For decades the American motorist has shown a loving relationship with the convertible body style. From the time the automobile replaced the horseless carriage, there has been a fascination with open-topped cars. Time changes all things and in March of 1976, Cadillac made the announcement that the current model year would be the last time Cadillac offered any of its models in a convertible body style. That announcement drove sales volume through the roof, allowing dealers to offer these “last” models that were destined to be collector cars at prices well above the window sticker. There were numerous reasons why American car companies chose to discontinue convertibles in their passenger car lines, but chief among the reasons were rapidly declining sales numbers and widely-rumored federal safety mandates that never came about, possibly because of the voluntary abandonment of the design. Some 14,000 Cadillac convertibles were produced in 1976, with the last 200 receiving decorating striping denoting the country’s upcoming bicentennial celebration.
As history has proven, the word “last” does not always mean what one might think. In this instance it did not mean forever but we will address that in a few paragraphs. It seems the American motoring public still had a desire for convertibles, particularly in the luxury market, and there was a segment of the public that wanted to drive a convertible.
That gap in availability was bridged by independent coachbuilders that undertook the task of creating vehicles for that specific market. In many ways it was a throwback to the era just before and after World War II where craftsman at custom coachbuilders created bodies for chassis from manufacturers like Cadillac, Duesenberg, Rolls Royce and many others. One such company was Coach Design Group of Westlake Village, CA, who created about 200 Cadillac Seville San Remo editions from 1978 through 1981.
Coach Design Group’s approach differed from some of the other companies creating competing vehicles in that their car started life as a four-door Seville rather than a two-door model. The company believed that the extensive modifications required for this conversion allowed them a better opportunity to create a more rigid and structurally sound design essential for a vehicle with no top by using this platform. Along with the factory components being strengthened, the new exterior sheet metal was also created to allow for the convertible top mechanism.
These modifications all came at a considerable cost but seemed to satisfy those craving a top-of-the-line domestic convertible. The cars, marketed through Hillcrest Motor Company of Beverly Hills, CA and Ogner Motors, LTD of Woodland Hills, CA, also had upscale interior trappings from the already-luxurious standard Cadillac offerings. The fact these cars were very limited production seemed to make them even more popular and in demand among those desiring convertible luxury. The San Remo came in the standard edition or the Ultima edition, with the latter showing off even more customization in appearance than the production Seville models.
All good things must come to an end, and that came about when Cadillac announced the return of a convertible to their line-up for the 1983 model year. Chrysler broke the practice of no convertible production in 1981 and several other auto companies, including other GM brands, jumped on the drop-top bandwagon for the 1982 model year. Cadillac’s action also prompted some who had purchased the “last convertible” model at premium prices in 1976 to file a class-action suit against the automaker, but in the end that lawsuit was dismissed and the American driving public once again could purchase a domestic convertible from a variety of companies.
This 1979 Cadillac Seville San Remo edition is one of those 200 custom, hand-built conversions. This is one of the cars built in the first year of production and is a standard edition retaining much of the Seville’s factory appearance. According to fender tags this represents Car #34. The bright white exterior paint is nicely offset by the burgundy leather interior and matching convertible top. Virtually every power option available to American luxury cars is present in this vehicle. Power comes from a 5.7L fuel injected V8 and a three-speed automatic transmission. This is obviously a car that has been driven and enjoyed by previous owner(s) but still presents well. At some point the car has been treated to a basecoat/clearcoat respray. The car was acquired by the current investor/collector in 2016 and has been driven very little during his ownership and been stored in a humidity-controlled environment. The odometer reading of just under 77,000 miles is believed to be original and accurate but in keeping with Missouri statutes the car will be sold mileage exempt due to its age.
Evergreen Digital Showroom offers this rare vehicle for sale at $29,900 USD. We will gladly assist with arranging transportation and delivery at the buyer’s expense. For additional questions regarding this investment-quality classic vehicle or to make an offer, contact sales manager Steve Russell at 417-532-8000.
NOTICE
Because of the number of vehicles we represent we cannot drive every vehicle for long distances. These vehicles have been part of static displays for long periods of time, in some cases for decades, and are subject to the flaws and imperfections consistent with that. While we do our best to disclose all issues we known about a vehicle in our advertising, these are old cars and something that has always worked in the past might not function properly today. Please check the requirements of your state regarding the licensing and registration of classic vehicles and make sure the vehicle you are looking at meets those if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, all vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom possess a clean (non-branded) title which will be provided the new buyer when purchase funds clear our financial institution. Virtually all our vehicles are sold as mileage exempt due to their age. We do not warranty any vehicle, nor any part of the vehicle including air conditioning systems, brake systems, electrical systems and gauges, fuel systems, accessories or powertrain components.
These are old vehicles and it is very common for them to require certain maintenance and upkeep for them to be operational. In many cases issues with leaks may develop when being driven after a long period of not being used. This is common, as classic cars at some point will leak fluids. For this reason, we do not encourage buyers to attempt driving their purchase home as we cannot guarantee functional reliability of these vehicles. We strongly encourage prospective buyers to be sure they are comfortable with these issues before purchasing a classic car.
Descriptions of vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom are intended to be informational in nature and do not in any way constitute any sort of warranty, expressed or implied. Again, these vehicles are presented “as-is, where-is” without guarantee or warranty. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 will likely not be included in the databases of companies such as CarFax and AutoCheck that provide vehicle history information to consumers. If you have specific questions regarding a vehicle we urge you to contact us at 417-532-8000.
