1979 Cadillac Seville

Description

The Seville was a very big deal for Cadillac, and this 1979 Cadillac Seville is arguably the best one to own. Designed to be a smaller, more personal Cadillac, it was also the most expensive and the most sophisticated, and today they represent a smart way to own a vintage Cadillac without the big car footprint.

Top-of-the-line for a brand like Cadillac is quite an accomplishment, and that's exactly what the Seville was in 1979, setting the high watermark for automotive luxury. Slick black paint is a finish that will never go out of style, and on the angular Seville bodywork, it works incredibly well. This appears to be a repaint, although completed to mimic the look of factory-applied paint, and with that in mind, it's in very good condition. There are, of course, a few signs of use and age, but this is still a real nice driver-grade sedan and remains one of the most handsome designs of the '70s, and no, it's not "just a Nova with Cadillac badges." In fact, every panel on the car is unique to the Seville and it was so costly to build that GM executives feared that it would be too expensive to sell at any price. Fortunately, they nailed it and it was very popular with buyers, including the guy who bought this one and treated it as something special. They skipped the padded roof, making it somewhat rare, and even the plastic and rubber bumper fillers and trim are in great shape, showing that the 58,910 actual miles driven on this Caddy were always careful ones, because those pieces are usually the first to go. There's plenty of chrome and brightwork too, but it's not over-done and the look remains classic and refined.

Supple Gray leather lines the interior of the Seville, and this particular trim package gives you a split bench up front that has the look and feel of buckets. Almost everything was standard in the Seville, from automatic climate control (upgraded to R134a refrigerant and blowing nice and cold), to power everything, to a tilt wheel, to a bunch of fairly convincing burled walnut trim on the dash and door panels. The leather is original and shows some were and tear today, but that's probably inevitable just due to age, but there are no major issues of concern and the back seat looks very lightly used. Plush carpets, tons of sound deadening materials, and thick weather seals all make the interior of the Seville tomb-silent, and even the original AM/FM/8-track stereo sounds great in there. Factory floor mats are rather rare in this condition, including the rubber trunk mat, which is joined by a space-saver spare in its own carpeted cover. This was actually called the "small" Cadillac back then, but it sure doesn't seem like it today.

The engine is a 350 cubic inch V8 topped by a surprisingly sophisticated throttle-body fuel injection system that makes it drive beautifully. Rebuilt approximately 2,000 miles, two years ago by the pros at Jasper, it has plenty of power to move the big body around effortlessly. In fact, with 125 fewer cubes than the big car V8s, it still makes just as much horsepower and runs so clean, that they could have sold them without catalytic converters in many states. It's tidy under the hood with all the original equipment in place, and with the recently rebuilt motor, it won't need anything but routine maintenance to keep ticking for a long time. It starts quickly and idles well, and around town, this feels like a big Cadillac going about its business. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission should last forever behind the small block and it has 2.73 gears out back, so it's a fantastic highway cruiser. Suspension tuning is Cadillac plush and 4-wheel disc brakes are a nice plus. Real chrome wire wheels are a traditional touch that works rather well, and they carry 205/75/15 whitewall radials that finish the look.

These are gaining popularity among Cadillac aficionados for their usability, good looks, and practical size. Add in the great color combination, unique interior, and low mileage, and this becomes the one to own. Call today!