When I was a kid, my parents purchased a brand new 1974 Coupe de Ville. What a WONDERFUL CAR that was!!!! So comfortable, especially on long trips. It was by far, the best car we ever had while I was growing up. I was extremely fond of the new interior as well, as it was a massive improvement from the 73, which looked far less impressive and far more low rent, and it should’ve looked that way, as it was practically pulled out from numerous other large GM vehicles. In 74, Cadillac FINALLY gave their cars their own unique interiors, which they should have had over the entire history of the brand. The 74 through 76 were simply the best looking luxury cars available for sale that were built in North America. But that wasn’t going to last. For 77, Cadillac did a major shrinkage to these models, leaving only the gorgeous Eldorado to solider on. The Eldorado was by far, the best looking car Cadillac was building anyhow, and as nice as this 76 looks, the Eldorado was significantly better looking. But the gig was up. And why? Because for 1977, FORD’s Lincoln division introduced the all new Lincoln MARK V. Suddenly, the Cadillac looked much older and far less glamorous. The Lincoln Mark V, especially in the Diamond Jubilee trim, was simply the new bench mark for luxury cars in the United States. Not only did it look far more polished and impressive, its workmanship and material quality were light years ahead of anything Cadillac had ever built to that time frame. And those Lincoln’s certainly outsold the Cadillac’s as well, despite their slightly higher price. Incidentally, the Diamond Jubilee version was the most expensive vehicle being produced and sold in the United States. That option alone cost a whopping $8000, and that was in 1978. The Lincoln got better gas mileage as well. Luckily for Cadillac, the Lincoln Mark IV wasn’t nearly as nice as the MARK V. Keep up the great work. I love watching your videos, especially those on the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s land yachts. While I don’t currently own one, I’m in the market for a 78 Lincoln Diamond Jubilee or Eldorado. BTW, I’m taking it that that’s your home in the background. It’s absolutely beautiful. You should definitely be very proud of it. Be proud of your accomplishments with your videos as well. They’re exceptional. There’s something about your demeanor that makes you feel like I’ve known you for years. You’re very approachable and easy going. I’m glad to be one of your channel’s followers.
I used to have one of these. Though mine was a '74. I loved driving it and the car got PHENOMENAL mileage for the huge beast she was! We only used it for long trips and it was perfect. The kids would unfold the jump seats with one facing backwards. Then they would play board games. They had a ball back there in that huge rear seat! A great car for family road trips!
That is really neat! It certainly makes for a great road trip car, there's so much room. And that's neat one of the jump seats faced backwards! Is that something you added yourself?
.@@ThatShitGood Like riding on a cloud! The steering was rock solid. If your car doesn't ride well, check the tires and shocks. Shaking and vibration in a Cadillac is usually an imbalanced tire, a bent rim, or shocks. Then have the front end aligned, provided you can find someone who is able to deal with a vehicle this size. I also had a '72 Brougham and a '74 Coupe DeVille both a delight to drive. Actually they were easier to drive than the Fleetwood which had such a loooong wheelbase. Watch out for chuckholes, potholes, and don't take it off pavement if you can help it. They all mess with the front end alignment. I miss my old aristocrats. However couldn't afford to maintain them anymore. Went to Studebakers. Better parts supply and far less expensive to maintain.
@@JW_Reviews I have it in my driveway as I write this. I drove it back from Pennsylvania to Connecticut (230 miles) and it was heaven. I got a whopping 12 MPG!! It cost me $99.90 to fill it from a quarter tank and another $74.00 to fill it when I got home. OUCH! The car is in showroom condition and I love it.
Ive ridden in a number of front drive Eldorados Fleetwoods and Devilles when I was younger (im 64) and in every case the rear wheel drive versions always had a little better ride than the frpmt wheel drive Eldorado because the Eldorado had a massive amount of weight over the front wheels as the transmission and the engine were both in one unit over the front wheels as well as the axles etc, the Eldorados also had the beefiest front wheel drive axles ive ever seen on any car. Eldo's and Olds Toronados also were harder on front front suspension and drive parts due to the immense weight of these cars - but you know what I feel so lucky to have gotten to ride in and own so many of the big GM cars of the late 60's and early 70's, you could take a thousand mile trip and not feel like youre beat to death like in todays tightly suspended road noisy roller skate cars. I had an uncle who was a fan of the Oldsmobile 98's and he always bought a new one every two years because he piled up a lot of miles in his work as an industrial welder, those 98's were damn nice too and great highway cars that cost less to buy and maintain than the Cadillacs but going down the highway they felt 90 - 95% of what the Cadillac Devilles did, had an excellent 455 four barrel V8 with good torque, very quiet with great ride and low road noise that also made them excellent highway cars. sadly we will never see cars like these again, nothing but hyper-overpriced overly govt. mandated frameless break down prone plastic filled junk with admittedly better gas mileage but far less comfort and very little room like the older full size cars
Back in the days when GM was making REAL Cadillacs, very far from the actual copycats of Asian and European luxury sedans with soulless alphanumeric denominations in their current lineup.
@billhowes7464 then destroyed their reputation in the 2000s with the devile with the 4.6 NoRtH sTaR you litterly would probably be better off taking a 4.8 out of a silverado and throw it in
75-76 was the absolute pinnacle of Cadillac as far as I'm concerned, and they pulled of yet another absolute home run when they downsized in 77, which is not usually the case for car manufacturers. My mom inherited the 77 Sedan DeVille after her mother passed and we loved that car. I gladly borrowed it to drive to high school sometimes (late 80s).
Caddy handled downsizing real well, first with the Seville then with the 79 ElDorado.. Lincoln not so well with downsizing at the time and Chrysler was just lost in the 70s.
Gotta disagree. While they were certainly great years, the 77 and 78 Eldorado was their best car ever. Although, the brand new and vastly smaller Seville was also a beautiful car. It was downsizing done right.
I watch a lot of car RUclipss. I think I’ve seen almost every series 75 RUclips. This is bar far, not only the best series 75 review but the best car review period! I’m very proud of you. Outstanding job doing your research, audio/ video quality, music etc! Your videos keep getting better!!!
