1985 CADILLAC


Front-wheel drive now became the rule at Cadillac, as in nearly all other makes. Two grand old names, DeVille and Fleetwood, made the switch this year. All Cadillacs except the subcompact Cimarron (and carryover rear-drive Brougham) now carried a transverse-mounted, fuel-injected 4.1 liter V-8 engine with die-cast aluminum-block. Two safety improvements arrived this year: anti-lacerative windshield glass (with inner layer of two-part plastic) on Seville's Elegante, plus a high-mount stop lamp on all DeVilles and Fleetwoods. That stop lamp would become required on all cars for 1986.

I.D. DATA

Cadillacs again had a 17-symbol Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), stamped on a metal tag attached to the upper left surface of the cowl, visible through the windshield. Coding changed to reflect the new front-drive models.
The first character is a "1" to indicate the manufacturing country (U.S.A.)
The second character is a "G" for General Motors
The third is a "6" for Cadillac Division
Character four is the car line (GM body):
  • "J" = Cimarron
  • "K" = Seville
  • "C" = Deville/Fleetwood
  • "D" = Brougham
  • "E" = Eldorado
Character five indicates series:
  • "G" = Cimarron
  • "S" = Seville
  • "D" = DeVille
  • "B" = Fleetwood
  • "H" = Fleetwood limousine
  • "W" = Fleetwood Brougham (rear drive)
  • "L" = Eldorado
Digits six and seven indicate body type:
  • "47" = 2-dr. coupe
  • "69" = 4-dr. sedan
  • "23" = eight passenger limousine
  • "33" = formal limousine
  • "57" = Eldorado coupe
  • "67" = Eldorado convertible
Next is the engine code:
  • "P" = L4-121 TBI
  • "W" = V6-173 FI
  • "8" = V8-249 DFI
  • "T" = V6-262 diesel
  • "N" = V8-350 diesel
The next symbol is a check digit.
Symbol ten indicates model year ("F" = 1985)
Next is a code for assembly plant:
  • "9" = Detroit
  • "E" = Linden, NJ
  • "J" = Janesville, WI.
Finally comes a six-digit production sequence number
  • starting with 000001 for Detroit built cars
  • 400001 for Janesville
  • 600001 for Linden (E-body)
  • 800001 for Linden (K-body)
An identifying number is also on the engine, and a set of codes on a body number plate.

HISTORICAL


LITERATURE & LINKS




1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988