CADILLAC FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM by Aidan Fitzsimmons
“ Oh , well , a bless my soul , but what ’ s wrong with me ? I ’ m itchin ’ like a man on a fuzzy tree . My friends say I ’ m actin ’ wild as a bug I ’ m in Love , I ’ m all shook up , a hm-mm , yeah , yeah ,”.
Yes this month we are taking you back to 1976 to one of the coolest cars owned by the King of Rock ‘ n ’ Roll himself , Mr Elvis Presley . It may not be Elvis ’ Pink Cadillac , but who cares just look at it it ’ s the next best thing . It ’ s not the car Presley was most closely associated with that ’ s on permanent display at Graceland but if you love the Rocker or the gigantic American saloons of that era , it ’ s hard to think of a better option currently available . This iconic Cadillac has been seen in many films over the years and the sheer length of it at nineteen and a half feet long it ’ s not hard to miss .
The 1970 ’ s was a decade of some of the biggest shakeups in the automotive industry . Two energy crisis , increased federal safety standards , and a flood of imports dramatically changed the automotive landscapes over the course of a few years . By decade end , cars were smaller , bumpers were larger , and convertibles had all but disappeared . From a stylistic standpoint , vinyl roofs , wire wheels , opera windows , and interiors that resembled your grandparents living room had all become mainstream , as the Great Brougham Epoch was in full swing .
This absolutely staggering Sable Black Cadillac Fleetwood has covered just 39,420 miles from new . The Fleetwood Brougham was the range topping model for ‘ 76 and was more expensive than the Coupe . ‘ 76 was also the last year of the BIG Cadillacs before they downsized for ‘ 77 . The originality and condition of this car really has to be seen , all the original decals and stickers are in place , the majority of the paint work is original as is the chrome . The padded vinyl roof is in great shape with no signs of cracking or damp ingress . The light blue interior is free from damage , cracks or wear , it still sports its Cadillac floor mats , original radio and immaculate carpets . The power seats , windows and locks are all working correctly as is the soft close boot lid . On the road the car feels fresh and is a pleasure to drive . The 8.2 litre ( the largest engine fitted to a production saloon ) purrs away and the car floats along on a wave of torque .
History Cadillac was the branch of the early General Motors that led the way in the engineering and manufacturing fields , just as Buick led in production . Long before World War 1 , the Cadillac was well established as one of the finest cars built in America and , as the recipient of two Dewar Trophies , it had gained world-wide fame . Few cars have remained as true to their original purposes and traditions as has the Cadillac . The Cadillac car can , in fact , be said to have added lustre to the name it was given . While a commissioned officer in the
Royal French Army , Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded the city of Detroit , as a fur trading centre , in 1701 . Cadillac was later honoured in several ways by his King , Louis XIV , which served to obscure his rather doubtful family origins in the small town in Gascony where he was born . The Cadillac family did have a coat of arms , however , dating from the 11th century , and it was adopted for the Cadillac car . It remains the only coat of arms , of authentic origin , in use on any American car today . Cadillac , of course , arrived in Detroit two hundred years too early to start an automobile company . His name was chosen for the company and the automobile , in 1902 , by a wellto-do lumber merchant , William H . Murphy . Several years earlier , Murphy had backed a young mechanic , Henry Ford , in the founding of a new firm to produce cars to Ford ’ s designs . Ford had differences with his backers , however , and left the company to go his own way . Murphy and his associates were planning to give up their car-building venture after this , but decided to consult with the company that was to make engines for their cars , the Leland and Faulconer Manufacturing Company of Detroit .
What to look for ... Like any big bus from this era suspension , rust , overall maintenance is a must see . Check all the usual places as in front & rear arches but also door sills and the bulkhead . Cadillac is renowned for it ’ s luxury so make sure all electrics are working as well as the air-conditioning as this could set you back a hefty bill . The engine must start first time with no miss fire or sounding lumpy when idling . Apart from the obvious the Cadillac is bullet proof . Originality is key when purchasing so make sure it ’ s not been sprayed or had any colour changes in it ’ s past .
Whats it like to drive ... On the road the car feels fresh and is a pleasure to drive . The 8.2 litre ( the largest engine fitted to a production saloon ) purrs away and the car floats along on a wave of torque . The car may not shake , rattle or roll but it certainly weaves thanks to it ’ s super soft suspension and ride . Hard cornering is not what this car is about , however . This is a luxury cruiser that will turn heads wherever it goes , regardless of any previous owners , but the fact that Elvis was associated to this vehicle makes it rock and roll royalty on wheels . This is the Cadillac of Cadillacs and so a little less conversation and more driving required .
In summary : You will need big pockets to fill this monster . However with the small mileage you will do who cares how far you go as you will arrive in style . As Elvis would say “ Some people tap their feet , some people snap their fingers , and some people sway back and forth . I just sorta do ‘ em all together , I guess .”
Price : £ 30,000 - £ 60,000
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