@@JW_Reviews that's nice to see a comment from your father. It was a great review if an extremely nice car. I especially liked the covered rest window. My late Mother and I fir about 10 years had a 76 Fleetwood 60 with most of those same options so it was nice to see this longer version. It made me melancholy for Mother and the car. Enjoyed it lots. Best Wishes.
Your video takes me back. I grew up in a professional car family business and used to play in and drive all kinds of limousines, hearses & ambulances...mostly Cadillacs. For a while when I was younger I drove a 1974 Cadillac series 75 formal limousine. You'd be surprised how many people - and a keg of beer - will fit.
LOVE all your reviews of the old Caddy's. These were the Caddy's when I was young and they were the BEST and most BEAUITFUL. !!! You also give GREAT Reviews of these BEAUITFUL Cadillacs. !!!! Good Job Man. !!!!!
@@JW_Reviews Thanks Again James, where do you get them....? Are they ever for sale....? This was the BEST Cadillac ever made I believe... simply Incredible. I currently own a 1990 Brougham in MINT Condition. These Caddy's were the utmost in luxury James.....Beautiful CARS.. !!!!!
You're very welcome! Some of these cars come from people I meet, friends, or are cars that I buy/sell. I've been extremely blessed and fortunate with the help I've had to even have these cars to review. It's been a really incredible experience. And this is definitely the pinnacle of luxury! I'm glad you like it so much. And that's very nice! I actually just parked by a white mid to late 80's Brougham which looked beautiful, they are really nice cars and it sounds like yours is fantastic. What is the color combo of the car?
@@JW_Reviews Yes Sir mine is the Beautiful Silver Frost Color.....I wanted triple black but could not find one ....It is really Beautiful James...Glad your car review channel is going so great.....the focus on the Cadillacs is SO AWESOME.....you would not believe how many people out there are in love with these old Cadillacs. I have loved them my whole life. Please let me know if you ever plan to sell any of your collection. Cant wait for your next Caddy review. Thanks... :)
Very nice! Sounds beautiful. And yes, I'm surprised at just how many people out there love these Cadillacs! It definitely makes me very happy 😁 I'll be sure to let you know! Thanks again, John!
A good friend of mine owned one of these beautiful automobiles. I was lucky enough to both ride as a rear passenger in it, as well as drive him in it a few times when he needed a driver available last minute as not just anyone can handle a car this large--especially parking & backing!!(the vinyl top created an enormous blind spot!) It was a beautifully awesome auto that oozed class for all to admire! Love it!! Thanks for the video!!
Hi James. I was originally looking for a video of a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham to show my 20 year old son. If I was lucky, I would find a video in the same dark blue exterior color and blue "velour" interior color of the car my dad once had. My dad bought a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in late 1975 and I remember vividly the new car sticker indicating a $11,700 price. I was 19 years old at the time and marveled at this car for many of the reasons you point out. So imagine my delight when I found your video highlighting a car that, in virtually every way, is a copy of my dad's car, even in color (minus the Series 75 aspect and the 8-track). This video served my original purpose of showing my son what his grandfather's Cadillac looked like. However the biggest bonus from watching your video was discovering how incredibly well done it was. the level of detail you included and the way it was presented was probably the closest this car could be experienced without physically being there. I've watch hundreds of car videos and I would rate yours easily in the top 1 %. I can see why your dad is proud of the work you did on this video. By the way, my parents moved to a small town in Michigan in 1966 and were living there when they bought their Cadillac. Even though we were from Michigan, the town they lived in (my hometown, where my 85 year old mom still lives) was only 25 feet from the Ohio border, so their Cadillac spent much of its time driving on country roads in Ohio very much like those depicted in your video. Thank you for bringing us a superbly well done video that brought back fond memories of the time when my dad owned his Fleetwood.
You are right! I was at the N.Y.C. auto show in that year The last classic car show that showed full sized cars.Too bad I did not think of bringing my camera. Would have taken many pictures.
I LOVE the video. I’m so happy you made this video. I think I’ve watched every series 75 RUclips made and this, by far, explains better an any other. Thank you so much!
I'm so glad you love the video! I knew that you've been wanting to see a Fleetwood Series 75 video for a long time, I'm so glad you like it 😁 Thanks dad!
I grew up with a 76 Fleetwood brougham from Texas . My dad bought it for my mom. Tons of memories from the early 80`s . We drove it from BC to Alberta more than once to see the dinosaurs in Drumheller. Baby Blue with a dark blue corduroy like interior and a dark blue top .Salty air from the ocean didn't do it any favours and the motor and body quit by the late 80`s. I was between the ages of 4 to 11 when we had it . The badge stuck in my mind and ive owed nothing but Cadillac's since . Id love to own one for myself but that 500 is thirsty and id be driving around the ghosts of my past . Great cars though , this one is a beauty .
So cool to hear your stories about your family's 76 Fleetwood! I love hearing stories like that and the experiences people have with these cars. What sorts of Cadillacs have you owned? And thank you! This Series 75 truly is a great car 😎
@@JW_Reviews hey, thanks for the reply . I've had a 77 sedan . Had a beauty of a 78 coupe DeVille . A 1990 sedan . A 95 Concourse . A 1969 Fleetwood and currently a 2011 STS and a 1961 black 6 window sedan . I'm tall so leg room is important . Cheers !
It certainly is nice to look at and is quite a large car to drive around. I failed to mention this in the video, but this is the longest production car ever built which is pretty amazing!
@@JW_Reviews I used to own a '76 Olds Ninety-Eight (donated it to a church several years ago). I loved the car, loved the ride, and it handled decently, but in today's fast & furious traffic, without modern collision avoidance or even anti-lock brakes, it was dangerous to drive. I regret getting rid of it now; I should have put it into storage. Thanks for sharing the video of this Cadillac; it is glorious!
My horn does go off. My folks bought a 74 Fleetwood brougham loaded. It had the foot rests and talisman version with the front console notepad etc. CB too. It was like this one. Total comfort. I loved it but so huge!
..... Dios santo!..... Que preciocidad!..... que perfección!..... Un auto muy hermoso!, Felicidades por presentarlo!... Saludos y bendiciones desde el primer municipio de la América continental, La Antigua Veracruz México.
It just keeps getting better and better, just keep up the good work! I see no reason you shouldn't have your viewers in the hundreds of thousands eventually.
