1976 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

Description

This 1976 Cadillac Coupe DeVille represents the last of the truly gigantic land yachts. Never again would two-door coupes with 500 cubic inch engines cruise the highways casting 18-foot-long shadows on the pavement. And with just 11,667 original miles and a number of big awards to its credit, this is probably the nicest one you'll ever see.

That's factory code 52 Phoenician Ivory paint that's somehow weathered the past four decades virtually unscathed. The hood looks like it has its own horizon from behind the wheel and those quarter panels are as long and straight as the roads in Oklahoma. Never damaged, rusty, or repainted, this is one of those special cars that fans of survivors find endlessly fascinating. It's not perfect, of course, because no 40-year-old is, but you'll have everyone's eyes bugging out of their heads when you explain that it's completely original. That goes for the chrome and the color-matched padded roof, too, which give the car a luxurious look that isn't as ostentatious as many '70s designs. Even the troublesome end caps on the rear fenders are in excellent shape and the fender skirt area shows no signs of trouble, a big plus on these cars.

The Buckskin leather interior is a nice change from cloth, which was standard-issue in the DeVille. Again, it definitely looks like a very low-mile car with smooth hides and minimal wear on the seating surfaces and carpets, which are protected by the original mats. All kinds of power equipment was available on the big Cadillacs, including automatic climate control, power windows and locks, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM/8-track stereo that still sounds decent in this age of 900-watt factory setups. For a 2-door, back seat space is incredible, rivaling today's full-sized 4-door sedans, and the leather back there looks almost completely unused. Other trick features include fiber-optic lamp monitors, a built-in trash receptacle, and reasonably convincing woodgrained materials on the dash and door panels. And if you like road trips, you'll need a pickup truck to carry more than you can in the massive trunk, which is finished with the original mat and perhaps even the original spare tire and jack assembly.

Cadillac's 500 cubic inch V8 was in its final year in 1976, and was designed to do one thing: move a lot of car without apparent strain. With a full head of steam, this car is content to cruise at 80 MPH all day in virtual silence. The engine bay looks as nice as you'd expect from a quality survivor like this, with dark blue Cadillac paint on the engine, an original air cleaner with Thermactor tube intact, and signs of conscientious maintenance throughout. The chassis is incredibly clean and it's neat to note that Cadillac painted the TH400 3-speed automatic transmission to match the engine and installed them as a unit, something no other division would do. There's also an original-style exhaust system, complete with catalytic converter and there's simply nothing else on Earth that rides like a '70s Cadillac. Handsome chrome spoke hubcaps are fitted inside recent 235/75/15 Firestone whitewall radials that are pretty close to the original look.

Beautifully preserved and already awarded an AACA National First Prize, this is a collectable whose time has arrived. Call today!