by Guys with Rides | Sep 2022 | Craigslist ClassiFINDS, Malaise Monday, NEW Award
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October 9, 2022, Update – While the seller deleted this “Classifind” recently, given the seller’s history, we suspect may not actually be sold yet. For now, we’re labeling this ride “Sold?” However, we will keep an eye out for an updated listing. In the interim, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.
September 24, 2022 Update – After a one-month pause following the deletion of their last listing, the private seller of this 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille just posted a fresh ad on Craigslist. The seller’s elaborate description, pictures, and overly optimistic asking price of $35,500 all remain the same.
August 13, 2022, Update – While the seller of this “Classifind” recently deleted their latest listing, given the seller’s past history, we suspect it may not be sold yet. For now, we’re labeling this ride “Sold?” However, we will keep an eye out for an updated listing.
August 4, 2022 Update – We’re not sure what is going on with this seller, but not only do they insist on replacing their ads every few days with a new listing, but in this latest update, the seller upped their asking price from $29,500 to $39,500. The original ask of $29,500 was well above the current market for Malaise-Era, downsized Cadillacs, so we’re not sure what the rationale would be for someone to raise their asking price by another ten large.
Red over white leather is simply a stunning color combination, especially when it’s highly detailed. This restored 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, originally listed in July 2022 and originally listed in September 2022 on Craigslistin Medford, Massachusetts (Boston), falls into that category as it’s clear from the pictures provided that no expense was spared during the restoration.
Unfortunately, as nice as their Deville is, the seller and his son are likely about to learn two hard lessons in the world of collector cars. Specifically, putting top dollar into a car, not on collector’s short lists means you will likely not achieve a lofty asking price. Second, restoring a car that will then compete against many low mileage survivor examples will never help achieve the top dollar desired to recoup the investment. The most desirable 1979 Cadillac DeVilles currently are the rare one-year-only Phaeton models, and even these in low mileage, unrestored survivor condition are only achieving low twenty selling prices.
Once offered for $35,500, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask would be a new record well above the current rolling twelve-month average for fifth-generation Cadillac DeVilles produced between 1977 and 1984. By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the Cadillac featured here:
As a second data point, the Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask is nearly double this guide’s #1 “Excellent” appraisal of only $16,300. Consequently, we’re giving the seller our latest “NEW!” (short for “No Effin Way!”) Award for an asking price that’s simply not in line with the market currently for these cars.
1977 was Cadillac’s 75th anniversary and saw the introduction of the downsized DeVille coupes and sedans. These new cars featured a higher roofline, resulting in a vehicle that was over nine inches shorter, four inches narrower, and 1/2 ton lighter than the previous year, but with a larger trunk and more headroom and legroom. These were also the first DeVilles marketed without fender skirts over the rear wheels. The old door pull straps returned for 1977 and on. In 1977, Cadillac replaced the 190 horsepower 500 cubic inch V8 with a 180-horsepower 425 cubic inch variant of a similar design.
With bigger changes coming in 1980, the 1979 models saw few alterations, which included a new lightweight aluminum hood and a new grille design with a “Cadillac” script on the header above the grille. The “Phaeton” package, now priced at $2,029, was still available in three colors, but with two new replacement colors: “Western Saddle Firemist” (with leather interior in “Antique Saddle”) replacing the “Arizona Beige” and “Slate Firemist” (with leather interior in “Antique Gray”) replacing “Platinum Silver”. The d’Elegance package was back at $725, which included Venetian velour upholstery (in four colors) with a 50/50 split front seat, overhead assist handles, Tangier carpeting, and door pull handle, and “d’Elegance” emblems, among other niceties. In addition to the $783 “fuel-injection” option, there was also the choice of a 350 cubic inch LF9 Oldsmobile diesel V8 for $849. Coupe de Ville’s cabriolet package, priced at $384, was available in 17 colors. Production rose slightly to 121,890 for Coupe de Ville ($11,728), and 93,211 for Sedan de Ville ($12,093).
The PIX11 News YouTube Channel has this classic 1979 commercial featuring Luba Potamkkin hawking 1979 Cadillacs from Studio 54:
Between the stunning color combination and the high-quality repaint, this is a very good-looking 1979 Cadillac DeVille. Unfortunately for the seller, the asking price is simply not in line with the current market, and we predict we will see their asking price come way down before a buyer comes forward.
Here’s the seller’s description:
Show or go: What would you do with this restored 1979 Cadillac DeVille? Please comment below and let us know!
