1985 Cadillac Seville

Description

We know the "razor back" Sevilles are a love-it-or-hate it proposition, they were like that when they were new, but that's also why we'd put cars like this 1985 Cadillac Seville on our list of future collectables. The design has actually aged pretty well and today finding a low-mile example like this is not so easy, making them an affordable way to own something that's both rare and collectable.

There's no doubt that the 29,377 miles shown on the odometer of this particular Seville are authentic and the condition bears this out. That's original light gold paint (called "Sandalwood" in some period literature) on the bodywork and while it's showing a few very minor signs of age, it would probably be a mistake to repaint it given the huge popularity of untouched, original cars like this. Lighter colors like this work particularly well on the Seville's dramatic shape, giving it an elegant look that certainly suits its upscale mission. This one is also remarkable in the fact that it doesn't have an ersatz padded roof, so often added to cars of this era even when they were totally inappropriate. As a result, it looks sleek and clean and elegant. There are a few dings here and there that come with use among the general population, but again, chasing perfection with this car will erase everything that makes it special. It also shows great chrome, crisp emblems, and rubber and plastic parts that seem to be defying time and the sun. Someone really took care of this Cadillac.

Matching tan leather works beautifully on a car that lets the sheetmetal styling speak for itself. So many of these had such gaudy colors that it was hard to take them seriously, but for a collector, a timeless combination like this is what you want. The seats are in excellent shape with appropriate signs of use and age but no damage or evidence of neglect. The same goes for the carpets and door panels and the rear seats look almost completely unused. There's a lot of fake wood inside this Cadillac, but it actually looks great against the light tan upholstery and it's pretty convincing so it never seems cheesy. The industry's fascination with digital instrumentation hit its peak in 1985, but all the gauges here are fully functional and light up brightly when you turn the key. And everything was standard, including automatic climate control, power windows, locks, and seats, a tilt column, cruise control, and a decent-sounding AM/FM/cassette stereo. And even with that bustle-back trunk, storage space is still massive and fully upholstered in more tan carpet, plus a space-saver spare up front.

Cadillac's sturdy 4.1 liter V8 was the only powerplant available, and while it won't win any drag races, it's proven to be reliable over the years and is as smooth as anything else you'll ever drive. The engine bay is quite original and in excellent shape with plenty of evidence of proper maintenance over the years. It starts easily with a muted V8 burble from the single exhaust pipe and the 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission turning the front wheels makes for effortless highway drives. It also offers a fully independent suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes, which was pretty sophisticated for 1985 General Motors and only adds to its collectability today. Wire wheel covers are part of the package and are wrapped in 215/70/15 Vogue gold stripe radials.

Look at it again and you'll see that these were pretty cool cars for the era and they really are pleasant to drive. For the money, it's an awesome collectable that won't be seen everywhere you go. Call today!