The Cadillac Seville was introduced in 1976 so the company could appeal to a wider range of buyers (the DeVille tended to attract an older crowd). To improve fuel mileage and maybe lure Mercedes owners, the car came with a standard diesel V8 engine in later years. The seller has a 1980 edition with the Oldsmobile 350 cubic inch diesel, which has an older repaint in a 1981 color scheme. Having owned it for 10 years, the seller is ready to move on to something else, so it’s available in Forks Township, Pennsylvania, and here on craigslist for $3.700. Thanks for the vintage tip, Tony Primo!
Through Oldsmobile, General Motors developed a 5.7-liter diesel engine that was in use from 1978 to 1985. Rather than being an all-new design, GM modified the existing gas-powered 350 V8. It was developed during the mid-1970s energy shortage era as a means of getting better fuel economy in larger cars, but that didn’t seem to pan out as expected. The engine became known to have reliability issues. Chevrolet used it in the Caprice for a time but backed away after a couple of years.
The second generation of the Seville (1980 to 1985) employed “bustle-back” styling in the rear. It also used front-wheel drive, as deployed by its cousin, the Eldorado. Though the diesel was standard and probably went into most of the early 2nd gen Sevilles, you could opt for the gasoline-supping version as well. Third-generation Sevilles (1986-on) dropped all of that. The seller has owned this 1980 version that he/she’s been “playing with for 10 years”, which suggests that the seller, too, has had enough of Olds diesel engines. Shop manuals come with the sale.
This vehicle was repainted in 2015, but not in the original colors and not with the original hood (why the hood change?). In fact, the hood is off a 1985 Seville and differs in trim from the 1980. We’re told the Caddy runs and drives and comes with spare injector pumps (sounds like this car has gone through a few). Like we said, it runs, but the seller is clear in saying there are no guarantees. Diesel anyone?
If I am not mistaken, this was the first American car to cross the $20,000 threshold. That sounds quaint now, but it was a huge deal at the time.