Hustle Back: 1985 Cadillac Seville Elegante
This next car comes as a tip from Matt V who calls it a “rare, unloved, “bustleback” body style”. I’m not sure about “unloved” because I think it adds a level of style that I love, but then I’m not your average person who would want to buy something as ugly as a brand new Toyota Camry or that podcar (LQ?) they are advertising for the Olympics. Barf. Find this 1985 Cadillac Seville Elegante offered for $7000 in Fremont, CA via craigslist.
From the seller:
1985 Cadillac Seville
condition: excellent
cylinders: 8 cylinders
drive: fwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 62000
paint color: white
title status: clean
transmission: automatic
type: sedan
1985 Cadillac Seville Elegante cost $1500 more than standard Seville. Very well maintained and recently painted. Has $1000 guidepoint tracking system good for two more years. Regular alarm system. Passed smog check in July 2021. Current owner has owned it for more than 10 years.
See a better way to cruise in a cool classic? tips@dailyturismo.com
I used to think these were one of the ugliest cars ever, looking like they couldn’t decide if they want to be a huge sedan or a small hatchback.
I still think they’re ugly, but the fact that any car that’s survived that long is interesting at least because it has survived that long is now something of a mitigating factor. That, and you can’t see the trunk design from the driver’s seat.
My wife was all against buying a Toyota RAV4 because of the spare tire hanging off of the back door. I told her the same thing, that you can’t see it when your driving. She loves that car now and won’t give it up 10 years later, mostly because of that rocket 3.5 V6.
I think GM was going for a Silver Cloud III James Young double hump look, and that fake convertible look pretty much mucks it up.
Now if they had done a Silver Cloud III Mulliner Park Ward look with the swoopy headlights and tail fins, that would have been wonderful.
Almost forgot, when these first came out I was walking by one that was parked with a car nut friend who took a long look at it and said one word, “Gremlin”.
So is this a bustleback, too?
https://www.tirerack.com/images/wheelvisualizer/vehicles/Chevrolet/Malibu_Maxx_LS_04/mainveh.0Maxx.15.Sport_Red.png