Is this really a Caddy or a Glorified Fancy Nova?😄 1977 Cadillac Seville Junkyard Find

It's been a while since I've ran across one of these glorified Novas masquerading as a Cadillac. This 1977 Seville recently hit one of the local junkyards along with a 77 Eldorado so figured I'd check them out since I was in the area. Not a whole lot to write home about on these X body caddies other than it's rear wheel drive, has a Oldsmobile fuel injected 350 and rear disk brakes. Oh and I scored a new Moog idler arm in the trunk for $10. It will fit nicely on my 77 formula firebird.

[@OsbornTramain]

If you can even name one part that fits on a Nova, I'd like to hear it.....people always say the Caddy is a Nova, but they don't share a single part.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

I took that Moog idler arm that was in the trunk as it also fits my 77 firebird as well as the 77 Nova

[@googleusergp]

They share plenty of parts. It is a Nova by design. Plenty of the front end parts are used on other GM vehicles as Mr. Sanchez noted.

[@neilschipper3741]

I had a 77, wasn't popular back then. It had the most comfortable seats, nice ride and quick steering. It was one of my favorite cars, thanks for sharing.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

👍

[@googleusergp]

Whoa Nelley, 1977 and going to Heaven. Yes, it is an "X body" by nature and as you and others stated, the underpinnings are the same, right down to the GM part numbers. It was GM's way of cost savings. If you read any old sales literature or listen to the videos (available on YT) about it, you'll hear that it's "all new" and the use of computers to design it, etc., etc. GM was targeting the European buyer mindset which at the time was "proportion" and lack of excess in certain ways. 1977 was also Cadillac's 75th year in business. As noted previously, when you bought a Cadillac in 1977, you "made it" in life. These were popular in California and reports back then were that most buyers would have been a Mercedes buyer had they not bought a Cadillac Seville back then. Over 40% of the trade ins were imports for a 1976 Seville. The Seville was introduced in 1975 as a 1976 model. The "Sevova" or "Noville" (Seville-Nova) was a "K" body in GM's nomenclature. Early Sevilles in the 1976 model year used a different wheel bolt pattern than other GM vehicles, but by 1977, it was standardized to more common components We got the VIN, we win: 6 for Cadillac, S for Seville, 69 for four door sedan, R for 350 V8 with electronic fuel injection aka "Oldsmoiac", 7 for 1977 model year, Q for Clark Street, Detroit, MI and the rest is the production sequence. This engine was an Oldsmobile at heart but marketed as a "Cadillac" engine and was only available in a Cadillac. Yes, 1978 was the first year for the diesel and you could get it in a Seville. The electronic fuel injection system had Bendix-Bosch origins and the processors/connectors on them can be pesky causing some issues. Overall, the system was fairly reliable but frightened some mechanics back then who were used to seeing a Q-Jet under the hood on anything Cadillac back then. We got the tag, we can brag: ST77 for 1977 model year, 6KS69 for Seville four door, FWD for West End Street Fleetwood Body plant and then railed to Clark Street, Detroit, MI for final assembly, 15C for Light Gray Florentine cloth interior trim, 15 for Academy Gray Metallic exterior lower paint, 13T for Georgian Silver vinyl top, 06B for the second week of June 1977 production, AT8 for dual comfort 50/50 front seat with recliner, V for six way passenger power seat, F for carpeted front floor mats, D for door edge guards, K for cycle delay (intermittent) wiper system, possible I for trunk mat (hard to read). So, yes, it was painted and the color on the driver's door is original. Yes, many parts will interchange with "F" body cars of this era, as well as "X" body cars. This style ran from 1976 to 1979. Yes, rear disc brakes were made standard in 1977 on the Seville. They were "right" for the times and got Cadillac in the right direction. I've always liked these. Betty White's husband, Allen Ludden (who died in 1981) bought her a 1977 Seville in code 40 Seamist Green which she called "Parakeet". The car is now on display in a museum. Mr. Ludden was a game show host and died of stomach cancer. Ms. White never remarried and when asked she said, "Once you've had the best, who needs the rest?" Ms. White was very active in animal charities and lived to be 99 years old before dying in 2021. She was a funny woman and a class act. Whoa Nelley, K body looking kinda shoddy. 3-5-0 and gotta go. "Oldsmoiac" and it ain't worth jack. Academy Gray and going away. Seville is over the hill. That's it, time to quit. NOVA doesn't go, don't you know? Fuel injection needs some direction. Cadu, it's over for you. Going to be flat and that's that. Lots of junk in the trunk. Going to get squished and the X body faithful, the F body faithful, some here and yes, the Google Man are going to be pretty pissed.

