Barn Finds come in all shapes and sizes, and their condition can vary widely. The owner of this 1971 Cadillac Coupe de Ville recently found it hidden in a Pennsylvania barn and has worked through the process of returning it to a roadworthy state. It is remarkably well preserved, which is good news for potential buyers. If you think you could be one of those people, you will find this Cadillac located in Linden, New Jersey, and listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $16,000, and there are thirty-nine people interested enough to watch the listing. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this gentle giant for us.
When the owner dragged the Cotillion White de Ville from its hiding place, he received a pleasant surprise. The car was remarkably well preserved. Once it had been cleaned and polished, the paint produced an impressive shine, while the Black vinyl top proved to be in excellent order. The paint wears few blemishes or marks and is matched by panels that are also in excellent order. There are no significant dings, dents, or bruises, and rust is not a consideration. The external steel shows no evidence of problems, and the owner doesn’t mention any on the car’s underside. The trim, including the damage-prone hubcaps, is in good condition. I also can’t spot any problems with the glass. The overall impression is that the buyer won’t need to spend a dime on this classic’s panels or paint.
When we turn our attention to this Cadillac’s interior, the good vibes just keep rolling along. The seats are upholstered in leather, and apart from some minor wear on the outer edge of the driver’s backrest, it is in excellent condition. The same is true of the carpet and remaining upholstered surfaces. The dash and pad have no signs of cracking or deterioration, while there is no visible deterioration or wear on the wheel or faux woodgrain trim pieces. Comfort and convenience features extend to air conditioning, power windows, a power front seat, a remote driver’s mirror, and an AM/FM radio.
Cadillac always took great pride in their engines, and they prioritized smoothness over efficiency in the era when this Coupe de Ville rolled off the line. Therefore, finding a 472ci V8 that consumed fuel at the rate of 9½ mpg is no great surprise. This giant also pumps out an impressive 345hp, but the car needs that much power to deliver respectable performance figures. With 4,806 lbs to shift, that 472 can fire the Caddy through the ¼ mile in 17.4 seconds. When the owner located the Coupe, it had been sitting for an extended period. He worked through returning it to a roadworthy state, and he’s been thorough in this process. He has gone through the brakes and given the car a complete service and tune-up. He rebuilt the carburetor and bolted on new tires and a new exhaust. The results have been worth the effort because he says that the Cadillac runs and drives extremely well.
Some cars emerge from years in a barn, and the process of returning them to a presentable and roadworthy state can be a long and expensive one. Others will be like this 1971 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. It is a remarkably well preserved classic that has survived its hibernation with no ill effects. The owner’s asking price is right at the top of what you might expect to pay for a tidy example, but its condition might justify it. Is this a classic that you might consider pursuing further?
why is the ebay link an ad if you want subscribers stop putting click bait on here.
If this is the kind of car one wants or close enough, and it’s ready to drive, the ask is not too much. Start with one that needs work and see how far $16k gets you. Probably not to this point.
Good looking car at a good price point for a change. Although I am not a fan of the double hood ornaments. The one on the nose and then the stand up one above it. Too gawdy, even by Cadillac standards lol
Somebody added the hood ornament over the years.
I prefer the brushed metal interior trim pieces that deVilles had at the beginning of the model year. I’ve seen it with cloth, and leather, interiors. Somewhere mid-season, deVilles had the fake woodgrain, like this car does.
I don’t know about 71s, but in 69/70, the dashes with NO woodgrain were ONLY on cloth cars; all the leather cars had the wood. With early 71 models being noted as coming both ways, if true, that may be due to the prolonged GM strike which hit just as the 71s went to market. You couldn’t get any new 71 GM cars for a while early in the model year, so it may have been a parts issue.
Straight from the ’71 brochure–no pics at all of deVilles with woodgrain inside, cloth or leather. I recall seeing them appear with the fake woodgrain mid-year. I think dealers and/or customers pushed back on the extent of the metal trim, which was much-more significant than the ’70’s.
Plus they added a Fleetwood/Eldo ornament with a wreath. People are stupid.
Very clean caddy.
Perfect for cruising the Joisey Shore, just needs a couple of wise guys…
Another beauty on Barn Finds….2 in one day!
Love the design of the ’71 Caddy…..probably the nicest of the late 60s and early 70s models. I always liked the widespread headlights which emphasized the girth of this vehicle.
Only one problem…..it would never fit in my garage!
Looks like the one Wendy O’ Williams jumped into the river!
I agree, one of the best looking Cadillacs of the ‘60s-‘70s.
Pretty car but whats the milage! Did I over look that.
Can’t stop laughing. Looking out over that dashboard over the enormous hood thinking when cars like this were the norm. I drove several like this and Lincoln cause of my detail shop but if I got behind the wheel of one now I’d have to focus but back in the day I pull them out of a parking spot from the street between 2 cars like it was nothing. Olds and Buick was huge too
Single room, luxury apartment on wheels. I like it!
I drive a ’72, essentially the same car. I love it. People ask me about the gas, and my reply is, “Who cares? I got it for $15K”. And let me tell you, people love this car. Mine is kind of a cobalt blue vinyl top with same color leather interior, and a sort of Aegean Blue exterior. It’s a beauty, with 38K original miles.
Here is a lot of car for the price of a 3 year old Toyota or Nissan.
I have a soft spot for the 1971 Coupe deVille. My dad bought one new in 1971. The car was special ordered by a prospect in primrose but apparently the potential buyer’s wife was not impressed. My father got a good deal on the unsold new car. I loved the distinctive color and the car rode smoothly. The car for sale looks great for being 50 years old.
I say detail it within a inch of its life and drive it. What a nice car and color combo.
I had a red 73 my dentist gave me. It ran, but needed brake work. I stored it for two years then had a change of life experience and sold it to a friend for $500. That was in 2004. Stupid I know, but I had no place to store it.
You could have lived in it
We had a 71 CdV. “Bananna Cream” with gold interior and no vinyl (no it wasn’t a Calais – special order) . Bought it in 81 with 8600 original miles. Still had the original tires on it. The proverbial lil ole lady’s car that sat so much in one spot in the garage that the sun coming in thru the garage window faded two perfect rectangles on the trunk lid. It was a boat! (hence the term ‘land yacht’) but it made 4 trips from Dallas to Ft Collins a breeze right after our first daughter was born in late 81. Paid $3200 for it, put 80k miles on it and sold it for $3000 in 86.
Yea the first year of low compression so dont gotta worry about the gas octane..I like the 71s,no fed. 5 mile an hour bumper yet..I had a 71 Pontiac grandville,pontiacs huge top of the line ..Drove it for many years,that 455 pontiac wud smoke em a long way..
Also, the 71 did NOT have a V on the hood or the trunk!
That comes out to about $3.33 a pound. Not bad for a running, driving Caddy. That is a LOT of car…. Seems to be a sorted out car at a fair price.