Rare Roadster: 1979 Cadillac Seville Milan
If you’re in the market for an affordable and luxurious roadster that’s all but guaranteed to turn heads each time you’re behind the wheel, this 1979 Cadillac Seville Milan conversion might fit your needs nicely. For less than five figures, the attention-getting factor will be high here, as you’ll likely be the only driver in your town who owns one, and maybe even in the entire state. Barn Finds reader Paul in MA spotted this cool convertible and brought it to our attention, and we’d like to express our gratitude for the great tip!
Milan Coach Builders reportedly shortened around 500 of these Sevilles themselves at their facility in Simi Valley, CA, but they also sold an unknown number of kits, with the Cadillac being offered here having a couple of tell-tale signs that the California company didn’t make this conversion. If I’m understanding correctly, Milan Coach Builders always replaced the factory Seville emblems on the front fenders with a gold medallion bearing their company’s name, and the seller also tells us the modifications here were made in Florida. However, even if this one’s not a bonafide Milan-built creation, the workmanship seems good and the exterior appears to remain in fine condition all these years later.
Another upgrade not noticeable from the outside can be found under the hood, and that’s the removal of the Seville’s 350 engine, which has been swapped out in favor of an Oldsmobile 455. The seller mentions that this change was made in the early nineties, with no specific details given about the source of the Olds block, but it is said that the car went into storage not long after this. Recently, the fuel system received a cleaning, and a new gas tank was installed, with the Cadillac currently stated to be running and driving well.
We only get this one photo from the inside, but with half the seats missing from a traditional Seville, there’s a lot less to see. What is viewable appears to still be in nice shape and luxurious, with that leather looking more comfortable than what you’d typically find in most roadster-type vehicles. If you’re ready to make this 1979 Cadillac Seville Milan yours, it’s located in Meriden, Connecticut, and can be spotted here on Craigslist. The asking price is set at $8,900, which seems in the ballpark for the right buyer. What are your thoughts on this unusual shortened Caddy?
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Comments
I tried to like it but the more I looked that shortened body just looks awkward, you can tell somethings missing.
This reminds me of those awkward teen years when parts of your body grow faster than others. The hardtop coupe looks even worse. The Seville San Remo convertible is the one to get if aesthetics matter to you.
455? Shortened wheel base? Either it’s Stupid Fun or just Stupid…
Prolly fun to drive but , horrible looking
Something’s are better left alone…
This is one…
When new, all these shortened conversions were very ungainly. Time has not improved on their looks. A very attractive new Cadillac Seville was butchered to make this example others like it. What a waste! As far as I a concerned, this is a parts car.
Doesn’t turn me on as a roadster and really turns me off with the top in situ! Yuck!
All those heavily modified Cadillacs were all but dangerous to drive. Closing a door caused the quarter panels to shake and a pothole made the entire cowl and instrument panel to bounce back and forth. Our dealership ordered one of these things and it wouldn’t pass Cadillac New Vehicle Inspection. Junk is the best descriptive for them.
Waste of a perfectly good Cadillac.
What we won’t do to stand out in a crowd.
Be aware…
Everything seems to work. “The a/c compressor is missing the belt.”
That fix if possible, is $12 at the parts store. Or it needs a new a/c compressor, $800+
NO TITLE, The car is sold with Old registration and bill of sale.
That top looks like a tarp haphazardly thrown over it just before a downpour. A saving grace might be a Chrysler TC hardtop but why bother? Yuk & more yuk!
Calling this monstrosity a roadster is a disgrace to all the actual roadsters out there. The only thing I would want to do with it is take it apart to check the quality of the welds or just send it to Alaska for that 4th of July thing where they send cars off a cliff
Troy, why not have the fun of watching it go over the cliff, explode, and then you can go down & check the welds without doing the work. LOL! BTW, where in Alaska is this, Palmer?
This was a really nice looking Seville until someone with a case of beer and a sawzall said hey y’all, watch this
Huggy Bears summer ride.
Wow! Nobody likes this car. And frankly I can’t blame them. Had they left the rear seat in tack the car would look more balanced and more usable. Kinda like the shorty Sevilles with the extended front end to accommodate the fake spare tires. Just fugly! And SUPER fugly with the top up.
I have to join the group of “what a waste of a Cadillac”
And what are those controls on the dash where the a/c vent used to be?
That would be my guess, Angel. Look like Vintage a/c controls. Or maybe they’re for the power top ! Lol! Compressor looks original, though, while aftermarkets are usually an aluminum appearance.
Just another shorty…
Didn’t like them back in the day and still don’t like them today, just not symmetrical at all.
Never understood the message with this one. Was this an attempt to make the Seville a true sports car? The proportion of the car never fit with this car. It looked like someone cut the car in half and put a trunk on it. Never caught on with me and I like most all Cadillacs.
I seem to be going against popular opinion, but I like it. Someone who lived near my previous home had one of these and I would see it occasionally and thought it was nice looking. I’m not sure about the quality of the build on this one, but obviously the Milan built ones met government approval. This car wasn’t cheap when new so I wonder about how much this conversion added to the purchase price.