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The (new) Cadillac Database©


Descriptions and Specifications
of Cadillac Cars


1976 -1985

Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or select preferred years, below

 

1902-1904 1905-1912 1913-1921 1922-1931 1932-1937

1938-1945

1946-1950 1951-1955 1956-1965 1966-1975 1976-1985

1986-up


[Still lots of blanks to be filled in...]



Late extra(10/2000): The compiler of The (new) Cadillac Database© admits to being less familiar with Cadillac models from 1970 and later. Many of you have asked for more information and photos regarding these later models.  I am pleased to inform you that there are other sites on the Web devoted also to Cadillac history and particularly to what I call "modern" Cadillacs, i.e. those built after 1970.  So, for additional, pertinent information about Cadillacs from 1970 and later, please visit these excellent, informative sites:

John Barach's excellent Cadillac history pages.
Al Betker's equally superb "Maximum Torque Specialties"

1976

Facts: Eldorado engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 4.30 x 4.30" b&s, 500 ci, overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 8.25:1 compression ratio, Rochester 4 bbl carburetor, 190BHP @ 4400 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic mounted longitudinally in transfer case, 3.21:1 final drive ratio), live rear axle suspension, with single leaf longitudinal semi-elliptic springs, independent front suspension via torsion bars and A-arms, tube chock absorbers), integral boxed perimeter, 126.3" wheel base, over-all length = 225", 62.5" track front and rear 5", LR78x15 tires, weight: 4675-5167 lbs, 0-80 in 19 secs., top speed 115-120 mph, 10-13 mpg. Seville: engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 4.06 x 3.39" b&s, 350 ci, overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 8.0:1 compression ratio, electronic fuel injection, 180BHP @ 4400 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic, 2.56:1 final drive ratio), live rear axle self-leveling suspension, with semi-elliptic springs and tube shock absorbers, independent front suspension via torsion bars and A-arms, tube shock absorbers), unit body and chassis with sub frames, 113.9" wheel base, over-all length = 204", 61.3" track front and 59" rear, GR78x15 tires, weight: 4180-4230 lbs, 0-60 in 11.5 secs., top speed 115 mph, 15-17 mpg. "Calais", "De Ville", "Fleetwood" and "Seville" series; 11 models, 12th in U.S. car sales ranking; Seville Sedan and Biarritz sp. Eldorado introduced; EFI optional, automatic level control on Fleetwood.

Easy ID: two horizontal lines (ribs) on the turn signal/cornering lamp assembly.  Grille has 14 openings in each row. Each opening or "box"  is sub-divided into four smaller boxes.

76brgfr.jpg (9017 bytes)

 

(body styles): (see also Eldorado and Seville sections, below); station wagon wagon (CCI, 28:5); Eldorado 2-door convertible (C&D card set); Seville 4-door compact Sedan (C&D card set); Custom Eldorado Biarritz (1800 units built). Article on new Seville in R&T, pp.84-86 (date ???), Eldo convertible in France, V8 #29.

Notes: [gleaned from CML, 1997] One of the 1976 Seville option packages included an airbag as well as anti-lock brakes on the rear wheels (a $1000 option). These options were discontinued in the 1977-1979 Cadillac Sevilles because few buyers wanted to spend the additional money. So much for safety! And now the government requires it. At least Cadillac tried at a very early stage to promote safety. However all 1976-1979 Sevilles came standard with a collapsible steering column and nitrogen filled energy absorbing bumper mounts.

          [check out this site for more on '76 Cadillacs !!!]


1976-1979

Article CA, 9/1985, p.74.
Article CA, 6/2000, pp. 40-49
Story of 76 Seville in France, V8, #4, pp.5861.


1976-1992

Article on Seville models in OCW, 27.8.92, p.18


1977

Facts: Eldorado engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 4.08 x 4.06" b&s, 425 ci, overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 8.25:1 compression ratio, Rochester 4 bbl carburetor, 180BHP @ 4400 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic mounted longitudinally in transfer case, 3.21:1 final drive ratio), live rear axle suspension, with single leaf longitudinal semi-elliptic springs, independent front suspension via torsion bars and A-arms, tube chock absorbers), integral boxed perimeter, 126.3" wheel base, over-all length = 225", 62.5" track front and rear", LR78x15 tires, weight: 4675-5167 lbs, 0-80 in 19 secs., top speed 115-120 mph, 10-13 mpg. Seville: engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 4.06 x 3.39" b&s, 350 ci, overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 8.0:1 compression ratio, electronic fuel injection, 180BHP @ 4400 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic, 2.56:1 final drive ratio), live rear axle self-leveling suspension, with semi-elliptic springs and tube shock absorbers, independent front suspension via torsion bars and A-arms, tube shock absorbers), unit body and chassis with sub frames, 113.9" wheel base, over-all length = 204", 61.3" track front and 59" rear, GR78x15 tires, weight: 4180-4230 lbs. "De Ville", "Fleetwood" and "Seville" series; 8 models, 12th in U.S. car sales ranking; Calais dropped, Eldorado convertible dropped; 4-wheel discs on Brougham., Seville, 425ci engine ;