I'm so glad you enjoy the videos, we'll see how far the channel goes, it is exciting seeing the growth it's already had 😁 Thank you so much for the support!
In 1978 I got my grandfather's 1970 sedan deVille to drive when I turned 16. It was a tank, but it floated down the road. I was probably the only 16 year old that wore both the lap and shoulder belts in that car, but they really enhanced the handling and feel of the car.
@@JW_Reviews It was an awesome car. I had a lead foot and the car responded well, hence I wore both the lap and shoulder belts which was about the only smart thing I ever did in that car. LOL
James, I really enjoyed this video. You look so comfy cozy in the back seat, maybe a bit under dressed for the car, but whatever! You are such a nice Ohio guy and you make high quality videos. This one brought back many memories from way back in the 70s when I worked for a dealership and we delivered a few of those series 75s to shady characters in Florida. I remember going through Savannah and people would lean over and stare at the car at every stop light. That was before Savannah was brought into the 20th century. Have you ever driven/reviewed the 1976 - 1979 Cadillac Seville? That was my all time favorite GM car for styling. I had one and sold it back in the 90s. Still think about it. Not many of those around now. So, thanks and keep those videos coming.
I’m glad you liked the video, James! The back seat was certainly beyond comfortable haha. That’s neat that you had first-hand experiences with these cars when they were new! I’m sure that they must have gotten sooo many stares. And I’m afraid that I haven’t had any experience with Seville’s of this era. They are beautiful cars though, several members of our Cadillac club own them and I get to see them every so often. Thanks again, James! I’ll certainly keep the videos coming 😄
Great video presentation. As you can see, I have a '78 which is slightly shorter. Bought it out of Nevada in 2004. Relaxing in the back seat with someone else driving is the ultimate way to enjoy these cars, as you alluded to. Twenty years before I purchased my Fleetwood we were building a garage behind our home here in New Zealand. My father asked me why I wanted the garage built so long. One day a Cadillac is going in here, I confidently replied.
Thank you, Bruce! That is a really neat story, I still like the looks of the newer Series 75's a lot. And these Cadillacs do require long garages lol. Thanks again for the comment and for watching the video!
@@JW_Reviews I don't think I ever realized these special cars had tradition frameless front door glass but framed rear-door windows... hmm, interesting.
I didn't know that either until I first saw this car haha. It may have only come with the Fleetwood Series 75's rather than the Fleetwoods which could be why it is relatively unknown
James, I've really enjoyed watching your car reviews. My dad had some Cadillacs when I was young starting with a 64 Deville, 64 limousine, 69 Fleetwood Brougham, my favorite, and then a 71 limousine. I actually ended up owning a 2000 Catera recently which had very low miles, but sat for a long time and some of the common over heating issues I read about online and got rid of it. I really liked the ride of the car, and the fact that it was pretty solid. When I was young I really enjoyed washing and waxing them and would notice all the attention to detail that you highlight in your reviews, thank you for taking me back to my youth when cars were made to last.
Thank you, Doug! Ooh, those are some very nice cars. My dads first vehicle was a '69 Fleetwood Brougham and he absolutely loved it! Very cool! I've only seen a few Catera's in person and have never been in one. I'm so glad the videos bring back some memories 😁
Cadillac's Series 75s were unique automobiles about which comparatively little has been written. Thank you for this great story and for all the details about the car's features and history.
You're so welcome! I agree, I'm surprised at how little contemporary work is shown about these vehicles. They are so special and deserve to be known! Thank you so much for watching the video, Henry! 😁
James, your video was exceptionally great. My family back in the 70’s had a 1972 Fleetwood Brougham. You pointedly the all the features well. I’m going to check out your other videos.
Thank you, Mark! I bet this car brought back some memories for you, I assume it is fairly similar to the ‘72 Fleetwood. Thanks again for commenting and for watching the video!
I drove a 1973 Coupe dé Ville for 9 years and later had a 1978 Fleetwood 75 limousine for a number of years. It was a $244,500.00 car, when it was new in 1978 in Denmark. I bought it in 1998, when it was still prestine. It was black with grey velour interior and completely original with no boomerang or other unsuitable things added. We enjoyed it very much. If you can find a chauffeur who understands the limousine driving style, these limousines are the ultimate cars to be driven in. I plan on getting back to having a private limousine and the 1975/76 models are no 2 and 3 on my list, only topped by the 1973 model.
Incredible! I’m sure that the high cost was due to shipping, that must have made it a VERY rare car. But that’s incredible you had one, it sounds beautiful. Let me know if you ever do buy another one someday! Maybe you’ll be able to get a chauffeur for the car too haha. Thanks for watching the video!
@@JW_Reviews Shipping is less than $2.000. We have high car registration taxes. A 1978 Cadillac Fleetwood or Lincoln Town Car had a sticker price at around $75,000 in 1978. 1986 I imported a 1973 Cadillac Coupé de Ville and was charged $14,500 in registration tax - because it came from the UK. Had it come directly from the US, it would have been 10% more, because you pay EU and Danish V.A.T. on the shipment charge as well. 2002 I imported my current Mark IV. Purchase price was $3,700 in Florida. No sales tax in Florida, because the car was not licensed. Shipment roll-on/roll-off ferry $1,491 EU + DK V.A.T. $2,182 Registration Tax $8,920 Registrered to drive = $16,293 Even with added travel expenses for myself, this was a bargain price back then. A dealer would have charged around $10K more. I am glad I did it, because the prices in the US have gone up since.
Great video! My uncle had a new '76 Cadillac Fleetwood back in the late 70's when i was a kid. His was baby blue with a navy blue interior. Thanks for sharing. BTW...your'e super cute!
That's one of the most beautiful machines man has ever created. Terrific review. I would much rather watch someone who is wowed by it and is enjoying it, rather than a review by one of the bigger YT auto guys who would snicker and mock at it all the way through his video.
Thanks, James. You're thorough and pleasant. When I was in high school (graduated '68), our family car was a '60 Fleetwood Seventy-five. There were six of us teenagers, plus Mom and Pop, of course. The car took us to dinner, to the store, to the beach. We got used to it. I loved it. Keep bringing the videos.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video, William! And that is a VERY cool family car. Must have been a lot of fun! (Hopefully you didn't have to take your drivers license test with it though haha) And I'll be sure to keep these videos coming. Thanks for watching!