[@JRobert111111]

I've been in these SeVilles and the Novas of the time, and they are not even close as far as luxury, and smooth and quiet ride. These Sevilles are definitely a car on my list to own (it'll fit in my garage).

[@ClassicRideSociety]

I wonder if the same holds true for the Lincoln Versailles and the Granada.

[@JRobert111111]

@@ClassicRideSociety Good question. I've driven the Granada/Monarch cars and they're just average, a Nova is a better car. Never been in a Versailles before.

[@harrymiller8538]

@@ClassicRideSociety , Nope, comparing apples to oranges. The Granada was a copycat of the Mercedes of the time without the nicetees or handling. The Lincoln was plush, fair ride but just overpriced.

[@sarbjeethayer4919]

Just like a Escalade is a glorified Yukon, this too is in the same realm !

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Agreed 👍

[@grocerygoat06]

Agreed. Just like a Yukon is a glorified Tahoe.

[@harrymiller8538]

Will be interesting how the escalades will be viewed when they hit the salvage yards as high end tahoes, surburbans & Yukons. Wont be long now.

[@josephstarnes8747]

I think I've read that the Seville was Cadillac's most expensive car during these years. Which is crazy since it is just a dressed up Nova. But I still think it looks nice. Much nicer than the dressed up Cavalier they would start selling just a few years later.

[@diegosilang4823]

At least the Seville have unique body panels, the Cimarron is essentially a top-of-the-line Cavalier.

[@phillip6500]

You are killing ME!! You are right , I never noticed . Nova

[@danh2134]

Haven't seen one in a long time , I think it's a sharp car

[@jamesandrew5205]

I always think of the movie ‘The Hitcher’ when I see these cars.

[@nathandalke9318]

Cool little cadillac I can't believe that someone had paid $2500 for it back in 2018 maybe the person decided to junk it and one more thing I noticed that seen your hair in the shadow you got a really cute curly afro 😍 thank you for your video I really enjoyed watching your videos sweetheart

[@kbeg132]

Car was in pretty good shape and may have been junked for a minor issue. Good video!

[@ClassicRideSociety]

👍

[@harrymiller8538]

Agree. Probably something minor. Shame though. Its all there & not a rust bucket that could still be on the road.

[@emeyer6963]

Important car for GM back then.Set the styling direction for most of GM's sedans until they went front drive in mid 80's.Look at the 4 door Cutlasses and Regal's from the early 80's.The Aeroback science experiment came to a quick end and the box was in again.

[@mikesawyer4707]

As I remember GM sold a lot of them. The original caddy that zigs. Lol.

[@CR7659]

I would think the column in that would be a flipper, if it will fit a Nova or other X-body. The rear, too, although a PITA to yank and haul around.

[@jamestravis1037]

Looks like the seats are in pretty good shape

[@cadillacguy1890]

This car was very influential at GM. Look at the styling of the downsized 1977 full sized and 1978 mid-sized GM products, they all imitate the sharp edged upright styling themes pioneered here.

[@harrymiller8538]

Like the Cimerron was a plush Cavalier. That Seville was a good smooth riding mini caddy though.

[@richroj]

I was never that crazy about this body style Benny !

[@ClassicRideSociety]

They're ugly to me

[@kennethsouthard6042]

I thought this was the most expensive Caddy there was back in the day.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

I wonder if it was that way with the Lincoln Versailles as well?

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@ClassicRideSociety The Versailles was cheaper than the Seville. The Versailles and Mark V had similar base prices.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Except for the Series 75 Limousine

[@Geordo1960]

I loved these cars back then wanted and still would like to have one. Bigger than a Nova rode better and shared front subframe

[@mlp8500]

Buy the whole car that car is worth money after a restore.. very well liked cars in California all the rich n famous people had 1 in its day

[@rickarnold2671]

It’s better than what they came out with in ‘83 The Cimmerian. All that was is a rebadged Cavalier

[@tonynelson4078]

I like that Cadillac with that inline 6 cylinder I thought that was pretty neat

[@ClassicRideSociety]

That was a one off thing. Doubt I'll be finding anymore straight 6 Cadillacs in the yards anytime soon. Be cool if I did though

[@althunder4269]

Is this really a Caddy or a Glorified Fancy Nova? Yes...

