The Cadillac Seville nameplate was produced for five generations between the 1976 and 2004 model years, offering midsize luxury and premium appointment. Now, this one-family-owned example from the mid-‘80s has changed hands during an online auction.
This particular example, a 1985 model, hails from the final model year of the second generation. As such, it boasts eye-catching styling with squared-off lines and a boxy front end. The front fascia includes squared headlight clusters and a large rectangular grille, as well as plenty of chrome trim. The profile view reveals a set of 15-inch wire wheels and whitewall tires, while the shoulder line falls away at an easy arc towards the notched rear end. Up top, we spot a dark blue vinyl landau top, while the body panels are covered in light blue paint. And we can’t forget the ’85 Seville’s shapely rear end design.
For a vehicle that’s over 35 years old, this 1985 Cadillac Seville is in pretty decent shape, and shines brightly under the sun. The interior also looks quite nice, with rich blue upholstery covering every inch, including button-tufted leather on the seats. More leather wraps the two-spoke steering wheel. The dash and various accents also present a woodgrain veneer, while an AM/FM cassette stereo is in the dash. Behind the steering wheel, there are digital readouts for the vehicle speed, fuel range, and auxiliary information displays.
As for the mechanical bits, this 1985 Cadillac Seville is equipped with a 4.1L V8 engine rated at 135 horsepower when it first rolled off the line. The engine feeds the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. The underhood view also reveals some corrosion, while more rust can be found on the underside.
The odometer readout for this 1985 Cadillac Seville comes in at 30,000 miles. Up for grabs on Bring A Trailer at no reserve, this Caddy sold for $9,000.
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Source: Bring A Trailer
Comments
Never cared for that silly fake spare on the trunk or that obviously added on vinyl roof. It was pretty sad that the “Standard Of The World” was reduced to 125-135 HP 4100 V8 engines that could self destruct and were underpowered. It was even more comical that Chevy, Buick and Oldsmobile made superior V6/V8 engines that also put out more power. One shining example would be Buick’s Riviera that could be had with a 140HP 255 torque 307 or a 200HP SFI 3.8 liter turbo V6 or an Impala/Caprice Classic could be optioned up to a 165 HP 245 torque 305 that would totally outperform any of these Cadillacs and was capable of lasting 200K with very few issues!
On the contrary the 4100 became the legendary 4900 at 200 hp and 270 tq. You still see 4900 Cadillacs still daily driven today but one thing I’d agree the 4.1 was underpowered and should had stayed in smaller models until the ’88 Improvement atleast.
LOL! Another satisfied Cadillac customer.
Correction, that is not a landau top. Landau tops covered only the rear part of the roof and pillar. This is a “full” vinyl top.
These were nice cars. However, the toronado was better. Just as luxurious but with the 307, much better engine.
These were not nice cars! that 4.1 engine was a complete failure. Pure junk!
The first year Vega engine was better.
It was actually called a Coach Roof. With a Continental kit. Not Factory. An approved GM add on by I think ACS company.
Sam D: You are correct. The article is wrong, and Martin above is partly correct about a landau top. But yes, this car has the coach roof or often called the simulated convertible top.
I miss this car and the Eldorado. The EPA crap aside this was what a luxury car should be, and you are going to travel far north of 100Gs to match it today. The Northstar V8 was crap, government crap. Which is why we are in the space we are today. I wish car manufacturers were advocates for their customers rather than shills for global government.
Unfortunately these auto Ceos are even more shills for the government today…
That is seriously ugly.
It’s a factiry-built pimpmobile.
I purchased used, this exact same car but in gray with the white top and without that ugly fake spare tire on the trunk. When I purchased it, the car had around 88K on it. After getting married, we took this car to the west coast and back (from IL where this car was from). Anyhow, you want to talk about a comfortable car! No, it didn’t have much power. Going through the mountains took some slowing down, but on the freeway that car was flawless. We averaged around 24 mpg and the car had 101,000 miles when we got home. It didn’t miss a beat and those seats were good for 800 mile days on the road. Not like the cars today where you live in a tunnel and have nowhere to move your legs and feet.
What I miss? I miss the styling, the names, the class that cars in this era had. What I wish is that we had a car company that wasn’t afraid to build cars like this again, but with the modern (more efficient and reliable and more powerful) engines.
A somewhat poor example of a landmark GM design. This was Bill Mitchell’s last car and it was polarizing, daring, and unafraid all at once. It was all the things Cadillac design had always been and is no more.
I don’t care for the faux convertible and spare tire, both of which ruin the design but the basic shape penned by Wayne Kaddy under Mitchell’s direction is still, 40 years later, ‘unique in all the world’. It’s an unmistakable shape that was never confused for a less expensive car and reflects a time when GM always pushed the design envelope and kept their cars at the forefront in terms of appearance. Today, the images of the upcoming Genesis G90 show more design inspiration than anything Cadillac has done in years. I miss the time when a new Cadillac’s arrival was an exciting event because they would be so different and so beautiful.
The car looks rich, luxurious. Lots of detail and art in the design. This car stands out because there has been no art in manufacturing in about 30 years. Everything looks the same now
Ci2Eye: Well said. Well said. And it has a name that should never have been dropped.
Although the 1985 I had (mentioned above) did have a white sim/con top, I didn’t mind that so much. but I’ve never liked when they changed the grille out or put that fake spare on the trunk. Even worse? I’ve seen this style Seville with a luggage rack! But overall, just like you said. This design could stand on it’s own against any car on the road just with it’s factory lines. My favorite was the dark red with the white leather and dark red interior accents.
$9,000.00 for a car every dealer at an auction would run from. Was there a worse motor ever made? First motor the warranty companies would not cover. Reminds of that saying, a fool and his money…..
Why do they continue to feature these hideous lumps?? Under the hood looks awful. This is just a rusty boat anchor!