I agree! It is the longest production car in the world so it definitely has a stance which is completely unmatched. I'm sure you'll be able to own one someday 😁 Thank you for watching the video, Charles!
New subscriber here. Great video! So many younger people today have no idea what Cadillac was really all about when they made REAL Cadillacs. Instead of chasing BMW they should have focused on making better Cadillacs. People who want a BMW are going to buy a BMW. There are no longer any big, comfortable, powerful, smooth cars unless you get to the S Class Mercedes. The Cadillac CT6 that was briefly in production from 2016-2020 was probably the closest thing to the REAL Cadillacs they've produced since the 1970s. Cadillac lost their way not only trying to go after BMW but making everything front wheel drive and/or with garbage engines that were unreliable (V8-6-4, Olds 350 Diesel, HT4100 were all nightmares that replaced that 500 cu in motor). When you want a car that you can just relax in, that has comfortable seats that aren't designed to hug you at 100 mph on the Nurburgring, and a suspension that soaks up every bump instead of being able to corner at 100 mph, and an engine and transmission that are just superbly quiet, balanced, and move the car effortlessly without turbos or superchargers or gimmicks - that is what Cadillac should be.
Thank you so much for subscribing, Joe! Yes, a lot of people today are really missing out on what these cars have to offer. And that's a good point. I really did like the CT6 and thought it was a very good car. The Platinum trim came with some very nice and luxurious features. Hopefully Cadillac will build comfortable cars like this again in the future! Although it'll be very expensive, I'm hoping that the Celestiq will at least be a little bit like that. Thank you for watching the video and for subscribing, I really appreciate the support 😁
That's exactly right! Most of the people who purchased these cars definitely had a lot of money to go around lol. Thank you for watching the video, David!
What a great example of the 70's Cadillacs. That one in particular is very rare. I could see as you drove the vibration on the steering wheel. Those cars were built to drive smoothly even on not well-kept country roads. You might want to look into new shocks and ball joints. It would make such a difference you wouldn't even recognize the same car. It would blow you away. If a car of that weight and size has 100k on it I would take a bet it needs them if those are original to the car Now about the padded roof. 2000 dollars even for 76 was not a bad price if you knew what it entailed. The top took a ton more material than the standard sedan and it required a special reduced framing around the rear window to accommodate great privacy The interior covering the rear third window had to be made separately to cover that monster scenic cruiser glass that exposed the occupant who requested privacy. It wasn't designed to keep people from looking out, it was designed to keep "plebs" from gawking in. The headliners had to be custom-made to accommodate all the rear air conditioning vents and notice the extra padding in the ceiling rear area to control road noise. Custom interior rear window framing was also necessary to accommodate the reduced window size to maintain privacy. I used to own one of the early 90's Lincon town cars that ford built with the presidential roof line which covered the opera window" and a vastly reduced rear window. I always thought leaving out that silly window made the car look much more opulent. Lincoln didn't make many of those rooflines before farming the project out to the aftermarket. The front grill and square headlights were a great improvement on the 76 from the 1974 model. The 76 was far more sophisticated over say the 74, as it took on a much more refined appearance. Thanks for sharing this great video with us. It was great fun.
James, your videos are the best! This video on the Series 75 is the best of the best. I’m sure I’ve watched this at lease 25 times and will continue watching. I LOVE it!😎
something extra special about '75 & '76, and when you pull up in one, people know you've 'arrived'. these cars are like fine jewelry that grace a driveway. that shot at 3:25 is astounding, I can just picture a visage of this car at 70mph slicing through the air like a black jetliner.
Yeah, that "boaty" ride is something you just don't get today. Our family in the seventies had a 1974 Oldsmobile 98, and we had relatives with 1976 Chrysler New Yorkers and 1979 Lincoln Town Cars and they just floated down the road. The 1977 GM downsizing, while substantial on the outside, was actually very popular. It wasn't until the max-downsizing of the mid-eighties, the one that brought Cadillacs down to sizes that would have been considered compact in the mid-seventies, that sales dropped.
Very interesting stuff! First, I've heard a lot of good stuff about Oldsmobile 98's. I actually got to sit in one from the late 60's which was highly optioned and absolutely mint on the inside. It actually felt nicer than many Cadillacs I've been in from the era! That's very interesting that the downsizing was successful. I've heard stories about many people getting upset of GM and Cadillac downsizing and moving to brands such as Lincoln and Chrysler who didn't downsize for another year or two. And so many Cadillacs and other vehicles from the mid 80's seem way to small to me so I can see why people didn't like it much haha. Thank you so much for that info, I really enjoyed reading what you had to say!
In 1986 I was shopping for an Oldsmobile 98. A friend worked for an Oldsmobile dealership. He had a Delta 88 Royale Brougham. It was a prototype car that was optioned like you wouldn't believe. They would try out features to be standard on Buick and Cadillac if they worked out. The seats in that car were the most comfortable of any car I've owned. Pillow top plush. I really miss that car. So many great features. Had p
Series 75 designation was dropped for 1977-1984 model years. In those years, the long wheelbase models were simply called "Fleetwood Limousine" & "Fleetwood Formal Limousine" (w/division window). Vinyl roof was optional in 1976- two styles were offered. The roof on this car is the more expensive Landau roof option which could be ordered with or without Landau irons. The rear side windows were eliminated with this roof which was more thickly padded in addition to extending further into the glass area of the rear windshield for maximum privacy. The front compartment of the Series 75 Limousine (which in 1976 distinguished the model with division window between chauffeur and rear compartments) is upholstered in black leather. The car in the video is the Series 75 Eight Passenger Sedan (not Limousine) in which the same (cloth) upholstery is used throughout. Power recliners were not available in 1976. "Medici" (cloth) is pronounced MED-ichy. Thanks.
interesting, I wonder why they got rid of the series 75 name after all those years… Do you know why they were called Series 75’s? I was never sure what the 75 stands for. And thank you for that info about the vinyl tops! But I’m not even sure what landau irons are… Is that something that is visible?
