As a child of the seventies and eighties, I look back upon that era with great nostalgia. While we live in one of the greatest times in history for automobiles, those who lived through the previous decades can attest that car culture was alive and well during those heady times. It is just that some aspects of that culture were a bit different from today’s norms. Take for example this 1985 Cadillac Seville for sale on Craigslist in Inland Empire, California. Advertised as a rare “Marina d’Elegance” commemorative edition, this Caddy sports both a canvas-covered fiberglass topper meant to resemble a convertible top and a faux Rolls Royce grille. Popular among the aging, these features were quite popular before the trend mercifully died out after a few years. Is this nostalgic Cadillac worth the $6,900 asking price, or are some things better left in the past? Thanks to reader Num for the tip!
Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandfather. He loved antique cars, and model trains, and was a craftsman in many ways. He owned his own mobile auto glass business, and I rode with him to hang out and help when I could. This allowed me to see firsthand how (mainly) Detroit put their cars together. I also got to see how various ideas and emerging technologies worked in the areas of power windows and glass. During the eighties, my grandfather was enraged by a growing trend of slapping fiberglass caps over the roofs of luxury cars and covering them with a canvas-type finish. Local dealers were making a killing on these treatments, and many were done at a “factory” on my grandfather’s route.
Dealerships would send new cars to this warehouse, where holes were drilled, glue was slathered on, and, occasionally, a copy of a Rolls Royce grill was attached to the front of some hapless Cadillac, Lincoln, or Buick. Gold trim was optional, but almost always added. Being the survivor of countless battles with rust under the vinyl tops of his cars, my grandfather took an unnaturally dim view of such shenanigans. It also didn’t help his mood that some of these kits made replacing broken glass in a car almost impossible. Before long, the roads of our not-so-small town were filled with these monstrosities, all driven by fellows who looked like they were headed to a Judge Smails lookalike contest. Captain’s hats were optional, but always at the ready on the dash behind the aftermarket Airguide compass.
So, when this 1985 Cadillac Seville with the dealer-installed optional Marina d’Elegance package showed up, it brought back a lot of memories. It would be hard to estimate just how many of these garish conversions were made throughout their popularity, but the seller of this Caddy claims that only 15 of this particular Marina d’Elegance model were made. Further claims are made that the car was commissioned and sold by Hillcrest Cadillac. Hillcrest was a long-standing Cadillac dealer on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Having been open since 1927, Hillcrest was the place where such celebrities as Elvis purchased their Cadillacs. This article in the Los Angeles Times cites real estate prices and the changing tastes of younger consumers as the reason for the dealership’s sad closure in 1986.
The changing tastes mentioned in the article referred to the fact that younger customers seemed to no longer want to move “up” to a Cadillac. Their tastes were for sportier European imports such as BMWs and Mercedes Benzes. When you look at that statement in hindsight, it was very prophetic. Cadillacs were once the “Standard of the World,” and by 1985 the division was completely lost. The average age of its customers meant that their next major purchase would likely happen at a funeral home, and, despite repeated attempts, the brand has still not found a way to attract young urban professionals (called yuppies way back in the dinosaur days) back into the dealerships. One could make a good argument that cars like this one lining the front row of a Cadillac dealership in 1985 likely ensured that those younger folks never even turned into the parking lot and soon wouldn’t even give the dealership a passing glance.
So, almost four decades later, this 1985 Cadillac Seville has emerged from many years of storage. The car currently has just 65,432 miles on the odometer but is being sold as true mileage is unknown. Given the condition of the car from the pedals and steering wheel down to the leather on the driver’s side, it is reasonable to assume the mileage on the odometer is correct. The seller tells us that the top will need some work and the car will need some TLC. A close look at the pictures reveals a few small spots that need attention. However, the car certainly presents well and is said to run without issue.
In all, this is a nice car and about as close as you can get to a time capsule from 1985. While some may be critical of the aftermarket kit, my views have softened over time. Perhaps it is that I am getting older and don’t see a gas pedal as an off-and-on switch anymore. It may also be that I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Seville’s bustle-back styling. I think the biggest reason is that this car is one of the few surviving examples of a footnote in automotive history. These kits were popular for a time. Their story is important if you value all aspects of automotive history regardless of whether you are a fan or not. Hopefully, it finds a good home and is shown occasionally.
Do you remember these conversion kits? What was your opinion on them then versus now? Would you drive this one? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Needs gold Dayton’s and Vogue mayonnaise and mustards.
