When I first learned of the shortened Cadillac Seville Opera coupe many years ago, I thought that everything about it – from concept to execution – was poorly done. It was hard for me to understand how you can improve a handsome design like the Seville with a huge hood and tiny doors. But over time, my views have softened a bit to allow for some extra appreciation of this oddball Cadillac, if for no other reason than it perfectly captures the excess of the era and the country’s infatuation with personal luxury coupes. Find the Cadillac project here on craigslist for $6,500 near Los Angeles (where else?)
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find. The Cadillac Seville Opera coupe featured an extended hood, shortened interior compartment, fake spare tire holders on the fenders, and expensive-looking wire wheels. The front and rear fascias went unchanged, so while the proportions were dramatically different, much of the car looked identical to the pre-surgery Seville. Unlike some half-baked two-door conversions, the builder really did chop off the rear doors of the Seville’s sedan body and bring the front doors all the way into the rear quarters, creating a true “coupe”, albeit one with unusual proportions. I recall this car was a hit with the Hollywood set, with guys like Sammy Davis Jr. finding the compact design impossible to resist.
For an era where bigger was always better, it’s odd to look back and think this coupe conversion ended up being somewhat popular. I always wondered why they didn’t put more work into creating or sourcing a longer door; if the doors weren’t so hilariously short, this might have been taken more seriously as a concept. Regardless, the Seville was still all Cadillac inside, even with the inches taken out of the interior. The seller’s car has clearly been used even with just over 64,000 miles on the clock, and if you want a perfect interior, you’re going to need to source replacement leather. Fortunately, the seller confirms the body is in great shape with presumably no rust, and that the tired exterior finish is ready for fresh paint.
While so many things about this Seville were different from when it rolled off the dealer lot, the drivetrain was at least still familiar. A 350 V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission is about as good as it gets for the low cost of ownership and ease of parts sourcing. While any subsequent damage to the body’s more custom-made areas will have to be remedied with traditional bodywork, the drivetrain at least is still serviceable with parts from your local NAPA store. A very nice one of these sold for $8,500 not too long ago, so I wish the seller well in trying to rehome this oddball luxury car.
While looking through some of the older car brochures,
I came across one with these in it.I don’t know weather to
toss it,or wait & give it to someone who has/buys one of these.
I thought the same thing about them getting a longer door, at the same time I had a 1978 Impala 2 door and then it hit me.
Jack, I hope the Impala wasn’t moving very fast when it hit you!
This car wasn’t the greatest looking car in original form and the conversion didn’t help that one bit.
I’d beg to differ about the first-gen Seville’s “original form”, unless maybe you’re confusing it with the “bustle back” second-gen Seville.
Sure, in hindsight it resembled many other GM models of the era, until we remember it was the very first GM model to debut that design language, and IMO still its best, purest, most elegant expression, a bellwether for all those other models soon to follow.
The chassis was basically a Chevy Nova.
Or Camaro.
The last time I liked Cadillac was 1957… lol. I really thought this model was ugly and couldn’t imagine paying the price.
But again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I wouldn’t mind having a 1957 Caddy, but I wouldn’t want this one.
It looks like an abortion that survived.
Looks like the powertrain is also moved back, making this a “mid engined” car! Check out the extra body section added in front of the stock hood and the sheet metal snorkel to suck air through the radiator! A TON of work went into creating these monstrosities!
True …. Had to extend front end out to accomidate those spare tires in the fenders
By shortening it seriously reduced the hauling capacity of this trash truck
Didn’t Huggy Bear drive this thing, in Starsky and Hutch?
It was either that….or Huggy in……I’m Gonna Get you Sucka !
lol
A pimpmobile from the past !
That $5 paint job ain’t helping this poor thing any!
Paint 🎨 it pink 💗
Wouldn’t a Nova coupe door have fit the bill perfectly?
While the Seville was indeed derived from the Nova’s X-platform, they didn’t share any body panels in common, so I doubt a Nova coupe door would fit readily at all, let alone perfectly.
It may be ugly, but it sure is slow.
Perfect ride for your hood.
Not for me
The side mounted spares, give the car a more POSH look than a plain ‘OL Continental kit on the back would. It adds some extra class to the vehicle.