@@JW_Reviews That gets into some prewar Cadillac model name history when there were Series 90, Series 75, Series 67, Series (Fleetwood) Sixty Special, Series 62 and Series 61 models. Year by years, these models were eliminated one by one as models were either discontinued or names reshuffled. The series numbers loosely referred to the length of the bodies and/or wheelbase. By 1965, only the Series 75 and Fleetwood Sixty Special (Brougham) designations remained which lasted until 1976. By 1977 my guess is that Division evidently felt it simpler to call them "Fleetwood Limousine" and "Fleetwood Brougham" which is how most of the general public was calling them by then. However in 1985, Cadillac revived the Series 75 designation for the new downsized FWD long wheelbase Limousine models and 60 Special in 1987 & 1988 (not a "Brougham" however which was the older style large RWD body) for the newly introduced FWD Fleetwood with special 4" longer wheelbase. (Cadillac is often tradition-minded). Landau Irons are S-shaped bars which were part of the mechanism that allowed the REAR roof to be lowered on certain body styles of cars from the classic era (ie late '20/early '30s) which was referred to as "landau roof" and sometimes as "transformable Brougham". On later cars the landau irons were a stylistic nod to this classic feature of the past although they were purely decorative by this point.
Wow, I'm very impressed by what you know! I unfortunately don't know much about pre-war Cadillacs or those made soon after the war. Ah, I think I've seen a few photos of Fleetwood Series 75's with the landau irons, it definitely gives the car a formal look. Thank you so much for the informative comment, I'm glad I could learn a little about the history of the Series 75 name!
The '69 was sturdier, less plastic. '69 was the final years for real wood laminate on the door panels and dashboard. However, the '75 was much less clunky looking. Both were Sedans rather than limousines. I prefereed the 472 to the 500ci engine as the later got a bit better mpg.
I just discovered your channel through a mutual friend. Absolutely love the content. This Cadillac is amazing. I definitely look forward to more videos.
That's awesome to hear! I'm glad that they recommended the channel to you 😁 Thank you very much, Thomas. It really is an incredible car! And I'll be sure to bring more videos to the channel soon. Thanks for watching!
Great video! I grew up in heavy iron, and worked on a lot of this generation of Caddies. The loose steering is most likely a worn out center link in the steering linkage, and maybe could use a slight tweak on the steering gear itself. If it was all 100%, it would be perfect steering, I promise you. I admit to chuckling over your fascination with the floor mounted dimmer switches. Please keep them coming!
Thanks for the info! There is definitely several things that need to be worked on with this car which would certainly improve the steering and ride. Thank you for watching the video, I'll be sure to make more videos just like this one 😁
Your video brings back many great memories of driving those cars when they were new. I offer these observations. There was no wood in the car - only plastic. The 8.2 Liter v-8 had reduced compression from prior years but ran so smoothly, you might not realize it was running. The Cruise Control has a "Resume" function if you only slightly depress the button on the turn signal stalk to resume a previously selected speed so long as the ignition has not been turned off. Once the car attains speed, the slight depression should cause the car to accelerate. Activation of the interior lights and the keyhole lamps was courtesy of Cadillac's Illuminated Entry System. Cadillac called the three lights on top of each front fender "Illuminated Lamp Monitors." They came with two red lamps above the middle of the rear window which were visible in the rearview mirror so that you knew the taillights were functioning. The rear doors used what Cadillac called a "door into roof" design for less wind noise and easier ingress and egress from the car. The toggle switch on the lower dash was for driver activation of the Jubilee alarm system. What is the function of the second hole in the fender next to the alarm? Given that the original owner paid a 10% premium to cover the rear windows, it is odd that the car does not have the Guide-Matic Automatic Headlamp Dimmer which was a staple on Cadillacs since the introduction of the Autronic Eye in 1952. It is also odd that they opted for no rear defog and not to install an Astoroof (Cadillac's glass sunroof). The switched lamp on the inside of the Driver's door and the one on the dash in front of the passenger seat are "Map Lights" to more easily read a map at night without turning all of the interior lights on. The fender panel that was removed is generally referred to as a "fender skirt." Cadillacs had a rear fuel fill behind the license plate from 1963, through the mid-1980'5 on the full-size cars.
Thank you for all those facts! Pretty neat to hear of all those features 😁 And that makes sense that the toggle switch was for the alarm system as that seemed to be the only thing added to the car
My Dad had a 76 deville in the same colour scheme, I found it years later and bought it back. Thanks for making this video, it brought back so many memories :-)
I used to think that these Fleetwood 75 Cadillacs were very heavy until we got one in our salvage yard. Our John Deere 544K loader lifted it with ease into the crusher. Then I put a Chevy suburban 4x4 on top and busted it down. Then I stacked 2 full size pickups on the Cady and Suburban and busted them down. It was a heavy bundle because my rear tires were coming off the ground. I like these old Cadillacs. My parents had a 1975 Sedan Deville back in the 70’s. The Fleetwood 75 is bigger than my parents car. I would like to own one of these in mint condition.
Wow that's amazing! And these are fun cars to own and drive. Unfortunately there probably aren't many mint-condition ones that go through your salvage yard haha. Thank you for watching the video!
When I was in High School I was frequently driven there in this vintage Caddy (it was current at the time). The seats were leather and of course we did not use the seat belts. I had very little traction with the seat of my pants so sliding back and forth across the seat was a common occurrence. I love old Cadillac's!
Honestly, I'm surprised that Cadillac didn't use the fwd system for their sedan devilles, fleetwoods, 75's, etc. The advantage is a flat floor allowing for a no-hump middle seat and an independent rear suspension possibility. These were never going to be race cars, and driving dynamics weren't important beyond being able to glide and waft along, very serenly. Thank you so much for finding and reviewing these otherwise nearly forgotten cars. I know it came down to cost, but once a customer is shown the advantage of fwd, independent rear suspension, and flat floor, I'll bet they would've gladly paid.
Had a 1967 fleetwood back in the early 80’s. To date it’s still one of my favorites. It was my daily driver, not terrible gas mileage as you think but I drove it with conserving on fuel. Loved the power it had, it cruised at 75-80 all day long on the highway. Of the 1970’s the 74 is my favorite and last year for round headlights first year of that body style.
That's awesome! My dad's first car was a 1969 Fleetwood and he loved the power it had too. It was a great college car/daily driver for him. Thank you again for watching the videos!
