It has been quite a year, has it not? Lots of great posts, interesting commentary, a visit to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in October, and sharing cool old cars from all around the country, and beyond. What can I say, we are a diverse band of gearheads, we all have strong opinions and preferences, so we may not always quite agree on everything. But we continue to enjoy each other’s company.
So, from the not-so-cold Midwest (about 38 degrees right now, sunny and no snow in sight or on the ground), may I express my appreciation to all of you? I had major health problems as a teen, lost my hearing and other bad stuff. Everything’s OK now, but as a result I was pretty insular, and didn’t get out much. Thanks to CC and all you fine folks, I’ve become much more outgoing, both here, on the automotive Facebook Groups I belong to (The Brougham Society, Continental Living, and The Classic Lincoln and Continental Appreciation Society, to name a few), and at home.
So thanks everyone, and thanks to Paul for keeping up such a terrific site. Have a Merry Christmas and be well, everyone.
Oh, and the car? A 1995-96 Fleetwood Brougham I spotted while Christmas shopping with my uncle in Coralville last Saturday. This beauty was parked at the local music store. This jade green, Calypso Green in Cadillac-speak, is my favorite color on these cars, the last traditional body-on-frame Cadillac sedan. Happy holidays everyone, and all the best in the new year!
I think the last true “full-size” Fleetwood was the 1991 model year four-door sedan, though I may be wrong.
nope, the one pictured is a D-body which was a body-on-frame closely related to the B-body.
Good to hear you’re finding your place. It’s amazing when we’re given the opportunity of a second chance!
The 1991-1996 model year B-Body cars, Caprice/ Caprice Classic, Fleetwood/ Brougham, Roadmaster, and Impala SS.
The last worthy competitor Cadillac made for the Lincoln Town Car.
Merry Christmas to you Tom. I always enjoy your articles and maybe this will be the year I will correctly guess one of your CC Clues!
Merry Christmas Tom! I was unaware of disagreement(s) between people, but whatever the case, I am glad that everything seems to be well. I’m glad you are doing well to. This is truly a great place that brings people together, and I am thankful to be a part of it and thankful for all the true friends I have made these past two years!
The Full sized rear wheel drive Cadillac did not get rebodied until the 1993 model year….If you google the 1992 Fleetwood Brougham, it will show the older square body style….Cadillac held out for a couple more model years after the Caprice and Roadmaster were rebodied in 1991.
http://www.mcsmk8.com/92-CAD/92CAD.html
Yep, 1990-92 was all the same body. I wrote up a ’92 a while back. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1992-cadillac-brougham-the-only-way-to-travel-is-cadillac-style/
The Caprice sedan was introduced as a 1991 model. The wagons also came out for the 1991 model year. The Roadmaster, Caprice and Custom Cruiser wagons all shared the Chevy sheet metal, in a similar way to the 1977 – 1990 wagons. The only wagon sheet metal difference is the lack of a Vista Roof on the Caprice.
The Roadmaster sedan was introduced as a 1992, with the Fleetwood sedan as a 1993.
Maybe it was a tooling or cost issue for each of the slightly different sedan bodies that led to the yearly introductions?
In my mind, the design of the last large Cadillac sort of came close to yielding a pleasant appearance – but missed the target. I tried to see if I could make simple improvements while still keeping the same basic smooth design. I reduced the height of the side windows, bringing them up to the “C” pillar and rear window. The door glass area being lower than the “C” pillar, hood and trunk just does not look correct. Then I reduced the side section of the body by raising it along the rocker panel. I also moved the hood closer to the windshield (reducing the vertical dim. of the windshield). Finally I blacked in the “B” pillar. The result gave the side view of the car more continuity and added look of length and a longer looking luxury green house (side view). Not the best photo editing job, but I think this simple change helps. THE ORIGINAL SHOWN BELOW
THE MODIFIED SIDE VIEW BELOW.
I have a ’93 and there are three things I would change on the exterior/dimensions. I actually like the original windows and wouldn’t raise the belt line as you did.
First, bring the bottom of the vinyl top down so as to be even with the window/belt line from front to back.
