Fleetwood Cadillac history 1981

Billed again as the “Cadillac of Cadillacs,” Broughams came in coupe and sedan form with a grille and front-end look the same as DeVille. The coupe had an Elk Grain vinyl Cabriolet roof treatment with flush-look, small-size rear quarter windows and broad sail panels. Both coupe and sedan roofs had a chrome crossover roof molding at the front of the vinyl portion, stretching across the top and sides. Back windows were small (limousine-style).

Options included an Astroroof and leather-trimmed steering wheel. A stand-up wreath-and-crest ornament adorned each hood. Standard wheel covers were vaned chrome with wreath-and-crest on a dark red background. Three powertrains were offered: standard fuel-injected V8-6-4, Buick V-6 with automatic overdrive transmission, or diesel V-8. Standard were the Twilight Sentinel that automatically turned headlamps on and off, illuminated entry, tilt/telescope steering wheel, six-way driver and passenger seats, and electro-luminescent opera lamps. Dual Comfort coupe front seats held three people; rear seats offered adjustable reading lamps.

Standard interior upholstery was Heather knit with Raphael inserts. available in six colors. New door panels displayed an embroidered ‘Fleetwood’ script. Nine varieties of tucked leather in seating areas were also offered. Brougham d’Elegance had chrome wheel covers with body-colored vanes and wreath-and-crest on dark red background, plus d’Elegance script and accent striping on the body. Coupe interiors came in standard dark blue Heather and Raphael knit fabric; or optional Sierra Grain leather for tufted seating areas (dark claret, white, black, light slate gray, dark blue, light beige, doeskin, or light waxberry). Sedans had knit fabric in dark blue, dark claret, light slate gray or light beige; or leather in doeskin, light beige, light slate gray, dark blue, or dark claret.

With hardly a fanfare, Cadillac made a V-6 engine available in its full-size DeVille and Fleetwood series in the middle of the 1980 model year. This is the Buick-built 4.1 liter (252 cubic inch) unit, and gives Cadillac its first six-cylinder car ever. The Fleetwood Brougham is basically an upmarket version of the Sedan DeVille and is identical to it in exterior and interior dimensions. The standard engine for 1981 is the 6.0 liter (368 cid) “V-8-6-4.” The 6 liter engine takes 22.6 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph. Even with the 5.7 liter (350 cid) engine it takes 21 seconds.

This rear wheel drive car has lots of room and wide-opening doors to make entry and exit graceful. Ride comfort is plush and soft, but makes for poorer suspension control. Fit and finish are always good.

The price on this unit is lower than the Seville or Eldorado, but it has a full line of standard amenities: electronic climate control; power steering, brakes, windows, and door locks; AM/FM stereo radio; illuminated entry system; tilt-and-telescope steering wheel; six-way power driver and passenger seats; and remote control mirrors

Although the V6 is generally considered to be a good move toward fuel economy, this car is too heavy for such a small engine.