(body styles): (see also Eldorado and Seville sections, below); Seville 4-door compact Sedan (C&D card set); Custom Eldorado Biarritz (1999 units built, of which 404 with sun-roof).  Eldorado coupe survivor in France, V8, #20, pp.40-43. 

Easy ID:

77cdv.JPG (10482 bytes)


1978

Facts: Eldorado engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 4.08 x 4.06" b&s, 425 ci, overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 8.25:1 compression ratio, Rochester 4 bbl carburetor, 180BHP @ 4400 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic mounted longitudinally in transfer case, 3.21:1 final drive ratio), live rear axle suspension, with single leaf longitudinal semi-elliptic springs, independent front suspension via torsion bars and A-arms, tube chock absorbers), integral boxed perimeter, 126.3" wheel base, over-all length = 225", 62.5" track front and rear 5", LR78x15 tires, weight: 4675-5167 lbs, 0-80 in 19 secs., top speed 115-120 mph, 10-13 mpg. Seville: engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 4.06 x 3.39" b&s, 350 ci, overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 8.0:1 compression ratio, electronic fuel injection, 180BHP @ 4400 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic, 2.56:1 final drive ratio), live rear axle self-leveling suspension, with semi-elliptic springs and tube shock absorbers, independent front suspension via torsion bars and A-arms, tube shock absorbers), unit body and chassis with sub frames, 113.9" wheel base, over-all length = 204", 61.3" track front and 59" rear, GR78x15 tires, weight: 4180-4230 lbs (diesel version optional). "De Ville", "Fleetwood" and "Seville" series; 10 models, 12th in U.S. car sales ranking;Seville Elegante and Custom Biarritz Classic added; Cadillac used digital electronic wizardry to operate the Seville's new trip computer. Car & Driver, June 1978 tested the Cadillac Coupe de Ville for 1978.

Easy ID:

li78lim1.jpg (9215 bytes)
1978 Fleetwood limousine

 

(body styles): (see also Eldorado and Seville sections, below); article in CLCA 30th anniversary issue, p.38; custom "San Remo" convertible, CC&CC, 1/1979, cover + pp.3, 30-33; Eldorado [Custom] Biarritz C&D card set);


1979

Facts: Eldorado engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 3.80 x 4.06" b&s, 368 cubic inches (smaller version available), overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 8.0:1 compression ratio, electronic fuel injection, 145BHP @ 4400 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic mounted longitudinally in transfer case, 3.21:1 final drive ratio), live rear axle suspension, with single leaf longitudinal semi-elliptic springs, independent front suspension via torsion bars and A-arms, tube chock absorbers), integral boxed perimeter, 113.9" wheel base, over-all length = 205", 62" track front and rear, P205/75R15 tires, weight: 3800 lbs, 0-60 in 12secs., top speed 110-115 mph, 17-20 mpg (diesel version even more economical). Seville: engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 4.06 x 3.39" b&s, 350 ci, overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 8.0:1 compression ratio, electronic fuel injection, 180BHP @ 4400 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic, 2.56:1 final drive ratio), live rear axle self-leveling suspension, with semi-elliptic springs and tube shock absorbers, independent front suspension via torsion bars and A-arms, tube shock absorbers), unit body and chassis with sub frames, 113.9" wheel base, over-all length = 204", 61.3" track front and 59" rear, GR78x15 tires, weight: 4180-4230 lbs (diesel version optional). 9 models, 12th in U.S. car sales ranking; Custom Biarritz Classic deleted; Eldorado 2-door Coupe (C&D card set);

Easy ID: >>>>>

79cdv.jpg (8654 bytes)

 

(body styles): (see also Eldorado and Seville sections, below); [1979?] "Caribou" pick-up (special issue CCIX, p.26);

Trivia:   In the 1996 Guiness book of records we note that the world record for a gas driven car without an engine overhaul is a 1979 Cadillac Deville, as of June 1 1996, with 661,183 miles.  The car is owned by Don Champion of Louisville, KY.


