NO RESERVE

A Very Rare Barn Find

1981 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

DIESEL

Nice Original Unaltered Condition

Autocheck & NMVTIS Certified

Ready to Restore

Loaded With Factory Options & Upgrades

47,571 Miles

Classic Lines & Design

Ownership Questions?

Call (949) 427-8803

For many years this classic Cadillac has been hidden from public view and is now available, it is in very good unmolested condition. In addition to the V8 DIESEL engine, it has an automatic transmission, power steering and power brakes; it also has the original radio. It is loaded with factory options and upgrades.

The vehicle runs and drives, it was only driven a short time around our facilities.

The donor indicated the vehicle has been in extended storage and should be completely serviced. 

The vehicle features a five digit odometer. Under California law all vehicles in California over 10 years old are mileage exempt including this vehicle. Per California DMV code: (CVC §§1819, 4751, 5900, and 5901)

The car would be a great car to restore to its pristine glory or make that rare street rod you have been dreaming about.

The car is absolutely wonderful to look at and definitely stands out.

Look at the pictures in detail, this car will definitely be worth looking at. The pictures don t do justice for this fine classic Cadillac illustrating its classic lines and designs.

Ownership Questions?

Call (949) 427-8803

Don’t Let This One Get Away.

It is becoming difficult to find an original Cadillac Sedan DeVille DIESEL especially one that you can make your own and feel that sense of accomplishment knowing you restored this classic motorcar to your exacting specifications

As an investment, they will rise rapidly in value in the near future. Just like the previous generation of 1960’s and 1970’s classics Cadillac’s have done, soon these artfully crafted cars will become unavailable for most people.

This car is a genuine classic, turning heads while you are cruising up the coast or just on a Sunday drive.  All the while it actually goes up in value as you are enjoying it for years to come.

 If you have been looking and waiting for a classic to use as your daily driver, or for the perfect Sunday car then consider this Cadillac.

This car will make you proud every time you take it out. Now is perfect time to treat yourself or someone special to a well built tastefully designed Cadillac, feel free to come and see for yourself how exceptional this car is.

If you are interested in owning this car, call us at (949) 427-8803; don’t say to yourself “I should have bought that car”. Considering the quality of this car, you will find most of the time the car has been sold before the auction ends from someone who saw the true worth of this car.

This is a car for a person that wants a rare classic car or a Cadillac enthusiast. A wise buyer that will comprehend what a rare find this well crafted motorcar is. This car is for someone that can appreciate every detail of this Cadillac.

If you are a true Cadillac enthusiast don’t miss this one.  

If you are interested, call me and I'll stand next to the car and go over every detail with you, this way there will be no surprises or better yet come and inspect it yourself or have 3rd party inspect it for you while the listing is active.

Information Regarding Vehicle Condition:

We make every effort to photograph significant details of the vehicles exterior and interior condition, however small dings, scratches, blemishes and fading in the vehicles paint and body are often hard to catch in the photos. If you don’t personally inspect the vehicle, be aware that these imperfections may exist, again please review all the photos carefully before biding.

We communicate what we are only able to observe at the time of listing. Most likely there may be many other problems with the item that are not apparent to the cursory viewing. For that reason, you should please bid accordingly.

Since the item was donated we do not have any further information on the vehicle other than what is provided within the listing terms.

We can only provide bidders with a very limited evaluation of the car's condition and we urge you to view the vehicle in person or have it viewed by a third party inspector.

We are not a body shop or mechanics and cannot guarantee that we are 100% accurate. The car has not been professionally inspected and buyers should understand that the opinions provided within the listing terms are solely the observations of our volunteers and are not a guarantee or warranty of condition either written or oral.

1981 Cadillac DeVille History & Specifications

Standard engine for DeVille and Fleetwood Brougham was the "modulated displacement" 368 cu. in. (6.0-liter) V8-6-4, with digital fuel injection. Optional: a 252 cu. in. (4.1-liter) V-6, provided by Buick. That V-6 had Computer Command Control and a knock sensor to adjust spark advance, as well as diagnostics. The Olds diesel V-8 was also offered.

Externally, DeVilles and Fleetwoods carried a new forward-peaked grille with heavy wide upper header bar (Cadillac script again at the side) over an undivided tight crosshatch pattern. Quad headlamps sat above quad amber parking/signal lamps, with wraparound clear/amber cornering lights. Standard wheel covers displayed a Cadillac crest on dark red background. New standard Electronic Climate Control offered digital accuracy. Standard equipment also included a six-way power passenger seat, power windows, and low-fuel warning. New pillow-style seating came in rich Heather cloth (four colors); or leather in ribbed seating areas (ten colors). Sedan DeVilles could have automatic lap-shoulder belt for driver and front passenger. Other options: a Heavy-Duty Ride package, wire wheel covers, and Elk Grain vinyl roof.

