1979 Cadillac Seville

Sedan

350 V8 diesel

Automatic

Clear

Diesel

1979 Cadillac Seville Diesel Cadillac’s beautiful mid-sized luxury car in the 1970’s, with the fuel efficiency of a diesel engine, full power options, everything works, including the A/C WHICH BLOWS COLD !!! 73,900 original miles, all original, excellent condition mechanically, very good condition cosmetically. Beautiful Cedar Firemist body with Light Cedar vinyl top and Cedar interior. Condition: The A/C has been converted to R134. All the power options work well including power antenna and such. The paint is a bit faded and orange peeled on the horizontal surfaces, the sides look better. The top is in great shape. The interior is in excellent shape except the driver’s seat has some seam splits, see photos. Ownership and Service History: I purchased this car in 2007 with 70,300 miles on it, it now has 73,900 miles on it, so I have been averaging 500+ miles per year on it, which is a decent amount considering how many cars I own (meaning I have not just let it sit, I have exercised it regularly). The previous owner purchased it in 2004 with 61,300 miles on it, so it has been on the road, not sitting, for the past 10 years. It received a GM Goodwrench replacement engine at 42,300 miles in May of 1993 at Frank Kent Cadillac in Dallas, Texas. It looks like car was sold new there based on the dealer emblem on the trunk lid. I bought it from South Carolina, so it looks like it has been a southern car up until my ownership, and I have never driven it in the snow or on nasty streets. The car comes with a lot of paperwork like the original owner’s manual and even the “Cadillac Directory of Diesel Fuel Locations”, and the “Salesman’s price and equipment guide”. I haven’t had to do anything to this vehicle other than routine maintenance, and I have taken 2 long trips, one to Kentucky and the other to Alabama. I would not hesitate to hop in this car and drive it cross country tomorrow. The only reason I am selling this wonderful driver is because I have found my ultimate diesel automobile, a 1985 Lincoln Mark VII with the BMW diesel engine; I have always been more of a Lincoln man than Cadillac or Imperial. Model History: The Seville, introduced in May 1975, was Cadillac's answer to the rising popularity of luxury imports in the U.S. from Europe such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. GM planners were becoming concerned that the division's once-vaunted image as "The standard of the world" was fading as the 1970s unfolded, especially among the younger generation of car buyers. Thus, the Seville was designed with the idea of winning back young import owners. As the market share of these imports continued to climb, it became obvious that the traditional American automotive paradigm of "bigger equals better" was no longer in full effect in the marketplace. The Seville became the smallest and most expensive model in the lineup, turning Cadillac's traditional marketing and pricing strategy upside down. In addition, imports were popular with a younger audience while Cadillac buyers were heavily slanted to the over-50 age group. The Seville was thus part of an attempt to rejuvenate the make's image. Introduced in mid-1975 and billed as the new "internationally-sized" Cadillac, the Seville was almost 1,000 pounds lighter than the full-sized Deville. The Seville was thus more nimble and easier to park, as well as remaining attractive to customers with the full complement of Cadillac features. More expensive than every other Cadillac model (except the Series 75 Fleetwood factory limousines) at $12,479, the Seville was modestly successful in the marketplace. It spawned several imitators, including as the Lincoln Versailles and later the Chrysler LeBaron / Fifth Avenue. The Cadillac diesel V-8 was America's first production passenger-car diesel engine. It was an option on every 1979 Cadillac, which otherwise used a gasoline V-8 of, depending on model, 350 cubic inches and 170 horsepower or 425 cubic inches and 180 or 195 horsepower. Initially offered for the 1978 Cadillac Seville, the Cadillac diesel V-8 was basically a "dieselized" version of Oldsmobile's familiar 350-cubic-inch gasoline V-8. It was rated at just 125 horsepower, but had a credible 224 pound-feet of torque. Olds built it for all GM brands, itself included. Smooth and quiet for a diesel, it gave Cadillac a direct reply to diesel Mercedes-Benz models. More important, it helped Cadillac contribute to GM's compliance with the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) mandates that took effect with model-year 1978. That's because diesels use up to 20 percent less fuel than comparable gasoline engines. Specifications: Wheelbase: 114.3 inches Length: 204.0 inches Width: 71.8 inches Height: 54.6 inches Production: Year Total 1975 16,355 1976 43,772 1977 45,060 1978 56,985 1979 53,487 Total Seville “notch back” production = 215,609, I could not find a breakdown of how many were gas and how many were diesel.