Cadillac history 1981

1981 CADILLAC SEVILLE

Though basically unchanged for 1980, Seville got a few new touches including restyled (optional) wire wheel covers. Side accent moldings were now standard. An air dam below the front bumper was added, in an attempt to improve aerodynamic characteristics and gas mileage. Base engine was the Olds-built diesel V-8, now with roller cam followers on the valve lifters. That made Seville the only car around with a standard V-8 diesel.

Also new: an improved water detection/removal system for the fuel tank. New component labeling procedures were supposed to prevent theft. Seville's long list of standard equipment included

cast aluminum wheels
four-wheel disc brakes
cruise control
power windows and door locks
Soft-Ray tinted glass
tilt/telescope steering wheel
lighted vanity mirrors
illuminated entry system.

Standard gear also included

low-rolling-resistance tires
low-fuel warning
improved windshield washers.

New options:

several radio and tape systems of advanced design
a memory system for the power driver's seat
the modulated-displacement V8-6-4 engine that was standard in other Cadillacs.

A Buick-built 252 cu. in. V-6 with four-barrel carburetor was also available this year. Both gasoline engines brought buyers a credit of several hundred dollars.

Sevilles came in 13 high-gloss acrylic lacquer finishes, with accent striping and moldings. Optional were 13 two-tone combinations (such as Twilight Blue over Norfolk Gray) and 8 Firemist paints. Dual Comfort 45/45 seats were upholstered in Heather knit cloth; or 11 leather shades in tucked seating areas. Deep-pile Tiffany carpeting decorated the floor. Also standard: map lamps, assist straps, and an improved electronic-tuning AM/FM stereo radio.

Hoods displayed a burnished wreath-and-crest ornament over the vertical-style grille with its large header bar, and engine compartments had a new light. Cast aluminum wheels were standard. One-piece bumpers had built-in guards. A Touring Suspension became optional during the 1981 model year. Seville Elegantes had been easy to spot with their bold "French Curve" molding separating two-tone body colors. This year, base Sevilles gained the full-length accent moldings that had formerly been an Elegante exclusive. The pricey Elegante package included

tucked seating areas and steering wheel in Sierra Grain leather
40/40 Dual Comfort seats
leather-topped console
Tampico carpeting
"Elegante" script on glove box and body
cross-laced wire wheel covers
chrome side moldings.

Elegante came in four color combinations:

Sheffield Gray Firemist over Sable Black (slate gray interior)
Superior Blue Metallic over Twilight Blue (dark blue interior)
Desert Sand Firemist over Briarwood Brown (light beige interior)
Mulberry Gray Firemist over Bordeaux Red (mulberry gray interior).

Model Number	Style Number	Body Type	Seating	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
Seville V-6 / Diesel V-8
6K	S69	4-door Sedan	5	$20,598 / 21,088	3688 / 4028 lb	28,631

FACTORY PRICE AND WEIGHT NOTE

Figures before the slash are for V-6 engine, after slash for variable-displacement gas V8-6-4.
By late spring 1981, prices rose on the Seville to $23,000 for the diesel

ENGINES

Feature	Basic diesel V-8	Optional V-6	Optional V-8
Type	90-degree, overhead valve V-8. Cast iron block and head	90-degree, overhead valve V-6. Cast iron block and head	90-degree, overhead valve variable-displacement. Cast iron block and head
Displacement	350 cu. in. (5.7 liters)	252 cu. in. (4.1 liters)	368 cu. in. (6.0 liters)
Bore & stroke	4.057 x 3.385 in.	3.965 x 3.40 in.	3.80 x 4.06 in.
Compression ratio	22.5:1	8.0:1	8.2:1
Brake horsepower	105 at 3200 R.P.M.	125 at 3800 R.P.M.	140 at 3800 R.P.M.
Torque	200 lbs.-ft. at 1600 R.P.M.	210 lbs.-ft. at 2000 R.P.M.	265 lbs.-ft. at 1400 R.P.M.
Main bearings	Five	Four	Five
Valve lifters	Hydraulic	Hydraulic	Hydraulic
Fuel supply	Fuel injection	4-bbl carburetor	Digital fuel injection
VIN Code	N	4	9

CHASSIS DATA

Wheelbase: 114.0 in.
Overall length: 204.8 in.
Height: 54.3 in.
Width: 71.5 in.
Front Tread: 59.3 in.
Rear Tread: 60.6 in.
Standard Tires: P205/75R15 SBR wide WSW

TECHNICAL

Turbo Hydra-matic transmission, column shift.
Gear ratios 3-speed automatic: (1st) 2.74:1; (2nd) 1.57:1; (3rd) 1.00:1; (Rev) 2.07:1.
Gear ratios 4-speed automatic w/V-6: (1st) 2.74:1; (2nd) 1.57:1; (3rd) 1.00:1: (4th) 0.667:1; (Rev) 2.07:1.
Standard final drive ratio: 2.41:1 except w/V-6, 2.93:1
Steering: recirculating ball (power assisted).
Suspension: same as 1980.
Brakes: four-wheel disc.
Fuel tank: 22.8 gal. w/diesel, 20.3 gal. w/V8-6-4, 21.1 gal. w/V-6

DRIVETRAIN OPTIONS

4.1-liter gas V-6 engine ($490 credit)
V8-6-4 gas engine: ($325 credit).
5.7-liter diesel V-8 engine ($325-$351); N/A limo.
California emission equipment ($46-$182).
Engine block heater ($22).
100-amp alternator ($41).
Heavy-duty cooling ($59).
Touring suspension: ($95).
Trailering pkg. ($59-$100).

OPTION PACKAGES

Seville Elegante ($2734)

CONVENIENCE/APPEARANCE OPTIONS

Astroroof ($1058)
Rear defogger, grid-type ($134-$175).
Automatic door locks ($129).
Garage door opener ($125).
Illuminated entry system ($67).
Digital instrument cluster: ($200).
Memory driver's seat ($169).
Power river's seat recliner ($130).
Leather-trimmed steering wheel ($79).
Tilt/telescope steering wheel ($147).
Theft deterrent system ($157).
Guidematic headlamp control ($78).
Trumpet horn ($28).
Thermometer on left mirror ($35).
Twin lighted vanity mirrors ($116).
Electronic-tuning seek/scan AM/FM stereo radio with 8-track tape player ($195); with 8-track and CB ($480);
Electronic-tuning seek/scan AM/FM stereo radio w/cassette ($281); w/cassette and CB ($547).
Two-tone paint: Firemist ($520)
Firemist paint ($208).
Door edge guards ($16-$24).
License frames, each ($11).
Front console: ($151).
Leather seating area ($439-$595).
Carpeted rubber floor mats: front ($35-$38); rear ($20).
Trunk mat ($16).
Cast aluminum wheels: (NC).
Locking wire wheel covers ($266-$328).
Puncture-sealing tires ($106).

PREVIOUS: History of the 1980 Cadillac NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac Seville NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac DeVille NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac Eldorado NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac Fleetwood NEXT: History of the 1981 Cadillac Overview NEXT: History of the 1982 Cadillac

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May 11, 2000; March 8/03