Tremendous presentation, very informative. I have two series 75 s, a 72 limousine, 76 series 75 sedan, 87 6 door Hess and Eisenhardt, other Cadillacs also. Thanks so much, Joe Caliri, Raymond, N H.
Thank you, Joe! Wow, I’d absolutely love to see your collection. I really like big cars like those! Thanks for commenting and for watching the video, I really appreciate the support 😄
@@JW_Reviews You're a gifted reviewer! I love the random wood inlays in the door panels. The '74 Fleetwood had ones that looked like rosettes, but I think they changed them each year.
You have a hit on your hands. Others like Demuro are insulting and shrill. You are distractingly handsome, have a great countenance to your voice and hit on all the correct information in a thoughtful and thorough manner. Keep up the good work. I'll look forward to your videos.
Thank you, Tom! The video is definitely doing well, which is a very nice surprise 😁 I'm glad there's so much you like from these videos! I'll be sure to keep them coming. Thanks again, I really appreciate the support!
52 years in funeral service and I have driven a lot of Cadillacs. I have enjoyed your review. There are a few things that I would like to mention. Those of us that drove these daily will all remember how prone they were to overheat in hot weather especially if sitting in traffic. This was from '68 thru to '76. (the 472 and 500 V-8's). Cadillac knew it was a problem but never could be talked into a cooling-system re-design. Even an added electric radiator fan would have helped. It was a real issue for us as getting stalled in a funeral procession with an over-heated car was NOT good! Even worse were the hearses! This was really frustrating after 1973 because the Government forced them to kill the horsepower. The '74-'76 just felt way underpowered which was NOT what Cadillac owners were used to. We were used to road-pounding power. 6MPG with 93 Octane fuel and a lame engine did not make Cadillac too many friends. Without a doubt, they were the quietest, most comfortable and best riding cars of their day. BTW "cornering lights" ought to be mandatory on all cars. They greatly improve night vision into the turn and are great for seeing house numbers if looking at night! They also indicate to the person beside you that your are signaling a turn. In spite of the tremendous length they were easy to park-------but--------by the 1980's parking spaces began to shrink. We kept our '75 and '76 FW75's about 5 years. The stand-up wreath and crest did not become popular until the '71 Eldo. and the "Super-Fly" era. The Government stepped in and forced everybody with stand-up medallions to make them spring-loaded for safety in case they hit a pedestrian. Most people didn't care about a stand-up medallion because it was assumed you knew what you were riding in to begin with. Most believed them to be garish and tacky. It was a big shock when the '77's came out----but----we actually came to like them. Even though the roof was too low, the much improved fuel mileage and the nimble handling more than made up for it. They were also lighter and quicker and got much better MPG. The 1980 75 Series were really very good. They finally seemed to get it all right. Looking forward to more reviews!
Those are great points to mention, Steve! That would be a major problem if the cars were to overheat during services. Interesting that Cadillac didn't do more to prevent that sooner. Thank you so much for the comment, the interesting points that you brought forward, and for watching the video! I really appreciate the support 😁
the blind c-pillar gives it a real unique look...you'd have thought that if the original owner was that concerned about privacy they would have bought the limousine with its divider...maybe the blind pillar wasn't available on the limo. great car...fun vid. thx for showing.
That’s what I thought as well! If it was a chauffeur car then it would have most certainly been ordered as the formal version. It is possible that it was both a chauffeur car and a driver car for the owner. And I’m really glad you liked the video and the car. Thank you for watching the video, Steve!
Ohh how it brings back my childhood love for this model of Cadi when i was 12 years old , i was opssesed with it"s luxurios flat front end along with the gorgious bumper , and the interior as well . thanks a ton .
The info that you have heard about a more powerful engine is probably referring to the optional digital fuel injection. That option added about 20 more HP over the carbureted version.
Engines in the '70's need internal engine mods to bump MPG up from 8's to around 15 - 16 MPG... I think big Caddy's got TBI (2 injectors) and Sevilles got Port Injection (8 injectors) on an Olds 350" V8...
Throughout the 70's emissions restrictions forced most of these formerly powerful engines to be detuned. This is why nearly each year, the HP drop increased.
It's pretty crazy that you can't buy a decent Cadillac today. Your exactly right that this car is more comfortable and rides nicer than today's luxury vehicles. The Escalades are the closest thing you can find but they ride more like a truck, I get a harsh ride in the back, your sitting right over the rear wheel.
Yes, no car today can match the room or ride feel of this car (unless if you're buying an extremely expensive Rolls Royce). And that's a good point, Escalades are the closest things to Cadillacs of the past but yet are still very far from being the same. Thank you for watching the video!
This is a fantastic example of a fantastic car. FYI, the regular 1976 Fleetwood, that is, the Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham, was 233.7 inches long, not 230.7 as stated in the video. The regular Fleetwood was on a frame that was stretched three inches beyond the other C-body Cadillacs, so that may explain the mistaken figure. The extra length for the regular Fleetwood was all in the wheelbase and can be seen mainly in the backseat as extended legroom and on the exterior through the inclusion of B-pillars (the others were hardtops) and larger rear doors. Though the regular Fleetwood was the most opulent "owner-driven" car, the platform was extended even further to create the D-body Fleetwood 75, as you show here, where the focus was more on being chauffeured.
It certainly is! That is correct, I'm afraid I got my numbers wrong. Their too big for me to remember correctly haha 😂 That's neat that the regular Fleetwoods were that much longer too. Thank you for the neat facts and for watching the video, David!
The most BEAUTIFUL car ever built... Grew up with my parents owning a 1975 model. We used to park in the limousine parking at the airport and never had an issue.