Second, incorporate the vinyl into the tops of the doors so it doesn’t look so odd with the door tops seeming to bite out of the vinyl.
Third (and most complicated). Redesign the passenger side airbag so these have a smaller dash and bigger hood. That fixes the slightly odd proportions when seen straight on.
I’ve found these look best from a side angle; from the back as Tom photographed it or from the same angle right or left front.
But it’s the inside that they really could have done more with and which is my main disappointment with a really solid car. Too much plastic where metal would’ve been fine, cheap fake wood where they used to have “nice” fake wood. They missed their chance to outdo the Town Car and sell a Cadillac that could’ve eventually been turned into a kind of 75 Series if sold in limited numbers. They’re extremely quiet, very roomy, and incredibly fuel efficient given the minimal investments made in the drivetrain.
Nice find Tom, that green is beautiful and mesmerising. I almost love these Broughams – from the front 3/4 they look great but the rear 3/4 show the C-pillar doesn’t quite gel with the shape of the rear door. But slathering the bottom foot or so in chrome? Perfection! Top o’ the season to you and yours!
I’m much more fond of these than I was when they were on the market. Back then I saw a lot of Caprice in the design. Now I see a lot of ’75/’76 Fleetwood Brougham in the side profile. The short vinyl roof and wide windows say mid-70’s Cadillac.
I haven’t seen the Caprice version on the road in long time, but the Fleetwoods are still seen here in Southwest Florida. And I see Roadmaster wagons occasionally, but not sedans.
We seem to have all of them here in VA. I parked three spaces away from a Roadmaster sedan, in a similar shade of green, at work this morning.
A belated Merry Christmas, Tom! And best wishes to all who are part of this community.
In Nebraska, I see plenty of this era of Caprice sedans (as well as the previous ones), some Roadmaster sedans (and wagons) and a couple Fleetwoods as well. Every great once in a while I see the Caprice wagons and even the odd Oldmobile Custom Cruiser. I think it would have been neat to have had a sedan version of that one.
Merry Christmas Tom, the trip to Auburn sure was a highlight wasn’t it?
“Thanks to CC and all you fine folks, I’ve become much more outgoing, both here, on the automotive Facebook Groups I belong to…”
That’s good to hear. The internet is a lot like the rest of the world with lots of darkness and light, but it does offer a new and wonderful way to connect with folks you would never meet otherwise.
Merry Christmas everybody, and best wishes for 2015.
Wish I could’ve made it to the ACD get-together. Sounds like it was a good time. One of these days I’ll make it there, and hopefully make it to a CC get-together as well.
A Merry Christmas to you, Tom, to Paul and all who post on here. I don’t find something of great interest every time, but hey, 98 percent isn’t bad. 😀
The contributors are a great treasure trove of knowledge, who help the site maintain its high standard.
Merry Christmas to all the CC ‘staffers’ whose contributions bring me back nearly every day. Tom, I always enjoy your articles as I am a luxury car and ‘Brougham’ fan as well. I worked at both a Cadillac and a Lincoln in the eighties and always enjoyed working with those cars. Thanks for adding your knowledge and experience to the mix.
As for the car in the picture, I have only driven one of that body style. I was not all that impressed. The Cadillac’s I was used to were the ’77 models up to the mid eighties, which of course carried the Brougham up to ’92. The drive I took was after body repairs had been completed. It was a customer’s car, so I did not adjust the seat any more than necessary for me to safely drive the car. So I felt like it was not a fair impression, but I remember at the time I did not think it felt like a Cadillac. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t kick one out of my driveway.
Thanks to all the contributors and commenters for making this such a well rounded, internationally flavored site.
Merry Christmass to you too folks. I have to check today what did happened yesterday on Dec 25th as one of our very close family member had a crash with his CC Yugo. Nobody was hurt as the car has to be towed away. Confusing holiday for us though…
Oh! A Morty Seinfeld “Cat-Lac!”
I can’t see one now but I think “Cat-Lac”!
Happy Holidays to you Tom and all of the other guys who make this site such a bright spot on the internet.
