Cadillac Seville - 83

The Cadillac Seville is a luxury car that was manufactured

by the Cadillac Motor Car Division of American automaker

General Motors from 1975 to 2004, as a smaller-sized top-

of-the-line Cadillac.

The name of "Cadillac's first small car" was selected over a revival of LaSalle and the GM  design staff's preference, LaScala, primarily because, notes GM Marketing Director Gordon  Horsburgh, "It had no negatives.” The initial suggestion was in fact Leland, honoring the  make's founder, but it was rejected because most buyers wouldn't get the reference and  because Henry Leland had also founded Cadillac's rival Lincoln.  The first-generation Seville had proved quite successful, however it failed in its primary  mission of poaching import buyers and marketing research indicated that the car was popular  with older women who wanted a Cadillac in a smaller, more maneuverable size. For the 1980  model year, Cadillac moved the Seville to the 114 in (2,900 mm) wheelbase K-body, based on  the front-wheel drive E-body Eldorado, Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado. Returning to  some of the original concepts floated for the 1975 edition (the March 2008 issue of  Collectible Automobile featured an early concept of what evolved into the downsized 1977  Cadillac DeVilles and Fleetwoods — one of the concepts which was withdrawn looks similar to  the second-generation Seville), The rear styling was intended to invoke the look of Daimlers  of a past era (though British Leyland were building cars with this feature even then). In the  US, the bustle-back styling was imitated by the 1982–1987 Lincoln Continental sedan, and the  1981–1983 Chrysler Imperial coupe.  The new model, one of the last vehicles designed by GM's Bill Mitchell, featured front-wheel  drive and independent rear suspension. The Seville initiated features that would become  more traditional in later years. In 1981, "memory seats" — a feature not seen on a Cadillac  since the Eldorado Broughams of the late 50s — became available again. This option allowed  two memorized positions to be recalled at the touch of a button. Also new for 1981 was a  digital instrument cluster. The "Cadillac Trip Computer" was a precursor to this option in  1978. For the '81-'85 Seville and Eldorado, it was considerably less expensive, at US$200 in  '81, and did not contain the many features of Trip Computer, just a digital speedometer and  fuel gauge. "Puncture-sealing" tires were also new for '81. In 1982, Seville offered heated  outside rear-view mirrors with the rear defogger option. Inside, a "Symphony Sound" stereo  cassette tape system was available. For 1983, a new "Delco/Bose" stereo cassette system was  offered at US$895. Initially, looking like a standard Delco radio in 1983, from 1984 on it  featured a brushed gold-look front panel and bulbous lower interior door speaker assemblies.  This was also the last year for the availability of an 8-track stereo system for Seville. On the  outside, from 1983 through 1985, Seville was available with a "Full Cabriolet Roof" option,  which gave Seville the look of a four-door convertible.  In hip hop culture, this generation of Sevilles were known as "slantbacks." Sales were  respectable at first, but disastrous experimentation with diesel engines ( the standard engine  in 1980 models) and the ill-fated 1981 V8-6-4 variable displacement engine (1980s technology  could not make it work reliably), along with poor quality control and lackluster performance  from engines severely detuned to meet more stringent CAFE standards, began to erode the  Seville's standing in the marketplace. A new but underpowered 4.1 liter V8 was fitted to  post-1981 models. It was prone to the block becoming porous and coolant mixing with the  oil, resulting in catastrophic engine failure. Some 1981-1982 models were also fitted with an  optional 4.1 liter Buick V6, which was a reliable enough engine, but was not powerful enough  for the Seville's weight and performance was lacking. 

1983

Engine 4.1 litres 8 cylinders Power 135 HP Lenght 5,2 m Widht 1,8 m The collections Seville has been driven only ~80.000 kilometres. BK- Group is the second owner of this car.