Model Number	Style Number	Body Type	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
6C	D47	2-door Coupe	6	$13,285 / 13,450	3801 / 4016 lb	62,724 (total includes the 2-door Fleetwood Brougham)
6C	D69	4-door Sedan	6	$13,682 / 13,847	3852 / 4067 lb	86,991 (total included the 4-door Fleetwood Brougham)

FACTORY PRICE AND WEIGHT NOTE

Figures before the slash are for V-6 engine, after slash for variable-displacement gas V8-6-4. A diesel V-8 was also available. By late spring 1981, prices rose on all Cadillac’s, the price for the diesels reached $23,000

ENGINE

Feature	V-6	Diesel V-8
Type	90-degree, overhead valve V-6. Cast iron block and head	90-degree, overhead valve V-8. Cast iron block and head
Displacement	252 cu. in. (4.1 liters)	350 cu. in. (5.7 liters)
Bore & stroke	3.965 x 3.40 in.	4.057 x 3.385 in.
Compression ratio	8.0:1	22.5:1
Brake horsepower	125 @ 3800 rpm	105 @ 3200 rpm
Torque	210 lbs.-ft. @ 2000 rpm	200 lbs.-ft. @ 1600 rpm
Main Bearings	Four
Valve Lifters	Hydraulic
Fuel Supply	4-bbl. Carburetor
Made by	Buick	Oldsmobile
VIN Code	4	N

CHASSIS DATA

• Wheelbase: 121.4 in.
• Overall length: 221.0 in.
• Height: DeVille Coupe 54.6 in.; DeVille sedan 55.6 in.
• Width: 76.5 in. max.
• Front Tread: 61.7 in.
• Rear Tread: 60.7 in.
• Standard Tires: P215/75R15 SBR wide WSW

TECHNICAL

• Turbo Hydra-matic transmission standard on all models; column shift.
• Gear ratios V8-368: (1st) 2.48:1; (2nd) 1.48:1; (3rd) 1.00:1; (Rev) 2.07:1.
• Other three-speed models: (1st) 2.74:1; (2nd) 1.57:1; (3rd) 1.00:1; (Rev) 2.07:1.
• Four-speed automatic w/V-6: (1st) 2.74:1; (2nd) 1.57:1; (3rd) 1.00:1: (4th) 0.667:1; (Rev) 2.07:1.
• Standard final drive ratio: 2.41:1 except w/V-6, 3.23:1
• Steering: recirculating ball (power assisted).
• Front suspension: coil springs and link-type stabilizer bar.
• Rear suspension: four-link drive coil springs, electronic level control available
• Brakes: front disc, rear drum
• Fuel tank: 24.6 gal. exc. diesel, 27 gal. and V-6, 25 gal.

DRIVETRAIN OPTIONS

• 4.1-liter gas V-6 engine ($165 credit)
• 5.7-liter diesel V-8 engine ($325-$351)
• California emission equipment ($46-$182).
• Engine block heater ($22).
• 100-amp alternator ($41).
• Heavy-duty cooling ($59).
• Limited slip differential: ($86).
• Electronic level control: ($173).
• Heavy-duty ride package: ($270).
• Trailering pkg. ($59-$100).

OPTION PACKAGES

• DeVille d'Elegance ($1005).
• Coupe DeVille Cabriolet ($363).
• Appearance value pkg.: ($802)

CONVENIENCE/APPEARANCE OPTIONS

• Astroroof ($1058); N/A on limo.
• Controlled-cycle wiper system: ($45).
• Rear defogger, grid-type ($134-$175).
• Automatic door locks ($129).
• Garage door opener ($125).
• Illuminated entry system ($67).
• Dual Comfort front seats w/six-way power passenger seat adjuster: ($395).
• Memory driver's seat ($169).
• Power river's seat recliner ($130).
• Notchback passenger seat recliner: ($130).
• Leather-trimmed steering wheel ($79).
• Tilt/telescope steering wheel ($147).
• Power trunk lid release and pull-down: ($96).
• Theft deterrent system ($157).
• Twilight Sentinel: ($65).
• Guidematic headlamp control ($78).
• Opera lamps: ($72).
• Trumpet horn ($28).
• Thermometer on left mirror ($35).
• Twin lighted vanity mirrors ($116).
• Electronic-tuning seek/scan AM/FM stereo radio with 8-track tape player ($195); with 8-track and CB ($480); w/cassette ($281); w/cassette and CB ($547).
• Full padded vinyl roof: ($240).
• Two-tone paint: Firemist ($293); partial Firemist. ($394).
• Firemist paint ($208).
• Accent striping: ($61).
• Door edge guards ($16-$24).
• License frames, each ($11).
• Leather seating area ($439-$595).
• Automatic lap/shoulder belts: ($150).
• Carpeted rubber floor mats: front ($35-$38); rear ($20).
• Trunk mat ($16).
• Locking wire wheels: ($755).
• Turbine vaned wheel covers: ($63).
• Locking wire wheel covers ($266-$328).
• Puncture-sealing tires ($106).