Thomas L. Kaufman,
At least one of these was built [in silver] without the twin sidemount covers, and seeing that car was the only time I felt those fake sidemount covers were needed. Without those round covers to break up the monotony of the long fender sides, it looked much longer. And if you think the front end looks too long as it is, imagine it without those side covers!
I worked at a Cadillac dealership and we took an order for one of these. The results of the conversation were so bad that we declined to deliver it to the customer. The A-pillars shook when the doors were closed and the whole car shook over bumps. And they were anything but inexpensive!
Wow. I’ll bet the guy who ordered it was disappointed. Probably had went out and bought a new powder blue leisure suit for the occasion.
. . . and a pair of white patent-leather slip-ons!
I’ve also seen a lot of there in the Miami/Fort Liquordale area. (Navy Spelling)
The second photo looks like somebody threw eggs at it.
Could you blame them?
Ugly then, uglier now! Buy this stupid-looking car, and you too can be the neighborhood laughing stock.
I wouldn’t be caught dead in that ugly thing. These things were considered ugly when they were first built, they are still ugly today, and they will also be considered ugly in the far distant future.
This wasn’t “built”. This was a beautiful car that was hacked to bits by a moron.
Word.
I simply can’t believe that the original designers of this monstrosity missed the opportunity to include a Continental Spare on the boot (trunk) lid to completely capture the ridiculously hideous theme of the era.
No accounting for taste.
Never cared for these or any “shorty” conversations.
This is just the opposite of that 12 wheel Eldorado stretch limo, which is just as ugly.
You know I love my Caddies but I cannot condone this.
Angel,
I think I can safely say you have a nicely refined sense of style. Hopefully that doesn’t change! [except you should perhaps consider adding a couple of Packards to your collection!]
Bill,
I have always had a fascination with the 1948 through 1950 Packards. For some reason, to me, they remind me of Elephants, and I love Elephants.
I think it was around 1960 I attended a schoolmates birthday party and his grandfather took us to the movie theater in his 1950 Packard. Huge backseat. Of course, I was only six, so it looked really huge.
From ’46 on to its demise in ’58, I thought they were “stuffy”, but as I get older, I’m liking them more, especially the ugly duckling last ones with that “fish face” that everyone hates.
It looks quite futuristic to me and I can’t resist a car with dagmars.
Angel,
When you find a Packard you like, let me know, and I’ll be glad to advise on the vehicle. As for the “fish face” cars, keep in mind those are Studebaker Presidents or Golden Hawks with a little bit of Packard trim stuck on.
Right now, the V8 Caribbean convertibles are probably the cheapest they’ve been in 40 years [year by year comperable prices adjusted for inflation]. One of the reasons is due to a large selection of unrestored Caribbeans recently coming onto the market from a huge Packard auction in Upstate New York.
I’ve owned both ’55 and ’56 Packards and Cadillacs, even a yellow ’56 Eldo convertible, and it’s a close comparison for all of them. Sometimes I would show up at a club event with the “other” brand, and tell them the other car wouldn’t start, as a joke.
My favorite sedans were my ’55 Cadillac 60s, and my ’56 Packard Patrician, both were fully loaded including A/C and dual 4 barrel carbs.
This is what happens when you take a beautiful car and put in the hands of an idiot and a cutting torch. This uglier than a Tesla.
If they ever bring back the Cash for Clunkers Program this should be the first victim.
It looks like someone stood on the roof and took a wizz on it.
Wow….fugly. And more importantly you can’t have a Opera Coupe without…………ta da……Opera Windows.
So this is bogus all the way around !
Bit of a mess under the bonnet, but presumably the engine could be desmogged to restore some ponies.
The proportions don’t look off and if it was well built I’d prefer it to the original.
Two words,
Ugg Lee! 🤣
@Bill McC
Thank you for your kind offer, Bill. Right now, especially with this inflation, ($9 for eggs, $6 for gallon milk, $6 for a bag of lemons)I won’t be buying much of anything except food and gas for the car.
I know the fish face ones are Studies, but they were kinda cool, too, up until the late 50s. It just that face…… only a mother could love.
I’m assuming being a Packard guy, you’re not real happy with the last couple of years of Packard, being mostly Studebakers.
adharris101@gmail.com if you want to chat