[@ClassicRideSociety]

😄 good one

[@Onteo1]

Those 8 tracks are getting harder to find for the collectors.

[@joehammond2586]

This Seville has been rode hard, looks to be all there.

[@anthonycoach4551]

Yup them were uoooglay in the front love the backend on these..I like those dashes better too..

[@Monaghan]

The front looked kinda normal for a caddy, the rear was hideous with the 1980ish bustle back rear styling being even worse.

[@anthonycoach4551]

@@Monaghan hum I don't think it's that bad I like either or tho..

[@1967davethewave]

This was the car that Pontiac sourced it's rear disc option for the '79-'81 Trans Ams/Formulas with the WS6. And in the 80's and early 90's guys were converting the fuel injection to work on Pontiacs and of course Oldsmobiles, which was a straight swap. The system was just too small and 1970's computing power was dismal at best. But it seemed like a good idea for a cheap F. I. conversion on those 2 makes at the time. Today a Holley Sniper of Fitech system is a thousand percent better. You just don't see those Seville turds around anymore. Not a real loss imo!

[@DJ51011]

I have one now, they were a love hate car. Eldo owners were pissed because Eldo got stripped of being number 1 and most expensive. As with any Gm car you can remove parts off from a Corvette and put them on other Chevys,Pontiacs, Buicks Oldsmobiles and yes even Cadillacs. Ford- Lincoln- Mercury, Chrysler -Plymouth and Dodge all had their own interchangeables as well. Nothing really new about a Nova and interchanging parts.

[@MintyFreshTurds]

Certainly nothing like how lazy they made the Cimarron. I think it is a real Cadillac, just the right size for most people.

[@seanmeisner3190]

This is only my opinion, but any Cadillac after 1970 is basically a loaded Chevrolet with vertical taillights. I still like them for what they are, though.

[@jeffmiller3150]

Well, just think of the depreciation and running cost of a new Cadillac over 4 years, would be a lot more than $2500.

[@aa64912]

A caddy in name only

[@xnotx2]

New timing chain huehuehuehuehue

[@RowdyCStuff]

Another great video! Thanks What yard is this located?

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Callahan auto salvage just south of Dallas Texas

[@datsun210]

Hard to understand how the Seville was the most expensive model Cadillac had to offer in 1977.

[@califdad4]

It's Cadillac, most of the body is exclusive to the Cadillac. I really like these car's

[@ClassicRideSociety]

I was more referring to the suspension, steering, brakes

[@califdad4]

@@ClassicRideSociety I drove one years ago, it drove like a Cadillac, and the ride was good. Had a fuel injected Olds 350 engine, front disc brakes and a 21 gallon fuel tank , not sure about the suspension but they did rude nice

[@mattmaverick703]

Looks like a Celebrity

[@buck9022]

I need that hood

[@xnotx2]

Was going to say. RWD over FWD any day.

[@xnotx2]

Looks like any other B-Body to me.

[@vintagecassettetapescollec5258]

Pls save this 2 caddy

[@martinburke362]

All cadillacs of that era where glorified chevys

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

It's a K-body....very little interchangeability with the X-body Chevrolet Nova.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

That idler arm in trunk interchanges with my fbody 77 firebird, which interchanges with a x body Nova 😄

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@ClassicRideSociety The Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood Brougham were GM C-Body (same as the Oldsmobile 98 and Buick Electra). The Cadillac Eldorado was GM E-Body (same as the Oldsmobile Toronado and Buick Riviera). I am referring to body panel/frame/trim interchangeability for the Seville....which were totally unique (the Seville was the only K-Body).

[@ClassicRideSociety]

@@SpockvsMcCoy true. I was referring to suspension, brakes, steering, things like that

[@googleusergp]

@@ClassicRideSociety Correct, all the same, even down to the GM part numbers in some cases.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

@@googleusergp and for $10, couldn't pass up on that Moog USA made idler arm. It'll do nicely in place of the worn out one on that 77 firebird

[@robertlyman9789]

Like to find the 2 door model

[@anthonycoach4551]

See thoes rear ends remind you so much like a olds royaaaal wit cheese..that has a olds engine hummm..

[@robchamberlin4900]

Is that yard selling that Seville?

[@ClassicRideSociety]

They're parting it out

[@gertraba4484]

Rear has disc. Brakes

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Yep 👍

[@robchamberlin4900]

A real shame it ended up like that.

