Good Buy? 43K-Mile 1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
Over the decades, it’s more normal than not to pack on some pounds and some of us could stand to lose some weight. Maybe not half a ton, which is about what this 1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille lost over the previous-generation model. That’s a lot of fries. The seller has this golden jewel posted here on craigslist in Spokane, Washington and they’re asking $9,500. Here is the original listing.
“It isn’t easy to improve a Cadillac . . . but as you can see in the sleek new lines of the 1977 Coupe DeVille . . . we did.” So says a 1977 brochure showing the new, smaller but still classicly luxurious Cadillacs. These are still big cars even by today’s standards, at 18.5 feet, just four inches shorter than a 2024 Chevy Suburban.
This example appears to be in great condition. There were reportedly 138,750 Coupe DeVilles sold for the 1977 model year, which when combined with the Sedan DeVille numbers (95,421) accounted for the highest sales in Cadillac DeVille’s history. It was nice packaging by GM as these cars had a bigger trunk and more interior room despite being almost a foot shorter than the previous DeVilles. These new DeVilles were also skirtless, as in no rear fender skirts.
Gold and teal are really great colors for the fifth-generation DeVilles, which were made from 1977 to 1984. Having matching leather seats makes it even better, although I don’t mind fabric seats and prefer them sometimes, depending on where a person lives or what they use their vehicle for. These seats show some normal wear on the driver’s seat but otherwise appear to be in great condition. The back seat looks like new.
As with most craigslist ads, there are no engine photos here. We don’t have a clue what’s under that long hood, but it wasn’t the previous 500 V8. The standard engine in 1977 was Cadillac’s 425-cu.in. OHV V8 with 180 horsepower. There was an optional fuel-injected version that added 15 extra horsepower. I’ll always take that option more for the ease of starting and lack of gas smell than for the extra 15 hp. Hagerty is at $10,400 for a #3 good-condition car and $16,600 for a #2 excellent car so this could be a good buy. Have any of you owned a ’77 DeVille?
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Comments
Beautiful car, but the grill is a 1979. Has there been front end damage?
Good eye Phil, also note color difference on piece above grill, appears lighter than the hood and front fenders. Nice car if wasn’t for the half top landau covering—go either full vinyl or none always better looking.
My grandmother had a 78′ sedan DeVille and that engine went @ 13000 miles however in all other respects a fine automobile!
That’s personal preference on the vinyl top. Those padded partial tops were quite classy looking. The full vinyl (non padded at all) definitely looked like you were trying to save a nickel and reeked of why even bother at all. I’d go for no vinyl over one of those.
It also has 1979 turn signals/parking lamps, which were clear lenses with amber bulbs in 1977. Additionally, the hood ornament is from a Fleetwood – DeVilles didn’t have the wreath. Odds are, the entire front clip was replaced.
🎶 🎹 🎤
Baby we can talk all nite, but that ain’t getting us nowhere..
I’ve told you everything I possibly can, there’s nothing left inside of me..
and baby you can cry all nite, but that’ll never change the way that I feel.
The snow is really piling up outside.. 🎶 🎵
I had that same exact car I bought brand new in December 1976 and the front is exactly the same as mine was
Love the car and the color
Thanks for catching that, Phil and everyone else.
I noticed the grille, too. I had one just like it, same colors, just with velour seats instead of the leather. Very nice, reliable car. In fact, it only let me down once in 18 years, when a fusible link by the starter gave up due to age. The price may be a little ambitious, but it is mostly original with a rock solid drivetrain and low miles. I hope it finds a good home.
My wife bought a 77 cpe de ville white full white vinyl top white leather seats, red carpet red dash, red pinstripe, (factory painted), wire wleel hubcaps, a beautifully femine model, she paid 6400 cash w/29000 miles in 1980. Org. Window sticker was 13500 in 77. It was sluggish and handeled like a big boat. I replaced shocks w/monroe gas matic, put on metallic brake pads. Removed the catalist put in straight pipe recurved distributor and advanced the ignition timing, rebuilt the quadrajet to richer specs from previous model years, and put on 70 seiries bfg radial t/a whitel wall tires. Ran much better handled better and got better mileage with these mods. She kept it for 8 years and loved driving tha big piece of class. She was 29 when she bought it as a gift to herself for being a succesful cosmetologist operating her own business. You would have to have been around back then to understand that the cars were the standard of the world, not so much anymore, toyota has surpassed gm as a quality made product now, kind of sad but true!
Toyota? LOL! Don’t Stop Believin’! Hold Onto That Feeling!
This is a great color combo and leather with dual power seats a nice bonus. I do, however, prefer the “full” taillights on the ’78-’79 models. They look a little more sleek. Nice job on the downsize, though.
Would have to see the engine, underside, & trunk. And why can’t people take their garbage out before they take pics?
Paint in the entire front clip is a different shade. I’m for a front end collision.
I had a 77 Sedan Deville, So I know that the grille is from 79, That doesn’t bug me as I like it a bit more. However I prefer the 77 taillights better than the 78-79 as it seems (to me..) a nice homage to the original 48-49 fins. I do prefer the 79 and up steering wheel. Having had several Cadillacs based on this platform, (77-92) I can navigate that dashboard blind folded! Really only the radio ever changed! I love these things! Mechanically the 77-79 are the best, Then it’s best to go post 86.
I bought the exact color combination in 1977 and paid Just under $10,000. I was we years old and was giving myself a gift of doing well in a new business that I started. Back then, to own a Cadillac was like owning a MeBenz S class today. It was the standard of the world, but just a few years later, it was not the case. Owning that car back then at 30 years old made me feel super successful and the envy of my friends, yes I can sometimes be shallow, but truthful also. It drove great and kept it for five years, when I fell in love with a demo 1983 300SE diesel, which cost $32,000. Owning a Caddy was the big thing years ago, but times change, but you could still hold on to the feelings you had at the time. I now drive a 2023 Rivian R1S. Yes, times, “they are a changing”.
One of my uncles sold Cadillacs at a dealership in Barrington, Illinois into the ’80’s. His demo was a ’78 sedan DeVille with plaid fabric.
Yes.. a while back a same color Coupe De Ville was for sale on Hemmings with the plaid interior…. I called the guy…. I’m shopping for a large comfortable car to drive around the Country and see friends…
The climate control is a concern…. electronic… I prefer a simple cable and lever….
I have a good friend up in Barrington. 👍
I had a 78 sedan,bought it used around 1982 and proceeded to take a cross country trip. These early caddy’s were built for this kind of driving. Effortless cruising in comfort. BTW only one speeding ticket in Missouri. This one looks good but an inspection couldn’t hurt.
My Mom had the identical 1977 as pictured here she was caught in an ice storm in Colorado and coming down a long hill she got hit by a sliding semi, a old pickup, and three other cars in a ping pong ice wreck. The Caddy was damaged on all 4 side, but, she never suffered even a bruise. Tough old car, the insurance totalled it and she bought a new 1989 sedan deville. That car was not the same as those 1970’s Caddy’s.
I had that same exact car same exact color and the front is exactly the same as my 77 DeVille was which I bought brand new
If I had the dough laying around, I’d snatch ‘er up in a heartbeat! I even like the color.