Elegance On Wheels: 1987 Cadillac Brougham
Oh boy! It’s “Bro-gum” time and today’s subject is really puttin’ on the Ritz, it’s a 1987 Cadillac Brougham d’Elegance. It would be easy to poke some fun at this late ’80s example of “The Standard of the World” but I won’t. I actually think this Caddy has a stateliness about it, something that the shrunken FWD DeVille versions didn’t and never would. This sedan is closing in on the end of an era and its survivor condition warrants review. Discovered by T.J. and residing in Huntington Beach, California, this Brougham, in all of its elegance, is available, here on craigslist for $18,800.
While the Brougham name had been used by Cadillac in the past, it became a stand-alone model in ’87 and continued through 1992. The d’Elegance part was actually an optional “Gussy-it-up” package available on the standard Brougham. The Brougham’s first year, ’87, was its best with approximately 65K finding new estates.
The seller tells us that this is a one-owner car, which actually means it’s really a two-owner car and that it’s custom-made but he doesn’t elaborate on the “custom” part. The seller claims all original and, “absolutely no accident, no scratches, no dents“. It is certainly a very clean example in spite of its 88K miles of use. All of the usual luxury bits are in place such as the padded vinyl top (not a landau thankfully), white stripe tires, wire wheel covers (always an acquired taste), stand-up hood ornament, and wide stainless steel rocker trip. The Corinthian Blue Firemist hue is just perfect – this Brougham wears it well!
By ’87 GM was well into the dissolution of their specific brand’s powerplants and developing what would become just “GM” engines. The move started in the mid-70s and immediately turned into a debacle with the ’77 Chevymobile – but that’s another story. Powering this sedan is a 140 net HP 307 CI Oldsmobile V8 engine – not to be confused with Chevrolet’s 307 CI motor offered between ’68 and ’73. No word is offered on how this Caddy, with its four-speed automatic O/D transmission, cruises – no reason to suspect an issue of course.
It’s often said that you can live in your car but you can’t drive your house but there could be an exception in this case. The interior is tantamount to a smoking or living room with its tufted leather upholstery and yards of “paneling”. It’s one of those, hop in, start it up, drive off and fall asleep kind of environments. While it has the barco-lounger thing going on, I have to image it’s pretty comfortable and perfect for quiet cruising. Additionally, nothing looks out of place, I’d say it needs nothing.
There you have it, as is said here on Barn Finds before, cars like this Brougham d’Elegance won’t be built again and if that’s your fancy, here’s a great opportunity to secure a beautiful survivor example, wouldn’t you agree?
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Comments
I love this color. As I get older, a car like this becomes more appealing, it would be perfect for taking on a road trip to see the grandkids. I’d be all set if I could get them to Simonize it for me!
At least the Olds 307 was a decent if under-powered “power” plant..More plant than power. And who doesn’t like an overstuffed interior? Lastly, you can’t drive your house? Ever seen a motor home?
This was one of the best looking cars GM made in the 1980’s. Still a very handsome car today.
Underneath that agreeably handsome exterior, lies basically an 87 Olds Delta 88 Royale
I agree Terry. I had an Olds 88 Delta Royale. The interior of this Caddy is virtually identical to my Olds…..right down to the dashboard and the shape of the steering wheel. Only difference is my interior was a light shade of beige.
It could have been a success – outside of America. With real
wood and leather instead of plastic and, some more degree
of perfect details and fitment. But for 22’000$ from new, what
can we expect?
An S-Class 300 SE in 1985 started from 50’000 Deutsch Marks.
With standard ABS ASD and extra ASR.
I had cut the trunk part from it about 60cm shorter, then the
Broum would have a balanced look and got closer to the
high-class cars like a Silver Shadow or a silver Spirit. GM
just make their usual mistakes but otherwise, a very appealing
appearance. But the best car in the world is a Rolls Royce.
From Vickers era.
I could never understand why GM would place such an underpowered engine in such a large car. Make you think it would deliver much better mileage but it did not.
That interior is so ugly.
Put it out if it’s misery and turn it into Coke cans.
In 2002 my oldest son turned 16. He had found and purchased a 65 Monza with the 140 hp 4 carb engine. It broke a valve seat and winter was coming on so I suggested he look for a more suitable car for the winter. I was the fixed-ops manager at a Chevy/Old dealership when a customer came in and asked ” who wants to buy an old Cadillac?”. I told him “probably me”. He had a 79 Sedan DeVille de’Elegance with rusted brake lines. I sent my son out to his farm where he bought the Caddy for $200.00. It was 2 tone, dark blue over light blue with some surface rust blisters on the light blue. My son made a deal with a neighbor who did bodywork in his barn, shoveling snow and mowing for him. They cleaned up the rust, painted the light blue silver and put blue flames all down the side. I had a set of 15 X 8 aluminum slots with 235 60 tires. The rears rubbed so I jacked the rear quarters out about 2 inches using a bottle jack between the frame and the quarter with a 1 X 4 board cushion above the wheel wells. The interior was perfect with the cushy blue velour seats and a factory AM/FM CB radio, tilt, cruise, and all power accessories. He was the only kid in high school with a flamed Caddy in the parking lot!!
Brother please ,it’s Bro-ham.