Wow, that's awesome you grew up with one of these! They have an awesome presence and ride that is unmatched by anything else. Thank you for watching the video, Jeremy 😁
It's so strange to watch someone from a different, and younger generation giving a car review for a car that was built when I was a young man. I remember these cars very well, in fact, my uncle had a 1967 Fleetwood Series 75 Cadillac. He bought it in 1969 with about 10-K on the odometer. His 67 Cadillac had a 428-ci Cadillac engine, (7-liter) with about 345-HP and 480-ft-lbs of torque. It was actually the very first car I had ever driven. It was the most beautiful, well-crafted automobile I have ever had the pleasure to drive! (Just a note to James: They had car antennas that were in the windshield glass as far back as the 1960s)
I'm glad that you liked the video and hearing what I had to say from my perspective 😁 Very nice! That Series 75 must have been an intimidating car to drive as a new driver, these cars are huge!!! Hopefully you didn't have to take your drivers license test in it too haha. Ah, I didn't know they had the ability to put antennas into glass back then, thank you so much for letting me know! And thank you for watching the video, I really appreciate the support
Gorgeous car, who would have imagined they would someday put this badge on a whored-up Suburban. Enjoy yiur channel very much, lots of interesting facts and info without the snark, silliness and mocking like too many other channels. You appreciate the car and thats awesome. Keep them coming 👌
Thank you so much, Devine! I’m glad you like the channel so much, I truly do appreciate the support. I’m looking forward to hearing from you again in future videos!
Great report James, some people forget that there are people who like quiet, comfort and smoothness. Not everyone wants pinpoint handling and rock hard suspension. The best I could get here in Malaysia was a Lexus and it is pretty good. but I love that Cadillac.
Yes, Lexus is definitely known for being quiet and comfortable! I think that there are lots of people out there who like cars just like that. Thank you so much for watching the video, Peter!
Bought a 1977 series 75 in triple black in early 2000s when I was in college. Lord the stories I could tell! It was the best $500.00 car I ever had!!! Still own it however the transmission is out. It was a blast to cruise in! Now I find out 1976 was better..... Oh well still a fun college ride! Thanks for all the information this is a great video!!!!
Haha that would be an AWESOME car to have in college! How many people did you fit in the back? 😂😂 I'm glad you liked the video and the information, these are great cars to learn about 😁
James, you are a very engaging host. I love spending time with you. I found your channel about 3 weeks ago. I am working my way through your content. This car, a Series 75, which is basically a factory limo, looks more like a giant private sedan because of the rear side window delete. I really like this version of this car. Thanks for bringing it to us. I would daily one of these.
Thanks so much for all the fun memories of growing up in a Cadillac family. I remember all those nicities. On the hood ornament according to Wikipedia, fixed hood ornaments were banned in 1968 for pedestrian safety. Thanks for the great memories!
You’re very welcome, Harry! These cars sure do bring back many memories for people which I really do enjoy. And thank you for that info about the hood ornament, I’ll be sure to mention that in the next one! Thank you so much for watching the video
AWESOME car and video! ! ! To me this car is the epitome of the Cadillac brand. My first car was a 74 Eldorado followed by a 73 Fleetwood, man I miss them! :(
Thank you!! I'm so glad you have a love for these cars and even owned a few. Its amazing the sort of experiences that these cars can bring us 😁 Thank you for watching the video!
I owned a 1976 coupe Deville in aqua marine blue with a white padded landaue roof an fully optioned. Was a great car and it jade the optional 500 cubic inch electronic fuel injected engine. Also had white leather interior. Really was a gorgeous car.
Wow, I absolutely love the combination of blue and white. It truly does sound gorgeous. It’s also rare to have fuel injection! Thank you, Dan, for telling me about your coupe Deville and for watching the video. I really appreciate the support!
Great car, great video. I also like the fact you replied to everyone's comments. I used to drive my father's '74 Fleetwood when I first started driving. So when you described the ride, I knew exactly what you were feeling.
Thank you! I'm glad you like the video and that I reply to comments. Responding to others who watch my videos has always been enjoyable and an important thing for me to do. I enjoy the conversations and love hearing new stories 😁 Thank you so much for the comment and for watching the video!
Beautiful car. I didn’t know rural Ohio was so beautiful. You the man! I wish I could have heard the car start up. The background music covered up the engine sound. Great video though.
Thank you! Yes, the area is definitely quite beautiful 😁 I'll be sure to pay attention to the engine start ups in the future and if it can be heard or not. Thank you for watching the video!
I owned a 73 Fleetwood Brougham De’Elegance. It had the crush velour interior. It had the flip down rear foot support like this one. I wished Cadillac had put an overhead map light in it. Like the other GM cars. When you would open the doors, it wasn’t real bright. It was a fun car to drive. People would ask me why I drove one of these and I’d tell them…. I could go spend my money on a new car, or have fun and buy gas for it. I also said it’s an insurance policy all in itself. The only things I feared were freight trains, 18wheelers and another Cadillac. 😜
That is so cool! Sounds beautiful and I agree, these are fun to drive!! Definitely so much fun and worth owning 😁 Definitely very few things on the road bigger than these haha. Thanks for watching the video!
When I was a kid, my parents purchased a brand new 1974 Coupe de Ville. What a WONDERFUL CAR that was!!!! So comfortable, especially on long trips. It was by far, the best car we ever had while I was growing up. I was extremely fond of the new interior as well, as it was a massive improvement from the 73, which looked far less impressive and far more low rent, and it should’ve looked that way, as it was practically pulled out from numerous other large GM vehicles. In 74, Cadillac FINALLY gave their cars their own unique interiors, which they should have had over the entire history of the brand. The 74 through 76 were simply the best looking luxury cars available for sale that were built in North America. But that wasn’t going to last. For 77, Cadillac did a major shrinkage to these models, leaving only the gorgeous Eldorado to solider on. The Eldorado was by far, the best looking car Cadillac was building anyhow, and as nice as this 76 looks, the Eldorado was significantly better looking. But the gig was up. And why?
Because for 1977, FORD’s Lincoln division introduced the all new Lincoln MARK V. Suddenly, the Cadillac looked much older and far less glamorous. The Lincoln Mark V, especially in the Diamond Jubilee trim, was simply the new bench mark for luxury cars in the United States. Not only did it look far more polished and impressive, its workmanship and material quality were light years ahead of anything Cadillac had ever built to that time frame. And those Lincoln’s certainly outsold the Cadillac’s as well, despite their slightly higher price. Incidentally, the Diamond Jubilee version was the most expensive vehicle being produced and sold in the United States. That option alone cost a whopping $8000, and that was in 1978. The Lincoln got better gas mileage as well. Luckily for Cadillac, the Lincoln Mark IV wasn’t nearly as nice as the MARK V.
