Ah, the classic “bustleback” Cadillac Seville. This is an interesting car for so many reasons, but I will never be able to look past that crazy rear-end treatment. Our own Scotty G. sold one of these in incredible condition a few years back, and it remains one of my favorite “finds” from the years when he was seemingly scooping up rare survivor after rare survivor. This 1984 Seville isn’t in nearly as nice condition as the car Scotty had, but it’s still pretty straight for a vehicle that was supposedly a barn find until not too long ago. The Cadillac is listed here on eBay with no reserve and bids to $3,850.
The Cadillac Seville of this generation remains one of the more distinctive models ever produced by the storied manufacturer. I often wonder if we’ll look at the Seville the same way we ogle the brass-era cars that were icons of luxury and power; most likely not, but I still give Cadillac a lot of credit for actually producing a memorable design (which is more than I can say for the current lineup.) The seller’s car has some typical cosmetic flaws, such as the missing bumper trim front and rear; I have no idea if you can still track down replacements for a Seville such as this one.
The interior is in surprisingly nice condition for a car the seller claims was a garage find that sat indoors for 12 years and wasn’t driven. Of course, for that reason alone, the interior has an excellent chance of remaining in a preserved state since it wasn’t sitting outdoors in the sun or otherwise getting worn down by constant entrances and exits by driver and passenger. The dash isn’t cracked and the door panels are also in good order. The wood trim still presents well around the instrument cluster and even the carpets are surprisingly clean. Overall, the interior is a pleasant surprise.
The other bonus is that the Cadillac still runs despite its years of dormancy. The seller reports that with a new water pump and battery, the Cadillac was a runner once again. The gauges and climate controls all still work, but it’s not disclosed whether that means the air conditioning still blows cold. The seller also has OEM floor mats and the books and manuals that go with the car. Apparently, this Seville was re-listed due to a non-paying bidder, so let’s be sure we want the classic bustleback in the garage before bidding. Would you ever park one of these in your garage?
Pretty much the seventh inning stretch of Cadillac losing its way….
🧐
Garage Find: That Makes Sense.
The owner passed away previously? Did he pass away more than once? As for the car yuck ,never liked these but that’s my opinion and some may love this body style and that’s cool.I’ll take that Lincoln 5.0 bustleback over this any day.
Honestly? It’s a beautiful vehicle. To find the missing trim pieces will be a challenge, unless you look online for a place that sells pieces for that vehicle. It had to be an elderly owned car. I know people that owned those Seville ‘s. Pure luxury.
I may be only one of a handful of people who loved this model when it came out, and love it even more now. What can I say, I just love cars that are “different “ from the norm. That’s why there is a 62 Studebaker Lark in my driveway!
I remember a boss I had back then, 89-90, owned one she bought new, actually every 4 years she bought a new Caddy. It was custom painted Century Twenty One Gold, all paint no vinyl roof, because she was a Real Estate Broker for Century Twenty One. The interior was tan leather. That was a very striking car at the time.
Classy Caddy.
always hated the bustleback. continue hating the bustleback. will always hate the bustleback…even hate typing “bustleback”
BustlebackBustlebackBustleback lol
I had a super nice boss who was a classy guy, and he had a nice blue “humpback” as he called them – a sweet ride. That design was/is definitely polarizing…pretty much “love” or “hate” to this day!
Again like the Lincoln, nothing like cutting off the top of the trunk. Try the 81-83 Imperial. Another idea of the bustleback which looks much better imho, doesn’t steal trunk height space or look like it’s been in a terrible rear-end wreck.
This car was made in LInden nj GM ASSEMBLE PLANT NOW GONE REPLACED by Walmart and some other factories. That car when it was produced was a really nice car
I already have an 84 in my garage. I love cars with distinctive styling which is why I dislike the cars made today. No style. No personality.
I have owned two of these. The one weakness was when the coolant light came on it would be too late, Most of these cars had an aluminum engine that would be warped from over heat and require a new engine. I actually had a mint 1984 that caught fire due to this. I love the style and the performance but this weakness has me collecting Lincolns now.
Actually they had an aluminum block, with cast iron heads, that raised havoc with head gaskets. That in turn caused the real issue.
A guy could maybe make those bumper filler pieces with a 3D printer. 🧐
My folks had a Cutlass Salon back in the late 70’s that was probably considered a pre-curser to this design. Ugly then, ugly now… just sayin’. :)
I had forgotten about those. Ugh.
I wish you hadn’t reminded me.
Used to see one of these in blue/blue pretty regularly while working at a shop on the East side. The older owner had named the car Sugar Blue, and other than a blue tinted plexi bug shield, the car was a well kept delight to see.
No one is mentioning the engine. My dad had one and he called it a Town Car. Every time he left town it would break down! When he traded it in for a Chrysler Newport Custom, that Caddy sat on the dealers lot for 2 years until he brought it to auction. It’s all about the engine!
one owner’s review:
“…a big black spot on CADILLACS history. It is very comfortable and a real head turner but the engines are only good for 60,000 miles the 4.1 or the HT 4100 IS JUST NOT A GOOD ENGINE. you can google it. if you want to buy a new engine every few yrs go ahead….”
the 80s malaise?, not for me but this company was really bloated than (the 350 turned into an Olds diesel)? WoW 1 guy i knew got 3 or 4 new motors in his new car – it was like drivin ina circle – his house 180* from the dealer a complete circle over’n over. Drive home, drive to the dealer, home, dealer – sometimes he’d make work or other side interest…
A similar vintage Seville in very good condition and with 68k miles just sold on a reputable car-auction site (no offense, ebay) for $10,000. So that’s a good benchmark for actual market value.
This by far is the UGLIEST car Cadillac ever made in my opinion. I’ve owned 7 of the Sevilles , from 1999 on and I like them. Just not this 84 body style.
Say what you will, I bought a used 84 back in 1987, drove it for two years, 30,000 miles , never had a bit of trouble with it with the exception of two AC sensors. Terrific car. BTW, the radio doubled as a problem code reader which gave you the problems associated with the AC.
Sold! Sold! $4,200 wow lucky person get a sweet ride! I know it’s not the prettiest Cadillac on the block but still for 4,200 and all that nice comfortable leather seating. I just hope the electronic system works really well with the fuel injection. Then it was a real good steal! Good luck to the person who bought it! 🇺🇸🐻🇺🇸
WOW, I had no idea that the heads were cast iron and the block aluminum. This is crazy. Any foundryman can tell you that that expansion and retraction is different between iron and aluminum.
No wonder there were such high quantities of engine failures. And then Cadillac only installed an idiot light for telling engine temps. Ar Kelsey Hayes I was in charge of all foundry accounting and met with all four managers every month.
Yea just imagine if GM has spent the extra $$ for nice trick aluminum heads, or not as much using cast iron for the block as well, might have ended up with a remarkable engine. Oldsmobile had built a really nice small all aluminum V8 in the early sixties! If I’m not mistaken even had a turbocharged version!
My mother had an ‘83 with the carriage roof. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the styling, it was a very comfortable car. Her ‘85 Eldorado was just “extricated” from her garage after a 10 year plus nap and is in rehab. The Eldo has much better styling but a lot of characteristics of the Sevilles of that era. Same HT4100 V-8, with the HT standing for “High Technology,” lol.
Could have meant High Times. Or Highly Troublesome.