Yesterday was our first real dose of winter weather. Fortunately I didn’t have to go anywhere, so I rode it out online, over first a pot of coffee, and later, several screwdrivers.
As I was perusing I came across this most excellent ’78 Fleetwood Brougham. It’s in Buffalo, NY. I’ve always loved the 1977-79 downsized Cadillacs.
While not as unashamedly giant or ornate as its 1971-76 predecessors (the Talisman, sadly, was not continued after ’76), it still radiated Cadillac style and continued the theme of comfort and space-in several cases, these had more space than the earlier Nimitz-class Caddys.
The 1977 Fleetwood was not as distinct now, as it had the same body and sheetmetal as it’s less expensive (please don’t call it cheaper, ha ha) Sedan de Ville stablemate.
Primary differences were, of course, the fancier interior, and a B pillar which narrowed from the roofline as it dropped to the doors. A Cadillac crest adorned the base.
While subtle, I always liked this touch. I have always thought the plain, painted B pillar on the 77-79 Sedan de Villes looked cheap, more like a base Ninety-Eight LS than a Cadillac.
’78 Fleetwoods had the same 425 CID V8 as the de Villes and Eldorado. The Seville continued with its fuel injected Olds 350-or the infamous 350 diesel V8 as an option. Horsepower on the Fleetwoods was 180 hp in standard form; with fuel injection, it was bumped to 195. 36,800 of these Broughams were built, with a $12,842 msrp.
While these look giant to anyone born after say, 1995, I remember them when they were considered tidy. As a kid in the 80s I remember seeing the 71-76 mastodons still cruising about, though the Midwestern snow and salt was dissolving many by then.
Today this would make a pretty nice semi-daily driver/cruise night car. I love the gunmetal gray paint, a black top and brite red leather. Say what you will about ’70s domestic rolling stock, at least you still had a myriad of color combinations from which to choose. And for $7500, this is a steal if she runs as well as she looks.