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!
My grandma had a 1975 sedan DeVille. She was 4’11” driving a 20’ long car. I remember the door grab handles to close the door were like a trap to my little kid fingers. She stopped driving in the mid 80’s. She would not let my grandpa get rid of the car. So it sat in the garage with the wide whitewalls and all. While in high school, my car had broke down. She let me use her Caddy for the week. I was showing off in the parking lot and living large, literally!
I bought a 76 Florida Coupe De Ville from my boss’s father in the late 80’s. Paid $1000, not sure if the mileage was 100,000 or 200,000 ! I think it was a 425ci motor. Beautiful burgandy leather interior, back seat looked like no one ever sat in it, Great car, coolest feature was the factory cb radio. Sign of the times. Sold it to a whiolesaler who came in to the dealership I worked at as a service writer for the same $1000 about 3 years later.