The misaligned left headlight is probably due to a minor collision, too, though I distinctly recall seeing headlights that similarly didn’t match up with the side marker assembly on showroom-new DeVilles.
It pains me to look at these cars. One of GM’s higher end vehicles, with one of the worst fit & finish jobs of any car they made. I had a ’91 Deville, thought it may have been in some sort of accident and poorly repaired, but nope, it was like that when new. Factory gaps you could stick a shovel through, and nothing squared up at all. Seriously, the folks on the line that assembled this thing couldn’t have cared less how it looked when it left the factory. Even a Polski Fiat 125p left the line with panels and lights that fit better (albeit with the help of rubber mallots lol)
This car though… that rear wheel is sticking a bit too far out, the rear air shocks are deflated, looks like the factory alloys on the front are from a touring sedan and 16″, not the spec 15″ for this car. Looks like the usual vehicle I’d see cruising down Martin Luther King Jr. Dr, or Blvd., depending on the city.
While I’m not a reflexive supporter of Big 3 autoworkers, I think production engineering (& ultimately management) bears most blame for such panel fit. They should’ve demanded tighter tolerances on the stampings, then used round (not slotted) bolt holes so they cannot be installed wrong.
Tacky crap. What is going on with the rear wheelwell lip? I know it never had skirts but can’t figure out what’s missing. Sometimes when I see one of these it’ll catch my eye at first as I’ll think it’s a Caprice or something with more substance until I realize it’s one of these and nothing to look at. They’re just too small above all else!
The wheel lip, the deVille and Fleetwood had the same quarter, the deVille actually had an attached wheel lip where the Fleetwood would have the skirt attached, it was a cheap way of using the same quarter but creating 2 different looks.
Lots of haters–keep in mind this vehicle is nearly a quarter of a century old! They were good cars (we had 3), and they had some (a lot of) class. The power was great–what’s under the hood of these (the 4.9 anyway) would in no way induce Lincoln-envy. ’91+ were particularly beautiful, if I may say.
These were surely the norm. Most people who bought Cadillac wanted Cadillac. This one has the gray bottom, I initially thought it was the same color as the body. The color-matched bottoms were prettier; especially in red, white, or blue. Champagne and medium-green were also tasteful. And black, a rare find. Wow, I forgot all of the choices (around 20). Back when cars were painted wonderful colors! These were beautiful cars.
scuze me, but taint that ‘posed to be a Rolls-Royce rad-ti-ator?
Ask Lincoln….
The grille does not fit properly in fact the entire front isnt quite right, great coat of road grime so it runs and drives, so what was it new?
Grille excepted, that’s how they came from the factory (EDIT – looks like the left side of the bumper has been pushed up slightly, too.)
I’ve always thought the inboard lean of the headlamps made this restyle look crosseyed.
Is it Halloween already? Cute costume.
I didn’t know you could drive the Parthenon.
Really, something that poorly assembled made it out the gate. I thought it had hit something and been shadetreed.
It has been shadetreed, that is a Lincoln grille.
No that is an aftermarket faux RR grille especially for that model Caddy. http://www.ebay.com/itm/91-92-93-CADILLAC-DEVILLE-ROLLS-ROYCE-CHROME-GRILLE-SEDAN-COUPE-FLEETWOOD-NICE-/261171017998
The misaligned left headlight is probably due to a minor collision, too, though I distinctly recall seeing headlights that similarly didn’t match up with the side marker assembly on showroom-new DeVilles.
It pains me to look at these cars. One of GM’s higher end vehicles, with one of the worst fit & finish jobs of any car they made. I had a ’91 Deville, thought it may have been in some sort of accident and poorly repaired, but nope, it was like that when new. Factory gaps you could stick a shovel through, and nothing squared up at all. Seriously, the folks on the line that assembled this thing couldn’t have cared less how it looked when it left the factory. Even a Polski Fiat 125p left the line with panels and lights that fit better (albeit with the help of rubber mallots lol)
This car though… that rear wheel is sticking a bit too far out, the rear air shocks are deflated, looks like the factory alloys on the front are from a touring sedan and 16″, not the spec 15″ for this car. Looks like the usual vehicle I’d see cruising down Martin Luther King Jr. Dr, or Blvd., depending on the city.
While I’m not a reflexive supporter of Big 3 autoworkers, I think production engineering (& ultimately management) bears most blame for such panel fit. They should’ve demanded tighter tolerances on the stampings, then used round (not slotted) bolt holes so they cannot be installed wrong.
As a former FSO 125p owner/driver I can agree with you the build quality wasn’t great,however it was a whole lot better than many more expensive cars
Looks like its wearing bifocals, the way the headlights and parking lights are designed together.
Tacky crap. What is going on with the rear wheelwell lip? I know it never had skirts but can’t figure out what’s missing. Sometimes when I see one of these it’ll catch my eye at first as I’ll think it’s a Caprice or something with more substance until I realize it’s one of these and nothing to look at. They’re just too small above all else!
The wheel lip, the deVille and Fleetwood had the same quarter, the deVille actually had an attached wheel lip where the Fleetwood would have the skirt attached, it was a cheap way of using the same quarter but creating 2 different looks.
Are there ANY aftermarket grilles that look good?
“I know, I’ll spend a couple hundred bucks to make my new Cadillac ugly!”
Yes – the 1940 Ford grille that used to grace VWs in the 70s. 🙂
I had a college acquaintance back then whose Bug had an aftermarket Ford hood & grille. It made a lot of sense, increasing the front luggage space.
The valet is still going to have trouble finding it.
Lots of haters–keep in mind this vehicle is nearly a quarter of a century old! They were good cars (we had 3), and they had some (a lot of) class. The power was great–what’s under the hood of these (the 4.9 anyway) would in no way induce Lincoln-envy. ’91+ were particularly beautiful, if I may say.
That one’s nice, so much better without the overdone grille.
These were surely the norm. Most people who bought Cadillac wanted Cadillac. This one has the gray bottom, I initially thought it was the same color as the body. The color-matched bottoms were prettier; especially in red, white, or blue. Champagne and medium-green were also tasteful. And black, a rare find. Wow, I forgot all of the choices (around 20). Back when cars were painted wonderful colors! These were beautiful cars.