- Seller: Gary F
- Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
- Mileage: 30,762 Shown
- Chassis #: 6D47S6Q264060
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 500 cui V8 With 4-barrel Qudrajet
- Transmission: 3-Speed Turbohydramatic 400 Automatic
When did the “Standard of the World” epithet cease to apply to Cadillac? Judging by the comments on Barn Finds, it would be somewhere between the introduction of the 4.1-liter V8 and the 1985 downsizing. To others, the last of the “real” Cadillacs were the 1976 models, such as this Coupe DeVille. It was the end of the line for the real locomotives, with 500 cubic inches of Cadillac power (OK, 190 horsepower) under that expansive prow. There will always be fans of the true land yachts of the 1970s, and this one’s for them. It’s now a Barn Finds Auction, and we hope you show your approval by parking it in your garage (if there’s room for it, of course).
It’s true, this Caddy is a beauty. The seller sums up the color scheme as well as one can do; it has “original Cotillion white paint with original Firethorn Red vinyl top and Firethorn Red leather interior,” which simply looks like all the money in the world on a big Coupe DeVille. If Dallas were on television in 1976, one of the Ewings would have driven this car. Regarding the “big” part, it’s 230.7 inches in length, over 19 feet. Perhaps size is the measure of a “real” Cadillac, the ones that people get all glassy-eyed about. Those gorgeous ’50s Cadillacs were almost as big as this ’76; all of the big Cadillacs had presence.
This 30,762-mile example is all original, down to the floor mats with Cadillac insignias. There’s cruise control, a power antenna, an AM/FM radio, air conditioning, power windows, power seat; in other words, all the options one would expect when one spent around $10,000 on a new car in 1976. The steering wheel is surprisingly sporty, and everything is in mint condition. I don’t see a crack or a tear anywhere.
Under the hood is the biggest of the Cadillac V8s, the 500. People like to joke about its power rating, but it still had 360 lb.-ft. of torque (net, not gross), and that is what you need to pull around over two-and-a-half tons of luxury car. What’s the hurry anyway? When you’re cruising in a car this luxurious, enjoy the ride! After 1976, the 500 was no more; the downsized ’77 would revert to the downsized 425, which (if nothing else) doesn’t sound quite as impressive. In case you were curious, this DeVille does not have fuel injection; there’s a Quadrajet atop the intake manifold (which I would consider good news).
If you are a fan of ’70s luxury cars, and you like them original, I can’t imagine what would keep you from buying this one (except money, of course). The typically-cracked bumper fillers have even been replaced, so you can buy it and enjoy it immediately without a long list of things left to do. Good luck with your bidding, Cadillac fans!
Bid On This Auction
Randy bid $5,600.00 2024-12-02 12:02:15
RSc bid $4,800.00 2024-12-02 12:01:17- Randy bid $4,500.00 2024-12-02 11:59:48
- RSc bid $4,000.00 2024-12-02 11:56:21
- Randy bid $2,500.00 2024-12-02 11:21:19
Skip bid $1,500.00 2024-12-01 06:09:41
Doug Sakowitz bid $1,250.00 2024-11-26 09:18:37
Mark A. bid $1,000.00 2024-11-23 13:52:10
Put an LS in it!!! Not really, just couldn’t help myself. The seats in this thing look like a vacation for your hinder
🎙 🎹 🗣 ” 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 night, but that’ll never change the way that I feel….the snow is really piling up outside… ” 🎶 🎵
I can’t believe someone had the nerve to make a $100 bid. Talk about insulting!
In my opinion the Cadillac really went downhill fast after 1976. I worked in the car business back in those days and believe me, after this they may as well have been called Chevrolet Caprice. I realize that earlier Cadillac’s than this were even better, but after ‘76, forget it.
As CoFounder of the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT SOCIETY 😉, I hereby declare this to be a GENUINE LAND YACHT! Although I continued loving Cadillacs through the 77 downsizing (not withstanding the next disastrous downsizing, V 8 6 4 and other unfortunate decisions by GM) I unfortunately passed on a 76 triple red Coupe de Ville due to an embarrassing lack of $$$. Eventually I was fortunate enough to acquire an 89 Brougham deElegance, which I often regret selling. The next 93 Brougham was a disappointment in many ways. This 76 was indeed the LAST of the size and power of the gargantuan Cadillacs. I’m sure this big boat 🚢 will have no problem finding a new home, hopefully where it will be cherished as a survivor of an era never to be seen again! 😲 I think my check book is calling!
She looks good standing still. Those seats look so inviting sitting behind one of my favorite dashboards . Love the colors. Put her in drive and hit the highway.
The last of the American Standard of the World. A beautiful car that I’d love to own, but I’d donate a kidney for a 1974-76 Fleetwood Talisman.
