1976 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

Description

If you attended that Cadillac Club's national meet last summer, you probably saw cars just like this all-original 1976 Coupe DeVille drawing crowds all week. Why? Originality rocks. You can restore originality into a car, so more and more hobbyists are discovering the joys of a clean, original machine. Don't understand what we're talking about? Come drive this fantastically authentic Cadillac and it'll all be clear.

First off, this is a really BIG car, and after 1976, there would never again be a Coupe DeVille this massive. But that doesn't mean it's clumsy, and thanks to tidy proportions it looks great even today. The original Galloway Green Firemist paint is in good condition for it's age. There's a soft shine that only vintage paint can capture, and nobody will second-guess you when you tell them that it's all original, although the rubber filler panels have been touched up, a common situation with these cars. The body fits together quite well (this is a Cadillac after all), and while the doors are truly massive, they fit well and don't sag. And yes, Cadillacs have always been about chrome, and there's a lot of it here, including massive bumpers, bright rocker panel moldings, and trim around the windows. Another cool feature are those pods on the front fenders, which house fiber-optic lenses indicating the status of the headlights, parking lights, and hi-beams. There's also a padded half-roof, because, honestly, can you really have a '70s luxury car without it?

Inside, this Coupe DeVille uses very attractive green cloth upholstery, and again it's in remarkably good condition. The fabric shows no splits or tears and only very light signs of use, quite remarkable for production-grade materials that are approaching 40 years old. Power accessories were expected at this level, and include a power front bench, power windows and locks, cruise control, and automatic climate control (the first year A/C was standard on a Cadillac, by the way). It shows just over 52,000 miles, which are authentic, and it almost looks like the back seat has never been used. The original AM/FM radio still works, as does the power antenna, which pokes itself up six inches when you turn on the radio, with a manual override just to the left of the radio dials. The massive trunk is fully upholstered with the factory-issued mat, a full-sized spare under the cover, along with a full jack assembly.

Cadillac's claim to fame in the '70s was the world's largest production V8, a 500 cubic inch monster that provided effortless torque to move these big land yachts with ease. They're also remarkably durable and reliable machines, with a Rochester 4-barrel carburetor up top and an HEI ignition system. Although it's a little dingy, this one wears its original Cadillac Blue paint, factory air cleaner, and all the original accessories are fully functional. It's backed by a durable TH400 3-speed automatic spinning 2.73 gears out back, so highway cruising is smooth and silent. The underside is shockingly clean with only some minor surface scale on the heavy iron parts. It even appears that the exhaust system is original, including the catalytic converter, suggesting a car that has always been well-maintained. Newer 235/75/15 whitewall radials have been fitted, so it still rides like a hovercraft.

Big luxury cruisers like this are finding traction in the market, and a fantastic original car like this big Cadillac is sure to attract attention anywhere it goes. Call today!