The Bro-ham thing cracked me up, that’s what we called mine. I purchased mine at the dealership I worked at for 800.00. It had 50k on it, and in Southern AZ, they didn’t bring much money. My car had the same blue interior, and the padded roof was white on white. All it needed was new tires and I was rolling. It also had the Old’s 307 which strained until you got to highway speed. It was a beautiful car and I had a lot of fun with it. Then my used car manager showed me a 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII that had come from Green Valley AZ as had the Caddy. I let the Caddy go for 4800.00, a 16 year old saw it and had to have it. I was sad to see it go, but the Lincoln was perfect and drove like a scared Cheetah. It was one of the advantages of selling cars.
Oh yeah.
Beautiful Era of Cads, but that boat anchor engine. Had one in our 87 Caprice Estate. Burned more oil than gas. Today, you would get run over on the interstates by a Hyundai. These were slow in 87, slower today and terrible on gas.
“…this Caddy has a stateliness about it, something that the shrunken FWD DeVille versions didn’t and never would.”
I beg to differ. We bought a 1986 Sedan DeVille new and loved it. At the time, we considered the full-size Cads dinosaurs.
Beautiful car. Too bad about the weak motor. I had an elderly friend with that set up years ago, and though it drove very nicely, both the motor & transmission needed work well before 100,000 miles. I know that the 5.7 (350) was an option during those years, because I’ve seen them with the 5.7 liter badge on the trunk. More robust engine, and hopefully with the stronger transmission to handle it. When one of these comes up with that motor, I think it would prove irresistible!
I don’t agree with the “weak motor” thing This is not a Dodge Charger folks. We’re talking about a big Luxury car and I’ve had plenty of them. These cars are required to be driven in a certain manner: CRUSING! Locally 35-40 mph Highway above 60-65 mph that’s it. It seems most of you guys are into powerhouse engines to fulfill performance. I owned a 71 Caddy Sedan DeVille back in the early 80’s with a big 472 cu in. engine HUGE and just enough power to CRUISE on the highway smoothly like a floating luxury car should require. I’ve also owned an 83 and a last year full size Olds Delta 88 coupe and that 307 5.0 was just fine for a large luxury automobile. Stop it guys we’re not talking about Camaro’s here.
The 5.7 was NOT available in this era, but it did come a few years later. When the former Oldsmobile engine plant was closed and the 307 discontinued at some point after this, the 305 became the powerplant in the RWD Cadillac. It wasn’t until sometime in the ’90s before the LT1 5.7 (350) was offered in a car like this.
1990-1992: 5.7L was optional.
1993: 5.7 TBI only
1994-1996: LT1
Ours had the 350. Great on the road.
Beautiful exquisite American luxury automobile. I’ve owned several Caddy’s in my day, my first Caddy was a 71 Sedan DeVille I purchased when I was 16 in 1983. Bought it for $300. The rear quarter panels were rusted and needed shocks and a muffler but she started up everyday. My second Cadillac was a 74 Sedan DeVille I bought the same year 1983 at 17 years old for $350, it was a decent car with lots of potential I just didn’t have the money to fulfill that potential. My third Caddy was a 78 Coupe DeVille I purchased in 1994 for $400 nice car white with saddlewood interior. My fourth Caddy was an 80 Coupe DeVille I bought in 96 (I was solely into 2-doors by that time) My fifth and last big “Lac” was an 85 Fleetwood brougham 2-door grey I bought for $500 another rust machine with lovely grey interior though. I sold it because it was just too far gone with the rust and tranny leak, the rust was underneath the leather top and I just couldn’t do anything with the car so of course SOLD IT. Haven’t had another Cadillac since that time. I now own a Lincoln but I’m seriously considering a trade in for a Cadillac CT6 but not sure yet.
Vinyl roof seems appropriate on this car.
Strange tho seeing a rear sway bar on a Caddy – who would want to go around corners fast with these?
Ironically, not many muscle cars had rear sway bars in ’69 – even a t/a!
It is worth noting that the 307 Olds engine was a vast and welcomed improvement over the HT4100 that truly burdened these cars from 1982-1985. It soldiered on from 1986 through 1990. Additionally, 1990 was the first year of the updated “euro” Brougham, which was produced thru 1992. In 1991, the vastly superior Chevy 305 replaced the base 307 engine. The ONLY years that the optional 350 (5.7L) was available were during the 1990-1992 span of this body style.
This particular example is about $10k too high, yes- even in “today’s market”. It really doesn’t represent what would be considered a good find or reasonable deal for a perspective buyer. There are other lower mileage examples in more desirable colors for less. For some reason, blue GM interiors looked tired even when new. The vinyl top on this one has surely kissed the California sun a few too many times. The only noteworthy option on this car is the D’Elegance interior. But again, it’s blue. For this much coin, you could easily get into an updated 90-92 euro Brougham, even one with the optional 5.7L. If you’re lucky, you might even score one with the highly covered, genuine wire wheels.
Furthermore, whoever still thinks it’s cute to make insulting comparisons to Hyundai and Kia in 2022 only serves to reveal they’ve been living under a rock for the past decade.
Wake up, Boomer 😉
This is a car that shows style and can be seen what it is , not like modern cars that all look the same from 10 feet away which is apparent here in the UK
I have a 90 Cadillac with the 350 and that is the engine that size car needs. Surprised a few people on stoplight takeoffs!