When these were new, the vet who cared for our pets drove a big black one. He was an older guy who never went German or Japanese for his rides.
I look forward to another great year of CC – I’d love to make it to the meet this year if there is going to be one.
How about an unofficial meet at something like the Motor Muster at the Henry Ford in June?
Tom,
Happy holidays from me and everyone from LCOC! keep up the great work. Hope we get to see you next year.
Tom
All the best to you and the contributors for the holiday season. I feel terrible that I didn’t make the Auburn trip to meet everyone. I just bought my latest oldie, and wanted to make the trip using it, instead of the daily driver. The day turned out blustery and rainy here, and I wanted more time to sort out any potential issues with the car, and chickened out, In other news, the dog just ate my homework…
Aha, a Parisienne! ’83 or ’84? Nice cars, my family owned an ’86 through the second half of the 90’s.
It’s an 84. A local dealer has had it for around three years, and hadn’t sold it, so I made an offer and drove it home. It has the 305 with the 250 tranny. No overdrive or lock-up torque converter, which surprised me, as I thought they all had some form of overdrive by ’84. 97km on the clock, which I think is genuine. Has suffered a little bit by being outside for the last three years, but a really nice original Ponty/Cheviac all said
What a beauty. Those colors look great together.
Three years outside, what a shame. Something cherry like that would sell in a day where I live; it must have been quite a mark-up.
I’ve whined before there aren’t enough 80s Pontiacs here…maybe you’ll write something on this “Pontiac” and post more pictures.
My parents’ friends had a Bonneville like Buford T. Justice’s…can still remember the smooth ride.
Having driven an elderly relative’s ’93 (grey, dark grey vinyl top, burgundy interior) for the past 8 months, I’ve warmed up to these somewhat; I love how they managed to integrate real bumpers unlike any other aero car. The lines are a little disjointed but the aero design means there is minimal windnoise and you really have to try hard to get mileage below 19-20 mpg.
The disappointing aspect is the interior. It’s not that the prior cars were hand constructed masterpieces of craftsmanship but they did have more chrome and solid pieces rather than clipped in flimsy plastic. Not quite the quality of the past and not befitting the King of Cadillacs. It showed where GM was by this time; I think realistically they didn’t want to invest too much in the rivalry with the Town Car and didn’t really see it as a viable product other than for the few remaining diehards. In fact it’s somewhat hard to understand why they even bothered redesigning it. But, if they had given it their best, it might be around today…
I owned a ’94 Fleetwood Brougham the same color. 25 MPG highway, great performance from the LT1 engine. I regret selling it as it was the best road car I have ever owned.
Late as always, but Merry Christmas, Tom – and everyone else!
The more I read this site (and the older I get) the better these types of cars look. There may be hope for me yet. Have a great New Year!
A very Christmas color and it looks like snow but must be rain.
I must make a few comments about “full size”. The downsized 1977 models, which continued to 1992 I think, really were smaller inside. My 1990 Cadillac brochure shows that the “Brougham” (as it is called in 1990) had 55 inches of hip room and 59 inches of shoulder room. My 1994 brochure shows for the Fleetwoods 59 inces of hip room and 64 inches of shoulder room. This compares with the Cadillacs of the 60’s. The FWD Devilles are less, but actually comparable with the 90.
Shoulder and hip room in the XTS is about 57 and 55 inches (more in front than in back). The rear seat room in the CTS is 55 and 53 inches. The middle of the rear seat is not going to be comfortable for anyone for more than a short drive.
Yup, the 1993-96 brought back many of the interior dimensions of the 1971-76 version, specifically shoulder room. The car got longer and wider again, as well, a brief, glorious period of Cadillacs getting bigger again before they shrank everything during the next 15 years. Now all we have is the “big” XTS and maybe this CT6 thing but it still won’t be that big.
Reminds me of my 1996 Caprice that is now resting for it’s Winter nap. For a car that cost me a hair over 3k with zero rust and only 83K miles it has been a near flawless second Summer car. The ride, comfort and quietness put many modern cars to shame! Always enjoy your articles. Keep them coming and a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!