@Nelson C
I’m sorry, but as dashboards go, this was one of Cadillacs worst! The 1971 thru 1973 were one of their best. The ’74 thru ’76 IMO were the best designed cars but the worst design interiors. The fake wood everywhere, just really cheap looking.
And of course I had 4 with this horrible dash.
The 1967 Eldorado with the 500 cu.in. Had 400 hp. Now that car moved. The ’76 500 cu.in. with 190 hp was such a disappointment . Yeah, still had some torque but no power.
This land yacht is a beauty but I just hate red on a Cadillac. The only red Caddy I had was the 1975 Fleetwood Talisman which was a dark red, not a bright red.
That roof and interior have to go.
It needs wider WSW tires, also.
P.S. The owner may have replaced all the vinyl inserts of the rear bumper with new ones but he forgot to put the chrome surround back on the taillights. Now it looks like a 1975.
Adding to all of your “complaints”, Angel, is the fact of a bench seat rather than a 60/40 split with power on both sides, and the little nicety of power pass. recliner!
Good eye, Jon! I completely missed that. My ’76 had the split seat, power on both sides.
This also does not have any d’Elegance options like the opera lights. But that rear really needs the chrome bezels around the taillights.
No cruise control either. WHAT?
HI 👋 ANGEL. JON and I were wondering when you might weigh in on the 87 Fifth Avenue post! Loved mine. Did you ever try one? I just gave you a new title…The Cadillac QUEEN 👸, as befits you so well! Just about to watch ALL ABOUT EVE on MOVIES! Channel. Fantastic story! Tied with SUNSET BOULEVARD in 1950 resulting in BORN YESTERDAY (Judy Holiday) winning Best Picture. More useless trivia? You can BETTE on it. 😅 🤣. 👋 JON, I responded to your comment at Fifth Avenue post! We all need to keep in touch. Great Minds? 🤪 😜 🤪. BTW, Happy Turkey Day t o ALL Barn Finders! Seems we have an abundance of Turkeys this year! 😲 Fasten Your seat belts!
Hi Angel! I knew you’d look at this one sooner or later. What a Cadillac
connessuir you are, and I mean that in
a good way. You’re a lady that enjoys
the finer things in life and you know what you want. Too bad the young
folks today can’t make decisions like
that. Just got home from schlepping
around my store all evening. Seems
that before I got there today, 2 crackheads broke into the bathroom
and tried to steal the plumbing in the
walls!! WTF! What a mess! Of course, the cops told me manager there was nothing they could do because they didn’t see it happen.
At least they didn’t get the pipes, but it makes me wanna move to a small town where stuff like that never happens. And yes dear, they’re out
there, we just haven’t picked the place
we wanna settle in. If I hadn’t seen it
for myself, I never would’ve believed it. Just thought I”d drop by, drop a few lines, and hit the sack. I’ve had
enough bull crap for one day. Maybe
I can unwind a bit tomorrow working on the Fleetwood if the kids I work with don’t call me in. Good night Angel 💋 Night all!
@ Ken C
I have the perfect small town for you….. Laughlin, Nevada. Small, quaint, right on the Colorado River and 2 feet away from Arizona.
In fact if I weren’t moving to Baltimore, Maryland, that’s where I’d be moving to. I’m tired of crowded cities. I want a quieter life. Still looking for a rich husband though, I want to buy my cars back. LOL
I saw you painting. It’s looking good. Making the Caddy brown was an interesting choice, it still looks good. Yeah, I used to drool over those ads in National Geographic when it was library time. 1st grade. They had every one from the beginning.
Angel, you may or may not know that town was founded by Don Laughlin who hails from Owatonna, Mn. Just south of the Twin Cities. Started out when he bought an abandoned hotel. Him and the family lived in half of it and rented the rooms on the other half and served 99c chicken dinners! Now with 10-12 offshoots of other casinos on his own Vegas strip, it’s safe to say Mr. Laughlin is no longer serving nor eating those chicken dinners! Had great 2 for 1 fly/stay deals from here. Met him the last time we were there.
@Angel Cadillac Diva: No dear, that’s
Velvet Touch Maroon. It was available on ’59-60 Edsels. Then Ford
re named it Honduras Maroon in ’61.
I’m glad you like it. Really made my day while schlepping around my store
with a trainee all morning. You really
have a way of making me feel better
too. I understand about the rich husband part though. Sorry, I’m as poor as a church mouse but I can make some rich looking paint!
Very interesting story, Jon. I was not aware of those facts. I’ve actually only seen pictures of Laughlin and even though it has its own strip, it’s small, quaint and by the river. I plan on going down there before I move back east. I’ve already looked up apartments and they are about the same price as Vegas but much much nicer.
