When grandpa gets tired of driving back and forth to Florida, the land yacht usually gets parked in the place it traveled to last. Most of the time, the car ends up in Florida, because who the heck wants to go back to winter? In the case of this 1985 Cadillac DeVille, it appears the owner made the drive back from the Sunshine State and left it in Virginia. It’s now listed here on Facebook Marketplace as a non-runner with a decent interior and complete drivetrain for $500.
Now, a front-wheel drive Cadillac is hardly a thing of great beauty. These were lean years for GM and innovation had left the building by this point. It seemed as though the goal was to simply put something on the dealer lots and marginally improve efficiency in the process. At the end of the day, Cadillac didn’t win over any new customers and likely turned off some of their loyal followers. This Deville has clearly been sitting for some time after making its final journey north in the summer months.
That whole snowbird angle is pure speculation, I realize, and it’s entirely possible a relative passed away and the kids simply brought the car back north. The interior is in far better shape that the outside, with the white leather still presenting well and with no obvious rips or tears. The exposed fuse panel is a bit more worrisome, as that could speak to untold electrical issues. Hopefully, it was just an attempt at diagnosing whether any electrical faults were preventing the Cadillac from starting.
The engine compartment doesn’t spark much more confidence, and the seller confirms that the last time it turned over was way back in 2005. The value for this Cadillac is sadly mostly tied up in its parts, and the seller has priced it as such – but it’s also cheap enough to justify attempting to get it to run once more. Although you won’t ever see your money back, you likely won’t be able to spend this little and cruise as comfortably as this Cadillac will, wafting down the road.
I just bought a 88 elderado -get it?, brown, never saw a brown one. Paid 2500 for it in very good running condition, still has the welcome to your cadillac casette and the gold keys! Its not a bad car ,very underrated .
These were hardly land yachts. The 4.1 engine was crap, so was it’s transmission. Unfortunately, it’s a parts car, if you can find anyone still driving one who needs parts. It’s a shame, because they were comfortable, nice riding cars. My Aunt had an 88 Fleetwood d’Elegance, with the 4.5 that blew up shortly after they got it.
I remember Consumer Reports stating the same about the drivetrain; in fact, they said that about every GM car that underwent that humiliating shrinkage that year, which meant all full-size GM cars save for Chevrolet’s Caprice and Cadillac’s “d’Elegance,” the latter of which was the Fleetwood/DeVille the year prior.
Call the local scrapper
Malaise era GM krap. GM has still not recovered from those POSs.
I’ll take it for 500.00 email me please
You contact the seller is how it works..
Funny, I saw a couple ’86s in a salvage yard today. I remember when these were new and could not believe these were supposed to be mainstream Cadillacs, as if the Cimarron wasn’t enough. I thought they looked like gussied-up Celebrities. I still do.
Apparently I was not the only one having trouble differentiating between DeVilles and Celebrities in parking lots. This was what prompted Lincoln to release its “Valet” series of TV spots, which GM shortly asked to cease and desist because it embarrassed them.
I suppose from a nostalgic perspective it would warrant saving as many as can be saved. But that’s the only reason I can think of.
Even in perfect low-mileage condition, this model would be worth very little….
This one? according to Edmunds this car weighs about 3,978 lbs so I guess maybe 3,000 lbs of iron and steel in that – today’s commodity price for scrap steel is $209 per ton, so this car might be worth, hmmm…$300 ?
$500 is about $300 over scrap value so why not toss it out there and see who bites
Someone, please put this out of its misery. Recycle it.
We bought a new 1986 Sedan de Ville and loved it. Traded it in for a ’90 Ford Explorer. Hated it.
(eyes scan page, last item) “O0op, isnt that the one in olds
clothing w/the 350 converted to diesel?” WoW. A bud back then
got stuck ina circle from home to the dealer getting a new engine
every few…. (was it) months, weeks or daze? Soon as he got it back it
blew up again. Seemed he was off work that whole year…
Air cleaner had a huge mouse house they removed it looks like, that’s why wires are probably pulled out, 18 years sitting, probably stinky!