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That being said, my nearly 90 year old grandmother is in fairly decent shape too. Still lives in her own house, does yardwork, just stopped driving, etc.
on top of that, he is still an active volunteer fireman, and was just re-certified to drive the truck! he does not gear up anymore of course.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Every mission statement should be pithy like that.
"It's a hundred and six miles to Chicago..."
Great stories and history lessons for the lucky few who get invited to the trophy room tour. And I had to laugh when I saw, "He's also building a model collection of every car he drove..." Does that guy post here?
2 were later models (probably around '70, before big taillights). and they were on the highway! the 3rd was in town (Greenville) but that was a real old one (small rear window). I had forgotten how much different the early ones looked (much "older? too).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
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Even though the similar-vintage Seville was probably a superior car in just about every respect, I kinda like the Versaille, in a weird sort of way. I think they're decent looking, but the problem is that it's just so blatantly obvious what it's based on. GM did a much better job of hiding the Seville's Nova underpinnings.
In a similar vein, I think Ford had a problem with the more recent Zephyr/Mark Z. Nice looking car, but there's no hiding the fact that it was just a tarted up Fusion. I do think they're doing a better job with the latest iteration, though.
Yeah, that's a pretty sharp car IMO.
I've never been a fan of the Versailles, although for the times the interior wasn't too bad.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
And now she is a settled down grandma who drives a Suburban.
However, it didn't impress me all that much, because it didn't feel any quicker than the '68 Dart I was driving at the time, which just had a 318-2bbl. But, for 1979 standards it was about as musclecar-esque as you could get, most likely. By that time, GM wouldn't let you get anything bigger than a 301/305 in their downsized intermediates, with the exception of something like ~2499 Olds 350's that they slipped into the Cutlass Supreme to make the Hurst one year. And Ford wasn't doing anything hot with their Fairmont, although as light as they were, I imagine a 302-equipped model was pretty decent for the era.
Ah, a Granada with lipstick. Maybe a small step up from a Cadillac Cimmaron Cavalier. Detroit took on a BMW 3 - Not!
I think that Cadillac aimed the Seville at luxury import buyers, whereas Lincoln's marketing goal was more modest.
GM did a far-better job (IMHO) differentiating the Seville from its humble origins. I'd be surprised if a single piece of glass or sheetmetal of a Seville interchanged with a Nova. On the other hand, a Versailles WAS a Granada--even the instrument panel if I recall correctly. I did like the screaming turquoise metallic offered on the Versailles. I seem to remember a similar color on '79 Cadillacs.
Funny thing, the bustleback Seville that replaced the clean 75-79 piled on the ostentation again, trying to mimic a 1940s Rolls Royce. I'll admit I like the bustlebacks though, at least one that is properly optioned.
Unfortunately, the one area where the Nova's roots showed through in the Seville, to me at least, was the seating position. Not enough legroom, windshield, dash, and steering wheel too close for my comfort, etc.
It's been ages since I've sat in a Granada though, so I can't remember how it, and the Versailles, would compare. I still had my '89 Gran Fury when I did though, and I do remember the Gran Fury seemed a lot bigger inside.
Judging just on looks, I think the Seville has it all over the Versailles. And of course Chrysler didn't have anything in that prestige class at the time. But, if I was going to choose one of those "small" luxury cars from that era, I think I would've gone with a fully-loaded '77-79 LeBaron or Diplomat, and just pocketed the savings. For being a guzzied up Volare, those suckers could be optioned up VERY nicely inside, with leather and whatnot. Even a regular Volare or Aspen could be pretty nice, if you opted for the Premier and S/E models. But the LeBaron/Diplomat looked much more "important".
And if you get the 1980, they're actually somewhat quick with the Caddy 368. MT tested one and got 0-60 in around 10.6 seconds. The first-gen was more like 12-13, according to most tests I've seen.
A 1980 Seville with metallic paint in a light/medium blue, or blue two tone (I suppose some silvers and greys would be ok too), grey, dark blue or maybe beige/tan/creme leather, moonroof, no vinyl top, no faux Rolls grille or junk on the back, alloy style wheels instead of wires or caps, etc, would be a fairly cool car.
I'd say that would be correct. According to wiki, the 75-76 models had a mandatory vinyl roof as the roof was made of two stampings: the X body front and then a special C pillar for the Seville.
Also interesting - the first 2000 Sevilles were all exactly the same in color and equipment so workers could ramp up their skills.
Personally, I'd take a non bustle back, black and silver two tone. Although, I lover the bustle back back then, I think the RWD Gen 1 is better looking today.
One of the cardinal rules of marketing and product positioning is to not confuse the buyer. To me, the bustleback Seville was Cadillac's equivalent to the Granada/Monarch, albeit in different ways. Although each of these models were cheap imitations, I think that most Granada/Monarch buyers knew they weren't getting Mercedes engineering and refinement, but the huge sales made them very successful. There was similarity in that the Granada/Monarch and Seville were short-term shots in the arm, then suffered setbacks.
