1975 Cadillac Sedan de Ville: Living Large
1975: When Cadillacs were Cadillacs. Take an average Cadillac buyer from ’75, time-warp him to a Cadillac showroom in 2024, and show him an XT4. What would he say? “What is that, a Datsun?”
Well, at least Cadillac still has two nice sedan models in the CT4 and CT5, unlike some Dearborn-based luxury division I could mention. I love my MKZ, but don’t know what I’ll be getting next time since it is no longer produced and I most certainly do not want an SUV.
But I digress!
The year 1975 preceded the mass downsizing that started with GM in 1977 and filtered down to Ford and Chrysler in 1979. By the dawn of the ’80s, such Nimitz-class rolling stock was no longer available, though I do have a soft spot for Miami Vice–era Fleetwoods, Fifth Avenues, and Town Cars. But in 1975, you got much more per pound.
While Lincoln made do with the Continental sedan and coupe and personal-luxury Continental Mark IV, Cadillac had a much more extensive lineup, with base-model but full-size Calais, plusher Coupe and Sedan de Ville, Fleetwood Brougham (with extra fancy d’Elegance and Talisman trim options), Fleetwood Seventy Five Limousine and Nine Passenger Sedan, and the classic Eldorado, in coupe and convertible versions.
The Sedan de Ville was a popular choice. While essentially the same as the Calais sedan, it looked much richer both inside and out, with flashier upholstery choices and more chrome on the exterior.
Our featured car, which I spotted at a small car lot in Milan, Illinois, about five years ago, has the Maharajah cloth interior with leather bolsters. This car has Medium Saddle interior, but this trim option could also be had in Medium Jasper or Dark Blue.
As my 1975 Cadillac brochure from Stoyer Motors in Fort Madison, Iowa, relayed, the Sedan de Ville was “the great American family car. This year’s edition of the most popular luxury sedan in America has it all.
“New styling excitement—like rear quarter sail windows that lend new airiness to the rear compartment. 14 dramatic new colors. Available matching vinyl roofs—some in glossy new metallic shades. Greater efficiency with such refinements as a modified carburetor design. And continued spaciousness and that famous Cadillac comfort and quiet.”
While the Sedan de Ville saw 63,352 units sold for the model year, at $8801, the $8600 Coupe de Ville was far more popular, with 110,218 produced. Both were hefty, at 5146 pounds for the sedan and 5049 for the coupe. And like all Cadillacs, were powered by the 500-cubic-inch V-8 engine with 190 hp at 4000 rpm.
Said V-8 breathed through a four-barrel carburetor. Fuel injection was a $600 option but the system was rather temperamental. New Cadillac buyers were better served by sticking with the carbureted version.
Other options included the power Astroroof at $843, cruise control for $100, the Air Cushion Restraint System, an early form of airbag in the steering wheel and passenger side of the instrument panel, for $300, and the extra plush d’Elegance package, available on both Coupe and Sedan de Ville, for $350.
The most noticeable difference on ’75 Cadillac versus the previous ’74 models were a new egg-crate grille, quad rectangular headlamps, the aforementioned C-pillar opera windows on Sedan de Villes (Coupe de Villes received a new fixed quarter window, usually wrapped in a Cabriolet landau roof), and new colors and fabric choices.
As for our featured car, I happened to spot it while running errands. I immediately had to pull over and check it out. This car, finished in Bombay Yellow with a white padded vinyl top and Medium Saddle Maharajah interior, was neat as a pin.
The woodtone-inlaid steering wheel rim was perfect (a rarity, for those in the know), as were the filler panels on the rear fenders. Interior had only a couple of minor splits in the padded door panels.
The owner of the lot was a very nice guy. Even after telling him I wasn’t in the market to buy and just loved these types of cars, he still opened the car up for me and I got to sit behind the wheel. It was very nice.
Alas, I already had two Town Cars at the time, with my 63,000-mile Autumn Red 2004 Ultimate taking up my one-car garage. The 2000 Cartier was my daily at that time and took up my assigned spot at the condo.
Looking back, I kind of wish I’d grabbed it. It was so nice, and I love ’75 Cadillacs. I haven’t seen it since but sincerely hope it went to a good home and still looks as good as it did that afternoon in July 2019!
These were and are beautiful cars, they are among my favorite Cadillacs…nice article, keep em coming, always love reading your column!
Nimitz class, that one way to say it’s a big boat.
Another great article. Beautiful car. In love with the patterned cloth interior! When you see choices like that you realize just how limited the selections are today.
I bought a ’75 Calais from a buddy in 1991 and I loved that car! Smooth as glass ride, and the most comfortable car I ever owned. My only complaint was the abysmal miles per gallon, that car averaged around 8 or 9 mpg. Still, I would get another in a heartbeat if I had the chance.
To you must have an unnatural radar for finding the most outstanding and unusual cars. I had a 1975 CDV in the same color combination. Got to love the color and interior choices back then. The fabrics used in the mid 1970’s for interiors will never be seen again. Keep up the great work
Growing up in the 1960s I remember my dad drove big Oldsmobiles and Chevvies. Then in the early 70s he always had a new Caprice Classic and those were pretty big too! But sometimes his boss Mr. Wallace would come around for dinner, and he used to rock these big Caddies. There was a certain look to them, a very heavy style. Strong memory.
I had access to two 76 Coupe Deville in the early 80’s where I worked. One was a light green hardtop and the other black hard top. Both had less than 6k miles and both had 500 cid engines.
They drove good and rode well. Build quality was so so. Handling was great as long as you did not turn.
The black car was really great looking with the steel top.
These were neat cars but they just were way bigger than needed. We drove a down sized 77 Cadillac with a 425 to school and it was just the right size. It had comfort and better mpg but no longer the extra width and length that added little to the cars interior.
I like to say in 77 GM right sized cars before they went too small on the FWD models in the mid 80’s.
Your last sentence is so true.
Enjoyed the seat room in girlfriends folks new 71 Coupe Deville back in the day…..
We serviced a 1975 Coupe DeVille regularly where I worked in the early 80s. Tan vinyl roof over medium brown exterior; medium brown leather interior. It was a very reliable car, much more solid feeling than the Sedan DeVille 4-door hardtops, presumably because of the full B-pillar. When it came up for sale I actually considered buying it but it was priced a bit out of my range (a $100 1968 Barracuda with a tri-tone exterior: white, primer, and rust).
I had one – the engine is a 472 c.i. 500 was in the Eldorado only.
Not in 1975, in 1975 all Cadillacs were 500cid. The 472 was dropped after 1974.
Just look at it, fully restored and detailed and to prove it is still a Cadillac from the 70’s, the ashtray won’t close properly. Never Stop Closing the Glove Compartment.
As hyperv6 noted above, the build quality and materials in my 1975 Sedan de Ville Brougham d’Elegance, a perfect unrusted Arizona car that we DDed in 1990-91, were only so-so. Turning indeed produced massive wallows. But 75 mph on the interstate was a dream… SOOOOOO much torque! Unusable nowadays, really.
Every car GM made from 1976 on with those square headlamps suffered from broken plastic headlamp adjusters. You knew one was coming at you as it had one beam pointing up to the clouds and another pointed right at your eyes.
Great article! I know its not a typo, but only 190 HP out of a 500 CID V-8?!?
We’re really living in an era of peak internal combustion engines today…
That upholstery is really odd, looking very ornate, yet also a bit rustic. Certainly would not be my choice. But, as others have noted, buyers at least HAD a lot of choices then.