1979 Cadillac Seville-A Vision in Colonial Yellow!

(Editor Note. Please welcome Mr. Tom Klockau to the writing team here at The Brougham Society.)




 By Tom Klockau

Time for another yellow Cadillac post! I am a big, big fan of the Cadillac Seville. Why? It’s gorgeous, it was a way to get some new customers for Cadillac dealers, and retain owners getting a bit tired of their Nimitz-class offerings, and it not only inaugurated the successful Sheer Look, it also did so with that elusive Jaguar way, with grace and pace.

The Seville’s genesis goes back to the early ’70s, when demand for a “smaller Cadillac” caused the GM prestige division to think about a new model. In fact, the earliest styling bucks for the Seville circa 1973 looked remarkably like that of the Hooper-inspired 1980-85 Cadillac Seville.

But fortunately, a leaner, smoother design was selected, and was a breath of fresh air in Cadillac dealerships. Here was a cleanly styled flagship (only the Fleetwood limousines cost more) that had fuel injection, manageable size, and yet retained all the luxury features that Cadillac owners, a loyal bunch, expected.

Make no mistake: I love these cars. They’re beautiful, and while the later 1982-85 Seville with Self-Destructo HT4100 power might not have been the best decision, I consider the original 1976-79 a “DS” no more than I would a 1965 Mustang–or a 1963 Cadillac, to “keep it in the family.” For those who think otherwise, well, we will just have to agree to disagree. Onward!

The Seville received a minor facelift with new grille in 1977. At the same time, a “slick top” roof became available for those who would prefer to do without padded vinyl.

In 1978, a new top-of-the-line model, the Elegante, arrived with standard wire wheels and two-tone paint. They looked especially fetching in black over silver, as seen here. And Cadillac still had no trouble selling them, despite only minor changes over three model years.

1979 was the last year for the original Seville, and they still looked excellent. So when I saw this lovely Colonial Yellow example on eBay recently, I knew I was going to have to share its pastel yellow, wire-wheeled goodness with all of you! Isn’t it pretty!

The genuine wire wheels, a factory option, were also very snazzy. Lincoln would later on offer wire wheels too, but not until the 1980s. It was a good look, and just another way Cadillac set itself apart from the competition.

 And the interior! Yeah, sure, some may have complained about no console or floor shift, but this was a great, rich-looking interior. Especially in Light Antique Yellow leather! 

Look at all the detailing on that door panel. This was clearly no average X-body Skylark or Omega! 

And a word, if you will. This is not, I repeat is not a Nova. Many, many changes were made to the X-body chassis, including a wheelbase stretch. Yes, an X-body was what they started with, but by the time it was all said and done, the car was so changed that it got its own new body
designation, the K-body.


I like how the instrument panel was a re-scaled version of the 1974-76 IP of the big Cadillacs. They also received the color-keyed litter basket, just like big brothers De Ville and Fleetwood.

Rear seat passengers were just as coddled, with several square feet of plush Sierra grain leather. And in light yellow? Lovely!

Back then, you could really personalize your car. Not like all the timid, fretful people today who only rely on some ambiguous future resale value and thus choose gray, black or white with prosthetic limb beige or Dark Black interior choices. How original.

Of course, the car companies are only happy to oblige, as losing both interior and exterior color choices saves them $0.08 per unit. But I digress. In the ’70s though, not only did you have a real selection of color choices, you could also have a choice of several interior upholsteries, especially in Cadillacs, Lincolns and Chryslers.

I am known as a classic American luxury car fan. Always have been. But in comparison with today’s Lincoln, which is channeling Lexus, and today’s Cadillac, which while retaining a unique American look, is aiming for BMW in ride and handling, in the 1970s both Cadillac and Lincoln had a special look all their own. And so it is that I will always consider this car a Greatest Hit.