Cadillac history 1979

1979 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD

FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM - SERIES 6C

Brougham sedans had the same new front-end look and restyled taillamps as the less costly DeVille, and the same engine choices. New wheel covers of brushed chrome displayed the Cadillac wreath and crest on a dark red background. Dual comfort 45/55 front seats held three people. Upholstery was new slate gray Dante knit cloth. Genuine leather in eleven shades was also available. Tire pressure was raised to 32 psi, and engine recalibrated, to improve gas mileage. Brougham's suspension was retuned and body mounts were new. Inside were individual reading lamps and armrests. Broughams came with four-wheel disc brakes rather than DeVille's disc/drum combination. They also had a few distinctive styling touches to separate them from DeVilles. Pillars between front and rear doors tapered inward toward the beltline. Wide rocker panel moldings continued behind the rear wheels, stretching to the back bumper. Brougham d'Elegance carried new pillow-style seats in Dante and Roma knits plus plush Tangier carpeting. Three roof-mounted assist straps, a choice of standard or turbine-vaned wheel covers, accent striping, and d'Elegance nameplate directly behind the rear side windows completed the package. Leather seating areas were also offered.

FLEETWOOD LIMOUSINE - SERIES 6D

About 2,000 limos, offered in standard or Formal form, found buyers each year. Both had the same new crosshatch grille as Fleetwood Brougham, along with new simulated woodgrain interior, a lower profile, and revised two-spoke steering wheel. Fleetwood remained the only American-built chassis for use in "professional" cars used by funeral directors and for ambulances. The basic limo seated eight; the Formal edition, seven. Both were powered by the 425 cu. in. (7.0-liter) V-8, which had to haul over 4,800 pounds of car around. Standard interior was dark blue Dante cloth, but slate gray and black were available. Front compartment of the Formal limo was black, with black leather in seating areas, separated from the passenger compartment by a sliding glass partition. Interiors were also offered in slate gray and black. All limos included two fold-down auxiliary seats. There was a dual accessory control panel for climate control and windows, along with new optional rear seat controls for the radio. An optional 8-track tape player put controls in the back.

Model Number	Style Number	Body Type	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM
6C	869	4-door Sedan	6	$13,446	4250	42,200
FLEETWOOD LIMOUSINE
6D	F23	4-door Sedan	8	$20,987	4782	2,025
6D	F33	4-door Formal Limousine	7	$21,735	4866	2,025
6D	Z90	Commercial Chassis	-	N/A	N/A	864

Feature	Base engine for Brougham & Limousine	Option gas engine for Brougham	Option diesel engine for Brougham
Type	90-degree, overhead valve V-8. Cast iron block and head.
Displacement	425 cu. in. (7.0 liters)		350 cu. in. (5.7 liters)
Bore & stroke	4.082 x 4.06 in.		4.057 x 3.385 in.
Compression ratio	8.2:1	8.2:1	22.5:1
Brake horsepower	180 @ 4000 rpm	195 @ 3800 rpm	125 @ 3600 rpm
Torque	320 lbs.-ft. @ 2000 rpm	320 lbs.-ft. @ 2400 rpm	225 lbs.-ft. @ 1600 rpm
Main bearings	Five
Valve lifters	Hydraulic
Fuel supply	4 Bbl Carburetor	Fuel Injection	Fuel Injection
VIN Code	S	T	N

CHASSIS DATA

Feature	Brougham	Limousine
Wheelbase	121.5 in.	144.5 in.
Overall length	221.2 in.	244.2 in.
Height	56.7 in.	56.9 in.
Width	76.5 in.
Front Tread	61.7 in.
Rear Tread	60.7 in.
Standard Tires	HR78 x 15-B SBR wide WSW	HR78 x 15-D SBR wide WSW

TECHNICAL

Transmission: Three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic transmission standard on all models; column shift.
gear ratios: (1st) 2.48:1; (2nd) 1.48:1; (3rd) 1.00:1; (Rev) 2.07:1.
Brougham Standard axle ratio: 2.28:1
Limo Standard axle ratio: 3.08:1
Steering: recirculating ball
Front suspension: independent with ball joints and coil springs, stabilizer bar.
Rear suspension: four-link coil springs, link stabilizer. Electronic level control
Limousine Brakes: front disc, rear drum
Brougham Brakes: four-wheel disc
HEI electronic ignition
Fuel tank: 25 gal.

DRIVETRAIN OPTIONS

425 cu. in. V-8 Fl engine ($783)
5.7-liter diesel V-8 engine later in model year ($849)
Heavy-duty cooling system ($49)
80-amp alternator ($54)
Engine block heater ($21)
California emission equipment ($83-$150)
California fuel economy equipment ($65)
Limited slip differential ($70)
High altitude pkg. ($35)
Trailering package ($49-$103).

OPTION PACKAGES

Brougham d'Elegance: cloth ($987); leather ($1344)

CONVENIENCE/APPEARANCE OPTIONS

Astroroof (w/full vinyl roof): ($998).
Sunroof (full vinyl roof): ($798).
Cruise control ($137).
Controlled-cycle wipers for Limo ($38).
Rear defogger, grid-type ($101).
Six-way Dual Comfort power passenger seat adjuster ($125-$160).
Power driver's seat recliner ($122).
Power passenger seat recliner with six-way adjuster ($221-$280).
Tilt/telescope steering wheel ($130).
Automatic door locks ($121).
Illuminated entry system for Limo ($62).
Fuel monitor ($31).
Theft deterrent system ($137).
Trunk lid release and power pull-down for Limo ($85).
Twilight Sentinel for Limo ($56).
Guidematic headlamp control ($91).
Trumpet horn ($22).
Electric remote left mirror w/thermometer ($90).
Lighted thermometer on left mirror ($28).
Lighted vanity mirror, passenger ($52).
Electronic-tuning seek/scan AM/FM stereo radio with 8-track tape player ($195); w/8-track and CB ($480); w/cassette ($225); w/CB ($380).
Electronic-tuning seek/scan AM/FM stereo radio with 8-track player, rear control for Limo ($398).
Two-tone paint, partial Firemist ($361).
Firemist paint ($171).
Front bumper reinforcement ($9).
Accent stripes ($56).
Door edge guards ($13-$20).
License frame: each ($10).
Leather seating area ($330-$350).
Carpeted rubber front floor mats ($33-$36); rear $16).
Trunk mat ($13).
Turbine-vaned wheel covers ($59)
Aluminum wheels ($350)
Locking wire wheels: ($569-$628).
Locking wire wheel covers ($189-$292).

PREVIOUS: History of the 1978 Cadillac NEXT: History of the 1979 Cadillac Seville NEXT: History of the 1979 Cadillac DeVille NEXT: History of the 1979 Cadillac Eldorado NEXT: History of the 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood NEXT: History of the 1979 Cadillac Overview NEXT: History of the 1980 Cadillac

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May 11, 2000; March 8/03