- #4655 of 6098
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You got it backwards...
by lemko
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Feb 28, 2008 (7:04 am)
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...a late '70s Malibu might've aped the Cadillac Seville but the Cadillac Seville didn't ape a late '70s Malibu. The Seville debuted in 1975 as a 1976 model. The downsized A-body Malibu didn't appear until 1978.
It isn't the first time lesser GM makes imitated their upscale cousins. Early 1930s Chevrolets looked like baby Cadillacs. The 1940-41 Chevrolet clearly imitates a contemporary Buick.
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- #4656 of 6098
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Re: You got it backwards... [lemko]
by fintail
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Feb 28, 2008 (12:07 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Feb 28, 2008 7:04 am)
I've always seen the 58 Impala roofline as a child of the 57 Eldo, too
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- #4657 of 6098
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Re: You got it backwards... [lemko]
by xhe518
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Feb 28, 2008 (12:18 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Feb 28, 2008 7:04 am)
The downsized A-body Malibu didn't appear until 1978.
Yep, and it didn't get the thicker Seville-like "C" pillars until it was "freshened" in 1980 or 1981.
The original Seville was based on the old Nova.
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- #4658 of 6098
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Re: You got it backwards... [fintail]
by lemko
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Feb 28, 2008 (12:22 pm)
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Replying to: fintail (Feb 28, 2008 12:07 pm)
"Uncle Tom" McCahill described the 1955 Chevrolet described as a "junior Oldsmobile with a Cadillac rear and a Ferrari grille." You can also see a lot of 1948 Oldsmobile influence in the design of the 1949-51 Chevrolets.
I'd say the 1976 Cadillac Seville influenced a lot of late 1970s/early 1980s GM vehicles. Take a look at the rather upright Seville-esque rear roofline on a 1980 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight for instance or the very Seville-like front end of an early 1980s Chevrolet Caprice. I, for one, believe the first-generation Seville is a classic design. It was exponentially better than Lincoln's feeble effort the Versailles.
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- #4659 of 6098
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Re: You got it backwards... [xhe518]
by lemko
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Feb 28, 2008 (12:25 pm)
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Replying to: xhe518 (Feb 28, 2008 12:18 pm)
And those who don't know would hardly recognize that fact looking at the car. You could immediately see a Granada lurking under all the Lincoln-esque cliches of the Versailles. Cadillac messed-up in 1982 trying to pull another rabbit out of the hat with the mediocre J-car platform resulting in the awful Cimmaron. Well, there was no rabbit that time, rather something the rabbit left in the hat after a delicious carrot and celery dinner.
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- #4660 of 6098
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Re: You got it backwards... [lemko]
by fintail
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Feb 28, 2008 (12:27 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Feb 28, 2008 12:22 pm)
I can agree with your views on that Seville. Compared to the rest of the brand in 1975, it appears to be from a different planet. Easily the most tolerable Caddy of that period, not a bad car as far as I know, either A Fleetwood Talisman with the airbag option might be the most over the top and luxurious, but a Seville would be better to actually live with.
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- #4661 of 6098
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Re: You got it backwards... [lemko]
by xhe518
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Feb 28, 2008 (12:30 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Feb 28, 2008 12:25 pm)
I think the second-gen Seville for 1980-81 was a disaster too - styling wise. I guess some people liked it - I always thought that hunchback look was terrible. Although, I liked the looks of the 1979 Eldorado
The mid-70's to mid-80's were pretty much dark times for the domestics - not too many great or memorable cars really.
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- #4662 of 6098
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Re: You got it backwards... [xhe518]
by lemko
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Feb 28, 2008 (12:38 pm)
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Replying to: xhe518 (Feb 28, 2008 12:30 pm)
I'd say the very worst years for Cadillac had to be 1981 through 1988. I wouldn't touch a 1981 Cadillac with a 39 1/2 foot pole. All they had was the V-8-6-4, (which I hear is actually a pretty good engine if you disconnect the prehistoric DOD controls) and the dismal diesel. It got worse in 1982-83 with the advent of the Cimmaron and the HT4100 engine. I drove a 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham with that engine. It went from 0-60 in February to April.
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- #4663 of 6098
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Re: You got it backwards... [lemko]
by circlew
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Feb 28, 2008 (12:46 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Feb 28, 2008 12:38 pm)
Yeah, my dad's '84 FWB beat you by a week!
Regards,
OW
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- #4664 of 6098
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Re: You got it backwards... [lemko]
by xhe518
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Feb 28, 2008 (12:58 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Feb 28, 2008 12:38 pm)
I'd say the very worst years for Cadillac had to be 1981 through 1988. I wouldn't touch a 1981 Cadillac with a 39 1/2 foot pole. All they had was the V-8-6-4, (which I hear is actually a pretty good engine if you disconnect the prehistoric DOD controls) and the dismal diesel. It got worse in 1982-83 with the advent of the Cimmaron and the HT4100 engine. I drove a 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham with that engine. It went from 0-60 in February to April.
Yep- and it didn't get any better with the 1985 downsized Deville and the 1986 Eldorado/Seville....
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