1981 Cadillac DeVille

The biggest news for 1981 was actually an '82 model: the new subcompact Cimarron, introduced in the spring.

The second biggest was the new variable-displacement gasoline engine, developed by the Eaton Corporation a standard in all models except Seville. Depending on driving conditions, the innovative V8-6-4 engine ran on four, six, or eight cylinders, switching back and forth as needed. The object, of course, was to conserve fuel in the wake of rising gasoline prices. A microprocessor determined which cylinders weren't necessary at the moment. Then it signalled a solenoid-actuated blocker plate, which shifted to permit the rocker arm to pivot at a different point than usual. Therefore, selected intake and exhaust valves would remain closed rather than operate normally. Valve litters and pushrods traveled up-and-down in the normal manner, but unneeded valve pairs stood idle. When running on four, displacement grew back to eight as soon as you stepped on the gas to pass, demanding maximum power -- an assurance to those who might wonder if a four-cylinder Cadillac powerplant was good enough. The system had been tested (and "Proven") in over half a million miles of driving. Cadillac claimed that the "perceived sensation" during displacement changes was "slight." because no shifting was involved.

Another feature: push a button and an MPG Sentinel showed the number of cylinders in operation; push again to see instantaneous miles-per-gallon. Though the principle was not new, having been experimented with during World War II, the new engine was hailed as a dramatic answer to the economy problem for large passenger cars. Expanded self-diagnostics now displayed 45 separate function codes for mechanics to investigate. Imaginative but complex, the V8-6-4 brought more trouble than ease to many owners and didn't last long in the overall lineup. Although it lasted for only a year, limousines kept it for several years longer.

On another level, Buick's 252 cu, in. (4.1-liter) V-6 engine, introduced late in the 1980 model year, continued for a full season as an economy option.

Cadillacs now carried an on-board digital computer capable of making 300,000 decisions per second. It could even provide continued operation of the car if critical sensors malfunctioned, making an instantaneous substitution -- even turning to a built-in analog computer if the digital electronics collapsed. To improve emissions, the new Computer Command Control module used seven sensors to monitor exhaust, engine speed, manifold air pressure, and coolant temperature, then adjust the air/fuel mixture.

"Answering Today's Needs with Tomorrow's Technology" was the logical theme of the full-line catalog. Though technically impressive, 1981 was not a year of significant change beyond some new grilles and other cosmetic alterations. Oldsmobile's 350 cu. in. diesel V-8 was available in all six models: Fleetwood Brougham coupe and sedan, Coupe and Sedan DeVille, Eldorado, and Seville. A new light went under the hood. Rust-prevention measures touched over 100 specially treated areas, including pre-coated metals. Overdrive automatic transmission was now available with the V-6 engine on Fleetwood Brougham and DeVille. A memory seat option returned the six-way power driver's seat to one of two selected positions.

I. D. DATA

• All Cadillacs had a new 17-symbol Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), stamped on a metal tag attached to the upper left surface of the cowl, visible through the windshield.
• The number begins with a "1" to indicate the manufacturing country (U.S.A.), followed by a "G" for General Motors and a "6" for Cadillac Division.
• The next letter indicates restraint system:
• "A" manual (standard);
• "B" automatic.
• Symbol five is a letter denoting car line and series:
• "S" Seville;
• "B" Fleetwood Brougham;
• "D" DeVille;
• "F" Fleetwood limousine;
• "Z" commercial chassis;
• "L" Eldorado.
• Digits six and seven indicate body type:
• "47" 2-door coupe;
• "69" 4-door four-window sedan;
• "23" six-window, eight-passenger sedan w/auxiliary seat;
• "33" six-window formal limousine w/aux. seat and center partition; "90" commercial chassis (no body); "57" Eldorado coupe.
• Next comes an engine code:
• "4" V6-252 4-bbl.;
• "N" V8-350 diesel;
• "6" V8-368 4-bbl.;
• "9" V8-368 DFI.
• The next symbol is a check digit.
• Symbol ten indicates model year ("B" 1981).
• Symbol eleven denotes assembly plant: "9" Detroit; "E" Linden, New Jersey (Seville/Eldorado).
• The final six-digit production sequence number began with 100001 for Detroit-built models: 600001 (Eldorado) or 680001 (Seville) for those built in New Jersey.
• An identification number for the V-6 engine was on the left rear of the block; on the V8-350, a code label was on top of the left valve cover and a unit number label atop the right valve cover.
• Other engines had a unit number on the block behind the left cylinder head, and a VIN derivative on the block behind the intake manifold.
• A body number plate on the upper horizontal surface of the shroud (except Seville, on front vertical shroud surface) showed model year, build date code, car division, series, style, body assembly plant, body number, trim combination, paint code, modular seat code, and roof option.

If you are ready to own this vehicle now, call us at (949) 427-8803, as many of our vehicles are sold before the listing ends due to our vehicles being listed in numerous sales sites featuring a buy now price.

Ownership Questions?

Call (949)427-8803