1980

Facts: Eldorado engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V8, 3.80 x 4.06" b&s, 368 cubic inches (smaller version available), overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 8.0:1 compression ratio, electronic fuel injection, 145BHP @ 4400 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic mounted longitudinally in transfer case, 3.21:1 final drive ratio), live rear axle suspension, with single leaf longitudinal semi-elliptic springs, independent front suspension via torsion bars and A-arms, tube chock absorbers), integral boxed perimeter, 113.9" wheel base, over-all length = 205", 62" track front and rear, P205/75R15 tires, weight: 3800 lbs, 0-60 in 12secs., top speed 110-115 mph, 17-20 mpg (diesel version even more economical). Seville: diesel engine: 8-cylinder, 90° V-type diesel standard (two gas engines optionally available) 4.06 x 3.39" b&s, 350 ci, overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 22.5:1 compression ratio, diesel injectors, 105BHP @ 3200 rpm, Turbo Hydra-Matic, 2.41:1 final drive ratio), front and rear independent suspension with A-arms, coil springs and tube shock absorbers, unit body and chassis with sub frames, 113.9" wheel base, over-all length = 204.8", 62" track front and rear, P205/75R15 tires, weight: 3911 lbs, 0-60 in 19 secs., top speed 100 mph, 21-23 mpg. Ten models, 12th in U.S. car sales ranking; Fleetwood Brougham Coupe added. Electronics now controlled fuel injection, ignition and in-vehicle trouble-shooting.

Easy ID: >>>>>

80sdv.jpg (12388 bytes)

 

(body styles): (see also Eldorado and Seville sections, below); Seville 4-door compact Sedan (C&D card set);

80SVLELA.JPG (7228 bytes)

80SVLELB.JPG (7881 bytes)

80SVLELC.JPG (7608 bytes)

81SVLELE.JPG (8070 bytes)
1980 Cadillac Seville Elegante


1980s

Article on three eighties Cadillacs in the French magazine V8, #26, pp.44-49.   Story of Seville in France, V8, #5, pp. 28-32.

 

1981

Facts: >>>>>

 

Easy ID: >>>>>

81cdv.jpg (9331 bytes)

 

(body styles): (see also Eldorado and Seville sections, below); custom Eldorado (CCI, 27:2), Seville 4-door compact Sedan (C&D card set); story of Eldo Biarritz in France, V8, #14, pp.18-21

 

1982

Facts: New "Cimarron" model with in-line four engine, 3.50 x 2.90" b&s, 112 ci, overhead valves, pushrod actuated, 9.0:1 compression ratio, 2 bbl carburetor, 85BHP @ 5100 rpm, 4-speed overdrive manual transmission standard, Hydra-Matic optional, 3.65:1 final drive ratio (manual), 3.18:1 (automatic), rear suspension has independent trailing arms, coil springs and anti-roll bar, front has independent beam axle, McPherson struts, coil springs and anti-roll bar, unity body and chassis with sub-frames, 101.2" wheel base, over-all length = 173", 55.4" track front and 55.2" rear, P195/70R13 tires, weight: 2600 lbs, 0-60 in 15.2 secs., top speed 95 mph, 22-26 mpg. Rest of model range given below. There were special edition DeVilles and Broughams called "d'Elegance"; a so-called "cabriolet roof" was offered on the DeVille coupe(standard on the Fleetwood Brougham coupe); a special edition Eldorado touring coupe was also available; it featured the touring suspension. The standard power plant this year for the Fleetwood Broughams, the DeVilles, Eldorado and Seville models was the 4.1 liter digital fuel-injected V8.   Optionally available on these models was the Olds built 5.7 liter fuel-injected diesel engine; a 6.0 liter fuel-injected diesel engine in V8-6-4 configuration was standard on the large Fleetwoods (the sedan and limousine for 7-8 passengers)

Easy ID: : "Veed" front grille divided into three separate horizontal areas (theme carried through to 1984), "Cadillac" script at top, left of chrome grille shroud.