[@harrymiller8538]

Yeah. I thought the same thing. They were sharp cars when they were new. All the gadgets of the time especially speed control and the intermittant wipers. People felt so instyle who owned em.

[@joetaylor2394]

Snatch up that rear axle, disc brakes back there

[@sneakerfreak2002]

So they used a solid foundation and built on it. Whats wrong with that?? They were trying for a more civilized and sophisticated Cadillac… as opposed to the checkered suit jacket magnets that they were building in the 70s

[@ClassicRideSociety]

This is just one of those cars I don't like. And on top of that its made from 4th gen body nova which I really dont like 😄. Now if this was a Lincoln Versailles that's based on the Granada, that's a different story 😄 oddly enough I like those. Oh yeah I'm a little biased as I own a 79 Versailles

[@sneakerfreak2002]

@@ClassicRideSociety ugh sounds so arbitrary and b i z a r r e Lol

[@dthor5150]

Cadillac

[@jaydenbolduc996]

Real wood trim or fake?

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Fake most likely

[@NulfoAlvarez]

Were is this

[@ClassicRideSociety]

@@NulfoAlvarez it was at Callahan Auto Salvage in Mesquite TX just south of Dallas. But they crushed it already

[@robertlyman9789]

Was not white orig. put a LS1 conversion

[@cmcmcc553]

Throw away pimp mobile

[@oliverpetroski4205]

It doesent even look like its a Caddilac...its more like everyday boring ugly car that nobody would turn head to look at it one more time. Its a nice video though. I never knew or havent noticed this model existed so this way I get to see different models of more brands.👍

[@Rav_4_Guy]

I think this one is more ugly compared to the slant booty That one put me off my dinner

[@seanpool8028]

Really a shame GM isn't GM anymore especially with their fugly ugly SUV lineup.

[@AlexanderWaylon]

To call that a nova after the influence it had on auto styling thru the late 80s would prove to be stupid

[@ClassicRideSociety]

I don't mind being called stupid. It's still a Glorified Nova 😄

[@AlexanderWaylon]

@@ClassicRideSociety 🥱

[@ClassicRideSociety]

@@AlexanderWaylon 😄👍

[@xnotx2]

Yuuup looks like another 💉 victim.

[@paulbedford9816]

You talk rubbish. It amazes me that there are still people like you out there talking Nova? Not only did Cadillac a fortune making the K body Seville drive, handle and ride like a Cadillac, some of the processes used were revolutionary and developments of processes used by NASA? There are parts from other cars, that just the way cars are built, the 1975 Rolls-Royce Camargue had a GMTHM400 transmission and most of the Climate Control and refrigeration was straight out of a Cadillac? I How about reading the reviews of the day and making note of what cars Sevilles were compared to...no Novas in sight. Paul

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Ah come on Paul, I like talking rubbish. That's my thing. I also love pissing off defenders of these fugly ugly Sevilles.

[@paulbedford9816]

I don't mind you not like them, that's a matter of personal taste. I do mind you and all the others on the airwaves from not knowing the facts. So in answer to your original question, yes it's a real Cadillac.

[@ClassicRideSociety]

@@paulbedford9816 you see Paul, you're not the first guy to mention all the wonders of this "Caddy" . I've heard what you've said many times before. And you know what? It doesn't matter. Don't let it get to you. It ain't that serious. In the end I'm just some nobody talking nonsense in the junkyard.

[@joshzysman3451]

I hate the Seville

[@peterdaniel66]

Well whatever you think and yes it is a nova, GM made a killing on each one of these charging $12,000 plus. At least they look nice

[@ClassicRideSociety]

You say they look nice and I say they're uuugly😄👍

[@Rav_4_Guy]

I think this one is more ugly compared to the slant booty That one put me off my dinner

[@Rav_4_Guy]

I think this one is more ugly compared to the slant booty That one put me off my dinner

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Agreed 👍

[@stanleyadams2046]

@@ClassicRideSociety I have a 1979 Seville with elegante spoke rims and duels and a upgraded fuel injection system. The nova at which it was initially based, actually was not a bad car for its time. Cadillac went to some lengths to mask this seville's origins(hence the K body designation). While it could have been better(sign of the times for GM) this Seville's understated beauty and to be nice, composed nature made for a better car than the craptastic 1980 to 1985 "bustle back seville". The bustle back is at its best with the cadillac 368 engine in it.