Cadillac Seville II gallery (1980–1985)
The second-generation Cadillac Seville (1980–1985) adopted front-wheel drive and featured a striking neo-classic bustle-back rear decklid styling.
The second-generation Cadillac Seville was produced from 1980 through 1985 on GM's front-wheel-drive K-body chassis shared with the Eldorado coupe. Designed under Bill Mitchell, it achieved instant notoriety for its dramatic bustle-back rear trunk styling inspired by classic 1930s British coachcraft. Front-wheel drive combined with independent rear suspension provided exceptional ride comfort and winter traction. The Elegante edition continued to offer distinctive duo-tone paint and custom interior fittings.
Engines shifted rapidly throughout the production run: starting with a 6.0-liter V8 (145 hp) in 1980, followed by the variable-displacement V8-6-4 in 1981, and settling on the lightweight 4.1-liter HT4100 V8 (135 hp) for 1982–1985. A 5.7-liter V8 diesel and a 4.1-liter Buick V6 were optional. Power was managed by 4-speed overdrive automatic transaxles, complemented by digital electronic instrumentation. Standard and available equipment included power steering, power drum brakes, power window controls, power seat adjustment, and premium interior upholstery appointments. Standard and available equipment included power steering, power drum brakes, power window controls, power seat adjustment, and premium interior upholstery appointments.