Vehicle 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.
The Elegante package added a few upgrades to the already
top-of-the-line Seville, most notably the two-tone color scheme.
Black and silver is a classic combination that will never go out of
style, and on the angular Seville bodywork, it works quite well.
This appears to be original, factory-applied paint, and with that
in mind, it's in fantastic condition. There are, of course, a few
signs of use and age, but this 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 expensive 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 the slash of
bright trim that separates the colors is joined by a bright red
pinstripe to really make it pop. There's plenty of chrome, but it's
not over-done and the look remains classic and refined.
Gray leather lines the interior of the Seville, and the Elegante
package gives you buckets and a console; remarkable in a Cadillac!
Almost everything was standard in the Seville, from automatic
climate control, to power everything, to a tilt wheel, to a bunch
of fairly convincing burled walnut trim. The leather has a little
discoloration but that's probably inevitable just due to age, but
there are no rips or tears and the back seat looks almost new.
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/cassette 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 the "small" Cadillac, but it sure doesn't
seem like it today.
The engine is a 350 cubic inch V8 topped by a surprisingly
sophisticated fuel injection system that makes it drive
beautifully. 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 about 42,000 original miles, it has never needed anything
but routine maintenance. 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 15-inch Dunlop whitewall radials.
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!