and it was lost in a fire. I still missed that behemoth!
My aunt and uncle use to leave their 1973 Coupe de Ville at our condo when they traveled overseas. I remember driving it, big and powerful with a smooth ride and light steering to move all that weight around with ease, comfortable too. They may well be the last real Cadillacs.
My wonderful Dad drove a new Lincoln Coupe every 2-3 years through the 70’s. Then finally the last one was a 78 Town Car. All were amazing to drive. Especially the 71, that was the last premium gas 460/4V. That was a real hyw flyer! Proved the night I was clocked on radar on Rt 295, in where else but Lincoln, R.I. That on one night in Sept 73, a month before he gave it to his brother in law as the family trucking company salesman, he bought a 73 Coupe. I was clocked at 129 mph!!! The Trooper noticed I had a cast on my leg, and I handed him my convelesent leave paperwork and license and reg. Lucky for me he was only 8 months out of the Marines and let me go with a stern warning. By the way that 71 ended up with well over 200,000 miles looking brand new, the 73 ran like a dog, but ran for 210,000 miles, the 75 that followed was the last one he was given and turned over THREE times without any engine work!
My cousin’s grand dad had a 76 sedan rode like a cloud this seems like a fair price what a car you could ride 200miles like a trip across town today’s caddy’s don’t deserve the name like so many other things like Harley Davidson for one .
I formerly only bought American cars like this or the Ford equivalent however when they started copying the foreign brands I went Japanese! I liked the older American cars because they were different from other brands! When that changed I changed ! I love Barn finds for the memories it stirs but as for the big three, I’ve moved on!
Why, Captain, how you do go on! The Yankees are a comin and Aunt Pittipat is a frettin! I certainly didn’t mean to address you personally. I was just makin a GENERAL comment. SURE, MAN!
The Cadillac Crest on the steering wheel is off kilter, but can be taken off rotated and put back on.
I’ve been looking for an 8 track player.
The best classic driver you will ever find for $15k! That could take 4 adults and their weekend luggage anywhere in total comfort at 70-80 mph. Just split the gas 2-4 ways. My wonderful Dad owned Lincoln coupes every 2-3 years from a 71, 73, 75 and finally a 78 Town Car. All very nice comfortable drivers.
Just bought a 93 Fleetwood Brougham on BAT with 53k original. My 3rd 93.
This was garage kept as show car……trunk full of awards. Super Mint condition and rides like your on your livingroom couch down the highway.
No Caddy of today even comes close to the style elegance and ride of this vehicle.
And this is all with a 350 V-8 and consistent 22-25mpg highway.
It can also accommodate at least 4 bodies in the trunk with power pull down. Also has power everything including antenna, and fiber optic light indicators f&r, 6 way power seats w/lumbar and heat, windows, locks, trunk, climate control a/c, auto-leveling suspension, AM-FM stereo with cassette and CD, REAR fold down lighted vanity mirrors, cruise control, cornering lights and factory chrome wheels.
I hope you have better lucky with your 93 than I did. Mine had numerous issues, including premature rust though of rear wheel openings, peeling of top layer of bonded leather drivers seat, and others. Quality of materials was much lower (especially carpet) was so much lower than my previous 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance. While 86 was the end of traditional Cadillacs, my 89 was the last Standard of the WORLD Cadillac for me. Turned to Town Cars. Current 2007 Town Car Signature Limited is the last gasp of traditional OTT luxury sedans. This one Won’t get away!
The 86″ Body style You had hung around until 91″ and 91″ the last year for the traditional Caddy had a 350 Fuel injection engine! After that Caddy went down the drain in My mind! The 92″ – 96″ was not up to par ( Still RWD Though) however the Magic that Made Caddy the standard of the world Had left the building by then!
Made an error, 96 not 86 was last of RWD FLEETWOOD Brougham. But my 93 was definitely a
BIG step down from the 89. The 93 had Corvette 🤔 engine, but the 89 had plenty of power for me. Wish I had kept that one. So superior and so much better than 93. Currently FLEETWOODS up to 92 are at a premium when in good condition. Easy to understand why!
Forgot about the 93 Fleetwoods best feature……..the factory Locomotive horn under the hood……sounds awesome.
I’m not that old yet but what cares those were! A friend’s mom bought one brand new and I thought I was in heaven riding in it. Then a few years later I was lucky enough to have another friend whose mom had a ’74. She handed me the keys to use as long as I baby sat! What a car! They also pulled better than many pickup trucks now days. Never a hiccup with a 30′ Airstream or horses behind you. What I wouldn’t give for that car today!
It’s sad to see the big three are just truck companies right now, Electric Mustangs? I think there are only three sedans the Detroit automakers even offer now! We had something special , something people would aspire to own and be proud to show in the driveway! There nothing wrong with trucks, but that elegant sedan or seductive sports Coupe’ was magical!Even the woodclad Family Tricksters had a uniquely American quality to them! Here’s to CHROME!!
Great minds apparently DO run on the same highways, now ruled by SUVS and crossovers. Now consider myself (at 76) a Vintage Rolls Canardly, Roll down one hill and Canardly get up the next. But from the time I was a kid, I had a strong love and appreciation for the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT. Remember the pecking order of all US manufacturers. Loved our family 50 Nash AMBASSADOR, followed by 55 DeSoto. At that time a local business man had a 58 black Cadillac Sixty Special, loaded with chrome. The 58 GM line overall was much more attractive than 59 restyle. The 58 Sixty Special, 61 final DeSotos, and 61 Imperial LEBARON are my absolute favorites. Have owned numerous (usually pre owned) TRADITIONAL American luxury vehicles. Currently have beautiful low mileage 2007 Town Car Signature Limited. Last of TRADITIONAL American luxury sedans. Great car but not as OTT excessive chromed luxury as I would like. Also recall ASPIRATIONAL names. AMBASSADOR, Fleetwood Brougham deElegance, Statesman, Caribbean, Patrician .et. al. Studebakers DICTATOR could be really appropriate these days 😉. As I’ve said for YEARS, Chrome, Fins and monster V8s made America Great! What ever happened to CLASS? Guess it’s Gone With the Wind! The imports are a comin, the SUVS are invadin, and the glorified trucks are pullin in! I’ll think about it Tomorrow! 🏰 After all, (hopefully) tomorrow is another day! But 🎵 The 🎶Old DAYS 🎵are not forgotten 🎵. At least by us. As Archie and Edith sang, Those WERE the Days!
Don’t forget There Lesalle ( sorry about spelling) ran great!
To RTS…Oh yes, LaSalle, and all the GRANDS (Marquis, Wagoneer, Grand Ville etc.) ran great! As for OTT name, Grand Royal Regal Imperial Marquis Brougham deElegance Signature Limited Deville Special Fifth Avenue Edition with coachwork by LeBaron. Of course ALL in CHROME! FYI, check out 53 or 54 Chrysler CORONATION. A one off for QUEEN ELIZABETH II visit to the US. White over Royal purple with custom color keyed interior. It’s a DUESEY!