Had Cadillac put its resources into refining and improving the original Seville in its second iteration, it probably would have improved its long-term prospects. Also, Cadillac should have differentiated itself from the lower priced GM brands by remaining RWD. In fact, the Olds 98/Aurora and Buick Electra/Park Avenue/Riviera should also have remained RWD. In fairness, though, I'll readily acknowledge that it's much easier to make these observations in hindsight than when tasked with doing product planning years in advance, as auto industry engineers and execs must do.
Circling back to the Versailles, I don't think it damaged the Lincoln brand too much, especially compared with what the Cimarron did to Cadillac. The Versailles was soon forgotten, but the Cimarron is still ridiculed as Cadillac's folly, much as the Vega was Chevy's folly and the Aztek was Pontiac's.
To add, I'd take a Versailles over a Cimarron any day.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
A lot of those execs probably still didn't think the competition was for real. They made a big mistake. They should have known something was up when Janis Joplin's song was released
I too would take a Versailles over a Cimarron, due to rarity and content/comfort. One like the car I rode in as a kid would be a decent enough Sunday cruiser, and it would probably get a compliment at Ford shows.
For obscure cars, I was just out and saw a Pontiac 6000, I think an earlier model - couldn't see if it had CHMSL or not, but it didn't have composite lights. Also saw an odd BMW E30, seemed to be sitting higher than usual. Did the US get the xi?
Nah - most people today have no idea that those cars are cousins. We do but the vast majority of the driving public are blind to the fact.
The Versailles OTOH was easy to tell it was based on the Granada/Monarch especially when in an LM dealership.
According to wiki, the 77 Seville was available with a full steel roof due to customer demand. At that point, a new full roof stamping was made.
However, you could take a Granada, and everything that makes it a Versailles would most likely bolt, or snap, right on. The fenders, hood, doors, and quarter panels all look the same. Even the front bumper looks the same, although the Versailles has more rubber stripping, bumper guards, etc...all stuff that was no doubt optional on a Granada. The header panel, while different from a Granada, still looks like it's designed to mate up to the same fenders and hood. Oh, and the trunk was different, but that's an easy swap. The C-pillar area was thicker, but that was most likely just a slap-on extension, covered over by the vinyl roof. Chrysler did the same thing in the 1980's to differentiate a 5th Ave from a Diplomat or Gran Fury.
Inside, it looks like they even use the same dash, although a lot of the easy-swap stuff has been changed, and some of the materials upgraded. The seats and door panels are definitely nicer, but again, that's all easy-swap stuff.
It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last time, that the domestics would take a plebian, mainstream car and try to turn it into something more upscale. But it probably holds some kind of record for such lofty aspirations. A base Granada probably cost about $4,000 or so in 1977, while I'm sure a Versailles was around $10-12K.
Ford did a much better job, IMO, with the 1982 era Continental, which could be traced all the way down to a Fairmont. But I think they did a better job hiding that. Similarly, Chrysler took a lowly Volare and spun it into the '81-83 Imperial. But again here, it's not blatantly obvious.
The Cadillac Cimarron was pretty blatant, as well, but by that time, if you fully optioned up a Cavalier, I don't think there wasn't *that* huge of a price gap.
Then for 79-80, the C-pillar was changed:
I'll admit I actually like the Granada C-pillar more, but the new pillar helped differentiate the car a bit. I suppose the new 82 Continental filled the role of this car.
I had forgotten about that '79-80 C-pillar change. I'm actually impressed a bit, that they went through the effort to change the rear doors, even! And yeah, I think that '77-78 C-pillar does look better. The blockier, thicker pillar just seems too large, and out of place on the car IMO. Even if it does differentiate it better.
I also noticed that the cutout for the taillight is different on the Versailles, being angled on the side, rather than vertical like on the Granada and Monarch. So I guess that took a slight bit of effort. But then, I guess the sheetmetal is still the same, just with a slightly different cutout for the taillight? So I could be giving them more credit than they deserve.
I'll admit that I kind of like the Monarch, as well. They seemed a bit less fussy up front than the Granada. And I liked the way the rear seemed more finished off. I never liked the exposed gas cap on the Granada, although perhaps the nicer trim levels did a better job of hiding it?
According to wiki, the base Versailles was identical except for badging and the trunk lid to the top of the line Monarch and was priced TWICE as much.
Seems like the C pillar/roof is one of the more expensive things to change on a design. Several generations of the Lexus GS has the same C pillar/roof, even though front and rear styling changed. Same for the Chrysler 200/Sebring, and the prior Fusion/MKZ. To Toyota's credit they've used all-different sheet metal on the Camry/ES twins, at least from the second generation on.
but the funniest part? If had little red squares velcro'd to the corner of the license plates. Jersey people should know what this means, but it is something required for teens that are in their first year of probational driving.
yes, it seems that someone lets a 17YO drive around in a 30 YO Rolls Royce.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
And now it is somewhat represented by the Insignia, which we get as the Regal.
My nephew worked at a Cadillac dealer while the Catera was being sold, and he said the service department dreaded them.
And which overpaid marketing genius came up with the name "Catera?" What cruel parent would give a child such a name?
Finally, let's not forget "the Caddy that zigs" tag line. That reference to Ziggy, the duck, was more sad than funny, and especially inappropriate for a luxury brand.
For all its misses, the Catera had decent styling and drove well enough.