1983 Cadillac DeVille

The 1983 Cadillac DeVille was available as a 2-door coupe and a 4-door sedan with power from a 4.1-liter V8 offering 135 horsepower. Few changes were made to the 1983 DeVille in comparison to the 1982 model. The exhaust system was modified, the front grille received narrower vertical bars, and the Cadillac script was moved from the upper horizontal bar to the side of the grille. On the hood was a stand-up hood ornament and in the back, the decklid carried Caddilac's 'V' and crest. Pricing began at $15,870 for the coupe and rose to $16,440 for the sedan.

The Coupe DeVille was given an Elk Grain vinyl partial roof, in matching body color, with bright crossover roof molding.

The interior was a Heather knit cloth with Dundee ribbed cloth inserts. Saddle leather was also available. The DeVille d'Elegance package added pillow-style seating in Venetian velour, special trim, accent striping, opera lamps, and a six-way power passenger seat.

Both the DeVille and the Fleetwood Brougham were offered as coupe and sedan, with the DeVille costing approximately $2,000 less than its counterpart. The combined two-door coupe production of the DeVille and Fleetwood Brougham in 1983 was 65,670 units, and the combined four-door sedan was 109,004 units.

The Seville, DeVille, Brougham, and Eldorado all shared the overhead-valve, 90-degree V8 with a 249 cubic-inch displacement, a cast-iron block and aluminum alloy heads, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, digital fuel injection, and delivering 135 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. These models were also available with an optional diesel 350 CID V8 with 105 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. The standard transmission was a four-speed automatic with an overdrive. Steering was by a recirculating ball with power assist, and braking was by front disc and rear drums, except on the Seville and Eldorado which had four-wheel discs. All 1983 Cadillacs, except for the Seville, Eldorado, and Cimarron, used a coil spring front suspension with a link stabilizing bar, and a four-link rear setup with coil springs.

The 1983 Cadillac DeVille was priced above the four-cylinder Cimarron four-door sedan, and below the other models. Cadillac's two-door coupe body styles were offered on the Eldorado ($19,335), Fleetwood Brougham ($18,700), and the Deville ($15,600). The four-door sedan with seating for six was available on the SeVille ($21,440), the Fleetwood Brougham ($19,180), Deville ($16,440), and the Cimarron ($12,200).

1984 Cadillac sales were up by over 22 percent compared to the 1983 model year, and with no major changes to the Cadillac lineup, the increase is attributed to a strong economy and a growing desire for luxury automobiles.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2014