1985 Cadillac Fleetwood

d'Elegance Coupe

8 Cylinder 4.1 Liter

Automatic

Gasoline

Up for bid, one 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Coupe d'Elegance, last of the big rear-drive two-doors. PRICED TO SELL!!Re-Listed Due to a Non-Paying Buyer The Exterior:This car is in great shape for being 25 years old. She wears a newer coat of Cotillion white and has her stock d'Elegance blue velour interior. The paint really shines and exhibits none of the checking, fading or peeling of the OEM job. The front and rear fender fillers were replaced and look great; the filler behind the rear license plate didn't fare so well but a soft ABS replacement is included and can be swapped without dropping the bumper. The rocker mouldings and polished stainless really shine and are not dinged, dented nor "tarred up". No faded or loose bumper rub strips as you typically see. The chrome shines, lights and lenses are crack-free and operational and all around looks pretty sharp. The vinyl half top is presentable but I'm disappointeded to report cracking on the rear near the decklid, which is surprising as the large expanses are supple and in great condition (see pic). Lustrous paint and straight panels The Interior/Equipment:This car has the premium d'Elegance interior with tufted crushed velour seats with embroidered scripts on the door panels, reading lamps in back and other little touches. All the instruments are in good shape and work well including the MPG Sentinel and Climate Control. The previous owner had the compressor and hoses for the A/C replaced and the system charged at time of purchase but it clearly could use a charge as it now blows warm. These cars also took the old-style 2-shaft radio setup; the PO replaced the center escutcheon allowing an aftermarket double-DIN style without hacking the dash. Car has truly intermittent wipers...sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Never found time to look into it as it doesn't see much rain. The headliner is tight and looks great (no separation or indents) and the lighted visors DO NOT sag or flop as is typical of the non-adjustable type. The door panels are extremely nice without any cracks in the vinyl or armrests and the control pods are solidly attached without broken clips. The doors close solidly; no rattles and the bottoms are solid. The leather wheel is in good shape with some discoloration along the top but overall I'd give it an 8 out of 10. Mechanicals:1. The engine is strong and smooth. Fires right up, idles great. Probably the smoothest 4100 I've seen. No smoke. No water in oil. If a 4100 is not your cup of tea, this car will readily accept most any Olds, Cad of even Chevy engine as the sedans continued until '92 with variants of these using different bracketry.2. Steering is tight without slop; no front end play and the tilt and telescope are tight. Tracks dead center without wandering.3. The brakes are firm without excessive pedal travel. Discs in front, drums in back. Nothing needed here.4. There's a new exhaust and muffler from cat-back.5. The suspension is also in good shape and the car handles surprisingly well. Much better than the sedans that I recall. But, it still retains that classic boulevard ride. The odometer is showing 169k but she drives like 69k. Now for the bad news, the transmission has the dreaded first-second slip once warm. If you pull strong in first and let up on the gas, it'll shift and you're A-OK, but it does get worse as the car warms up. I was quoted $250 for a used replacement trans but didn't act on that as there's a likelihood the new trans might end up as a doorstop for the next buyer that may want to swap in some real motivation (500 and a TH425?). Once past the 1st to 2nd slip, it shifts and drives beautifully with full converter lockup on the highway. Driveline is vibration free. You could "drive it home" as they say (I drove it from Chicago when purchased in this condition) if you spent your time cruising on the interstate, but for daily driving I'd swap the trans out. Misc:The glass is good all around, except for the windshield. It was cracked when I bought her, and still is. It's common glass, shared by Olds, Buick, Pontiac and Chevy on the Deltas and Caprices. This car retains the factory wire wheel covers and they sparkle as you can see in the pic. Tires have good tread but I'd replace them out of age and for a consistent look. The wheel locks, jack and spare are with the car. She has a couple small blemishes typical of a vehicle of this age that I've put in the photos that in no-way diminish her overall presence. By far the trans issue forces me to price her low with the hope that she'll get a home that can really appreciate her. If I’ve missed anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Due to age, selling the vehicle as-is, no warranty implied. $500 deposit due within 24 hours of auction close. And thanks for looking!