I’m sure you know Laughlin is across the Colorado River from Bullhead City, Az. In the old days, planes would fly into Bullhead City then ferry across the river to Laughlin. But Laughlin paid for a 4 lane bridge across the river so now you can drive. First casino you get to? Laughlin’s Riverside casino of course. There is a car museum in the casino. We have always rented a car to go to Mesa to visit friends, who now have passed on. Been to the Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater, Sedona twice and Cottonwood. Sedona is unbelievable.
Yes, I hope to get to Sedona and the Valley of Fire before I leave. Been here 10 years and never got to them. Always thought there was more time.
Have friends in Guadeloupe AZ. Haven’t been there for a minute either.
Reply to Angel’s comment
below. We just got back from Vegas and visited Valley of Fire State Park. Also been to Red Rock Canyon. Valley of Fire is better.
As far as the Grand Canyon goes, don’t bother with the glass walkout view. Admission to get in, can’t take your own pics, but they’ll be more than happy to sell you some! Big meh!
@Ken C
First, sorry about the bathroom damage at your store. With all the construction going on in Vegas the crackhead are always vandalizing new houses before they’re even finished.
The maroon sounds nice. Either way, brown, maroon, Caddys look good in almost any color. Except midnight blue or forest green. No car looks good in those colors.
And I understand about put before hand. That’s a smart move. You can’t order anything on the internet without put first.
I don’t know about that Angel, my Uncle John had a ’65 Fleetwood 60 special sedan painted in dark green metallic. The paint looked black til the light would hit it and the green
metallic highlights showed through.
My Uncle said that he special ordered
the paint from Cadillac before he picked the car up at Fanning Cadillac
In Bloomington. Even today, I can still
recall seeing the car and riding in it too. And it did indeed feel as though
you were sitting on the couch while
riding down the road. My cousin and I thought we were hot stuff sitting in
the back seat and waving at all the pretty girls we saw. Both of us are
disabled and riding around in Uncle
John’s Caddy made us feel like hot stuff. Felt that way when I had my
’66 Calais 4-door hardtop too. Seems
like the ladies always go for guys with
Cadillacs. Might have to get another
one someday just to see if that’s true.
And being ever the doting Uncle, whenever my niece’s young man comes calling, I would hand her the
keys to my Caddy and tell them to have a good time. Always wanted to
do that
If you were just here, Jon, you picked a good time. Not hot!
I’m a little disappointed you never said anything. Would have liked to meet you and the family.
Yeah, I believe the glass bridge is Indian run and they kinda charge for everything. But can’t take your own photos? That’s bad.
We were also in Vegas in 2021. That’s when we went to the glass walkout. Drive past the Hoover Dam, much more interesting. I know about Laughlin’s history only because his story is on kiosks all over his Riverside casino. Was 105 in Vegas that August. 60s when we were there 3 weeks ago. Stayed across the street from South Point casino, 8 miles south of the strip.
105° is your basic day. Not hot at all. Shoulda been here this past summer…. broke records at 120°.
And 60° is freaking COLD! We went from the a/c straight to the heater. There was basically no fall.
You should have stopped at the hoover dam. It’s not only beautiful but very interesting.
Did you know there was a stray dog that the workers took care of. He became part of the crew. After a few years some idiot accidentally backed a truck over him and he is now buried at the dam (not in the dam) with a gravesite and a bronze plaque with his history. 😢
Hi Angel, to reply to your comment below, we were at the Hoover Dam in 2011, our first time in Laughlin. I walked across the new hwy. bridge and read all of the plaques about the bridge construction. My wife is afraid of heights so she stayed at the end. Never knew the story about the dog. Idiot is right!
We just passed through there again on our way to the glass walkout in 2021.
I always thought you lived on the east coast for some reason. Too bad there isn’t a way to exchange contact info. HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everybody.
Hey Jon,
Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 and to the rest of BF alum hope you have a great holiday season. (Some of ya’ll don’t celebrate TG, different countries) and of course, can’t forget the staff! 🙋♀️
You probably got the idea I was on the east coast because that’s where I’m from. Born and raised in New Jersey country came to Vegas after a stint in Baltimore. Been here 10 years and about to go back to Baltimore to take care of a good friend (we call each other sister) who is not aging well.
Don’t know how long I’ll be in Baltimore but will return here to Laughlin when I do.
I’ve lived everywhere from Maine to Miami, Texas, Colorado and California. Guess I have some gypsy blood in me.
Yeah, I’ve tried giving out my email and number but Jesse always flags it and deletes it. But somehow Ken managed to get his through so he and I email.
Hey Jesse, let’s pretend I have a car for sale on BF and Jon wants to contact me to buy it, could you please give him my email?
Rick W & Frog, too. Please
Happy Thanksgiving! We don’t allow email addresses or phone numbers in the comments because there are bots on every site that collect that kind of info.