(body styles): (1) Cimarron sedan with 2.0 liter, four cylinder engine  (image: C&D card set), (2) DeVille coupe, (3) DeVille sedan, (4) Fleetwood Brougham coupe, (5) Fleetwood Brougham sedan, (6) Eldorado, (7) Eldorado Biarritz, (8) Eldorado touring coupe (ETC), (9) Seville, (10) Seville Elegante, (11) Fleetwood sedan-limousine without division and (12) Fleetwood limousine with division;  see ultra-stretch model (CCI, 28:1)

82BIARR.JPG (12169 bytes)

82eldo.JPG (8058 bytes)
1982 Cadillac Eldorado

 

Cimarron (facts): sub-compact Cadillac model introduced 21 May 1981 to compete w/ BMW and Audi; 101.2"! wb,173" overall, 2 580 lbs, 1.8 litre, 85HP, 112.4 ci, 4-speed manual or 3-speed auto., transverse front-wheel drive; MacPherson strut front suspension, power-assisted rack and pinion steering, 14:1 steering gear ratio, genuine leather seating areas, body-contoured bucket seats, air conditioning [all standard]; GM-built engines produced by various divisions [i.e. not necessarily Cadillac] built on new J body, shared with Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac J2000; first 4-cylinder Cadillac since 1914; first manual transmission since 1953; from name of fast-flowing Texas river; $12131 [lowest priced 1981model], McC. p.437; described as a new kind of Cadillac for a new kind of Cadillac owner, quick-handling, road-hugging and fun to drive.

82cim.JPG (5924 bytes)    83cimi1.JPG (7431 bytes)    82cimi2.JPG (3487 bytes)

 

1982-1985

Article on Eldorado touring coupe models in CA 8/1987, pp.73-76, including '82 Touring Coupe front & rear, interior, '84 Touring Coupe;

 

1983

Facts: The cheapest Cadillac in the model range was, again, the Cimarron, Series 6J; its engine capacity went up this year to 2.0 liters.  Model range same as last year with slight price increases all round. The DeVille coupe was available optionally with the so-called "cabriolet roof" (the latter being standard on the Fleetwood Brougham coupe); special editions of the Eldorado (Biarritz and touring coupe) and the Seville (Elegante) were available; in addition, Eldorado and Seville models could be ordered with the so-called "full cabriolet roof", a simulated convertible top made of canvas-like material, with roof bows and welted seams.  As in 1982, the Eldorado and Seville models could be ordered with the optional, so-called "touring suspension" (it was standard equipment again on the Eldorado touring coupe (ETC).  Power plants remained unchanged this year.

Easy ID: "Veed" front grille as in 1982, divided into three separate horizontal areas, "Cadillac" script nameplate on far left of middle section, level with lower separating bar of that section .

83brgcp.JPG (8184 bytes)
1983 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham coupe

 

(body styles):  (1) Cimarron sedan with 2.0 liter, four cylinder engine, (2) DeVille coupe, (3) DeVille sedan, (4) Fleetwood Brougham coupe, (5) Fleetwood Brougham sedan, (6) Eldorado, (7) Eldorado Biarritz, (8) Eldorado touring coupe (ETC), (9) Seville, (10) Seville Elegante, (11) Fleetwood sedan-limousine without division and (12) Fleetwood limousine with division;  see ultra-stretch model (CCI, 28:1)

83ALLN.JPG (6691 bytes)    83ALN2.JPG (9785 bytes)

83DVCP.JPG (10503 bytes)

83ELDOB.JPG (7438 bytes)    83ELDOB2.JPG (6846 bytes)

83ETC.JPG (10128 bytes)

83SVLID.JPG (7592 bytes)    83SVL.JPG (10845 bytes)

 

1984

Facts: >>>>>

 

Easy ID: >>>>>

84cdv.JPG (11199 bytes)

 

(body styles): (see also Eldorado, Seville and Cimarron sections, below); Eldorado Biarritz 2-door convertible (C&D card set); Seville, 4-door compact Sedan (C&D card set);


1985

Facts: Cadillac introduced the world's first transverse-mounted V8 in a front-wheel-drive automobile. The DeVille line incorporated a viscous-damped torque-converter clutch.

Easy ID: >>>>>

85fwd.jpg (10155 bytes)

 

(body styles): (see also Eldorado, Seville and Cimarron sections, below); 2-door Coupe deVille (C&D card set); article on Cimarron, unidentified magazine, 3/85, p.133.

85cimfr.JPG (4919 bytes)     85cim.JPG (5300 bytes)

85cim2.JPG (10582 bytes)
The 1985 Cadillac Cimarron

 

 

 
Return to The (New) Cadillac Database© Index Page
or select preferred years, below

 

1902-1904 1905-1912 1913-1921 1922-1931 1932-1937

1938-1945

1946-1950 1951-1955 1956-1965 1966-1975 1976-1985

1986-up

 


© 1996, Yann Saunders and the Cadillac-LaSalle Club
[Background image:  1981 Cadillac Seville]