My late grandfather liked Cadillacs, and got a new one every year. He claimed it made the most financial sense, as he always got top-dollar on the trade-in. He eventually got his licence pulled after cops witnessed him driving like Mr Magoo through red lights etc. He kept buying new Cadillacs though, (he thought the dementia would improve).
Boppa’s last car was a Seville like this one, but in a pewter colour. My Uncle Harry would drive him around occasionally, but the car mostly sat in the garage. About a year after he passed away, the family decided to sell the Seville. It only had about 2,000 miles on it, but had not been started or driven in 3+ years. It was offered to me at a fairly good price, but the fuel system was completely contaminated and corroded. I did not buy it.
I still see these for sale locally, once or twice a year, usually around $2,500 for a driver-quality runner.
I thought they were ugly when they first came out, but they’ve grown on me over time. The dealer add on pieces can go away. The top and the grille are just so the dealer can increase his gross off the customer. The only other bad thing is the HT (hook&tow) 4100 engine. Finding one of these with a diesel would be preferable. If the diesel is good, run it. If not, put a nice 455 Olds in it’s place.
I have had 4 similar Seville’s and most for more that 12 years. One even had the variable displacement engine. I can say, as being my own mechanic my whole life and never buying a car that was not a Cadillac, these were very underpowered but I NEVER had any problems with the engines, never and all were over 150,000 miles. Lots of people like to ruin cars then complain about them. They should drive lesser cars.
I worked for a Cadillac dealership when this style of Seville came out. Didn’t get the chance to experience higher miles on them but as new cars, they seem to run and drive good. The diesel on the other hand would start to knock really loud and miss cylinders after about 40k miles. The mechanics would pull the heads and intake and clean them up with a wire brush. Put them back together and the dealership would charge $1,200. Which back then was a large chunk of change. Personally, I’ve always been fond of the earlier square style Seville but I don’t have anything bad to say about this one. Nice for the price.
They were too classy 🤵♂️ for a stinky diesel anyways.
The most remarkable thing about cars with these fake convertible tops is how many people thought they were genuine convertibles.
Nice and comfy d’Elegance interior with pillow-top seats, making for one nice, comfortable, and roomy car. I didn’t like them as a kid in the early 80s, but I sure would appreciate it now. I hope it finds a good home.
Truly an awful car mechanically. Neither the gas nor the diesel engines were any good. The aftermarket kits are terrible but the base cars looked great.
I’m 80 years old, retired Letter Carrier, and 100% Service Connected Disabled Veteran due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam, I was delivering the mail one day and stopped to admire a Caddy like this one and the owner said “You’ll never make enough to own one of these. I nodded and said, “Guess you’re right.” A few month later, he was riding a Moped, because of Drunk Driving. I told him that the Good Lord and the State of South Carolina makes us all equal,when we drink as much as our ego is big. Old Fart died broke, and Uncle Sugar sends be quite a dab now. Karma?
Your story reminded me of in 1977’ my friend and I was in a Lincoln showroom just looking at the new Lincoln’s and this guy said to my buddy, you’ll never be able to have one of these. First off this guy probably hitchhiked to the dealership, never worked a day in his life and my buddy well he ends up owning one of the biggest electrical contractor in the state. He won’t even look at houses only huge buildings. He owns a fleet of work trucks and could buy the dealership if he wanted to. Life is funny I’m glad you got some satisfaction. Thank you for your service
My father bought an 83 sedan Seville for $2000 from the original owner in Cheshire, CT. The car had 78k on it. He parked it outside in the driveway (the first time in its life) and slowly watched it rot away beyond repair. The roof was the first to go, under that canvas top. The interior was amazingly, roomy and comfortable. I’ve read that Cadillac recognizes the 4100 motors of this era as problematic. They were experimenting with new casting technologies to lighten engine weight, in order to increase performance and fuel economy, which lead to engine blocks actually weeping oil- right through the porous block.
Caddy Seville. Puke-
Where is the continental tire kit on the back? I feel cheated. If I drove a pimp mobile like this, I would have to learn this phrase, beeeach, yoooze best dammwellz have givenz meeez allz the moneyz you made on this herez corna! What a God awful ugly car. This is why I would never, ever, consider a Cadillac as a classy car or want one. Now they are the stars of rap videos’. Totally classless made me some money on a you tube video and dealing Fentanyl and crack kind of cars. Rant over
My X father in law had the exact car in the 1984 version, with solid blue interior, boat anchor motor, he loved it, actually drowned in a bad storm in his under the house garage during a bad storm in the early 90s, he had a water front home, he bought it back after insurance totaled it, then it was a real POS
“be” should be “me” I can’t erase my typo…