Remember that scene in Live and Let Die where a mysterious henchman was driving a pimpalicious Cadillac Eldorado (actually a Dunham Coach Corvado)? Neo-classical cars have a history in the U.S., the most famous being Excalibur and Stutz. Our Pick of the Day is in a similar vein—perhaps you’ve seen one but didn’t know what it was: the 1979 Cadillac Seville Opera Coupe by Grandeur. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Monroe Township, New Jersey.
The Cadillac Seville, a name originally applied to two-door hardtop versions of the 1956-60 Eldorado, was the first small Cadillac, something that no one would have ever imagined until it actually happened. This new model, introduced for the 1976 model year, was a modified version of General Motors’ X-body platform, which included the Chevrolet Nova, Pontiac Ventura, Oldsmobile Omega, and Buick Skylark. Did Cadillac take a compact, fluff it up, and give it the highest price tag of all its mainstream models? Indeed, and America loved it.
The Seville’s introduction came at a time when trim, luxury imports—mostly from Germany—were making an impact in the American market. The Seville was a response to these upstarts. Though successful, the Seville didn’t come off as reaching for the same youthful buyers. Today, our paradigm of luxury is due to the Germans and not the Seville, as evidenced by Cadillac’s current lineup.
As the Seville was a Cadillac, it was no surprise that enterprising companies used it to create specially modified version. One such company was Grandeur Motor Car Corporation. The Pompano, Florida (again, no surprise) coachbuilder took the four-door Seville and turned it into a 1930s- and Shaft-influenced two-seater. It appears that Grandeur surgeons removed the front seat and moved the cowl and instrument panel back, so the driver was technically driving from the rear (and only) seat; the hood and fenders were extended, with the fake sidemounts added to the extended fenders. Standard power was a fuel-injected Oldsmobile 350 V8, though a Diesel was an option for some years. It is said that 600 Opera Coupes were built from 1976-83, though it’s not clear if that also includes other platforms like the Lincoln Versailles.
This 1979 Cadillac Seville Opera Coupe by Grandeur is painted in the absolutely perfect hue of Light Yellow with a matching leather interior. Though the seller doesn’t specify features, we note the Rolls-Royce-inspired Cadillac grille with special hood ornament, yellow vinyl top, bucket seats with dual armrests, power windows and seat, air conditioning, remote mirror, and genuine wire wheels with spinner hubcaps. Four-wheel disc brakes, electronic level control, and automatic climate control were standard Seville fare.
If your pinky ring has been gathering dust, we can think of no better reason than to unearth it and grab $19,500 so you can live a life of Grandeur.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