Keep up the great work. I love watching your videos, especially those on the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s land yachts. While I don’t currently own one, I’m in the market for a 78 Lincoln Diamond Jubilee or Eldorado. BTW, I’m taking it that that’s your home in the background. It’s absolutely beautiful. You should definitely be very proud of it. Be proud of your accomplishments with your videos as well. They’re exceptional. There’s something about your demeanor that makes you feel like I’ve known you for years. You’re very approachable and easy going. I’m glad to be one of your channel’s followers.
I used to have one of these. Though mine was a '74. I loved driving it and the car got PHENOMENAL mileage for the huge beast she was! We only used it for long trips and it was perfect. The kids would unfold the jump seats with one facing backwards. Then they would play board games. They had a ball back there in that huge rear seat! A great car for family road trips!
That is really neat! It certainly makes for a great road trip car, there's so much room. And that's neat one of the jump seats faced backwards! Is that something you added yourself?
No, the Jump seats would pivot for vis-a-vis seating. I believe this was so that the seat belts could be used.
Was it comfortable for trips? For driver and passengers? Isn’t it shaky?
.@@ThatShitGood Like riding on a cloud! The steering was rock solid. If your car doesn't ride well, check the tires and shocks. Shaking and vibration in a Cadillac is usually an imbalanced tire, a bent rim, or shocks. Then have the front end aligned, provided you can find someone who is able to deal with a vehicle this size. I also had a '72 Brougham and a '74 Coupe DeVille both a delight to drive. Actually they were easier to drive than the Fleetwood which had such a loooong wheelbase. Watch out for chuckholes, potholes, and don't take it off pavement if you can help it. They all mess with the front end alignment. I miss my old aristocrats. However couldn't afford to maintain them anymore. Went to Studebakers. Better parts supply and far less expensive to maintain.
@@ronaldsmith6829 thanks for explaining man!🙏🏻
I just purchased a 1976 Fleetwood Brougham. I pick it up on Monday. I am so excited!
Congratulations!! I hope that you'll like the car, these Fleetwoods are fantastic 😁😁
@@JW_Reviews I have it in my driveway as I write this. I drove it back from Pennsylvania to Connecticut (230 miles) and it was heaven. I got a whopping 12 MPG!! It cost me $99.90 to fill it from a quarter tank and another $74.00 to fill it when I got home. OUCH! The car is in showroom condition and I love it.
Ive ridden in a number of front drive Eldorados Fleetwoods and Devilles when I was younger (im 64) and in every case the rear wheel drive versions always had a little better ride than the frpmt wheel drive Eldorado because the Eldorado had a massive amount of weight over the front wheels as the transmission and the engine were both in one unit over the front wheels as well as the axles etc, the Eldorados also had the beefiest front wheel drive axles ive ever seen on any car. Eldo's and Olds Toronados also were harder on front front suspension and drive parts due to the immense weight of these cars - but you know what I feel so lucky to have gotten to ride in and own so many of the big GM cars of the late 60's and early 70's, you could take a thousand mile trip and not feel like youre beat to death like in todays tightly suspended road noisy roller skate cars. I had an uncle who was a fan of the Oldsmobile 98's and he always bought a new one every two years because he piled up a lot of miles in his work as an industrial welder, those 98's were damn nice too and great highway cars that cost less to buy and maintain than the Cadillacs but going down the highway they felt 90 - 95% of what the Cadillac Devilles did, had an excellent 455 four barrel V8 with good torque, very quiet with great ride and low road noise that also made them excellent highway cars. sadly we will never see cars like these again, nothing but hyper-overpriced overly govt. mandated frameless break down prone plastic filled junk with admittedly better gas mileage but far less comfort and very little room like the older full size cars
Back in the days when GM was making REAL Cadillacs, very far from the actual copycats of Asian and European luxury sedans with soulless alphanumeric denominations in their current lineup.
That's for sure!! Thank you for watching the video, I really appreciate the support
Amen to that!. I had four Cadillacs in the '70s and early '80s when they still had the " Stand Out from the Pack" factor.
@billhowes7464 then destroyed their reputation in the 2000s with the devile with the 4.6 NoRtH sTaR you litterly would probably be better off taking a 4.8 out of a silverado and throw it in
GM couldn't beat Lexus. Now GM tries to copy Lexus. They are out off luck😁😁😁🤣🤣
@@AbdiPianoChannel
And lost their soul and essence in the process
75-76 was the absolute pinnacle of Cadillac as far as I'm concerned, and they pulled of yet another absolute home run when they downsized in 77, which is not usually the case for car manufacturers.
My mom inherited the 77 Sedan DeVille after her mother passed and we loved that car. I gladly borrowed it to drive to high school sometimes (late 80s).
Caddy handled downsizing real well, first with the Seville then with the 79 ElDorado.. Lincoln not so well with downsizing at the time and Chrysler was just lost in the 70s.
@@spudhandle Poor Chrysler 🤣
Yep, ‘76 was the last good year for Cadillacs, ever.
Gotta disagree. While they were certainly great years, the 77 and 78 Eldorado was their best car ever. Although, the brand new and vastly smaller Seville was also a beautiful car. It was downsizing done right.
After market stretches are no comparison, thanks for another cool review!
amen to that Joe. very true.
Very true! Definitely much better than any aftermarket vehicle. Thank you for watching, Joe!
I agree!
floating on clouds are real comfort luxury.
I dont understand people who dislike it.
I watch a lot of car RUclipss. I think I’ve seen almost every series 75 RUclips. This is bar far, not only the best series 75 review but the best car review period! I’m very proud of you. Outstanding job doing your research, audio/ video quality, music etc! Your videos keep getting better!!!
Thank you so much, dad! I'm so so glad you liked the video and think they're improving 😁😁
@@JW_Reviews that's nice to see a comment from your father. It was a great review if an extremely nice car. I especially liked the covered rest window. My late Mother and I fir about 10 years had a 76 Fleetwood 60 with most of those same options so it was nice to see this longer version. It made me melancholy for Mother and the car. Enjoyed it lots. Best Wishes.
only the music is terrible and too loud
Great!
I'm a Lincoln fan, but these Cadillacs are so luxurious, thanks much!
Your video takes me back. I grew up in a professional car family business and used to play in and drive all kinds of limousines, hearses & ambulances...mostly Cadillacs. For a while when I was younger I drove a 1974 Cadillac series 75 formal limousine. You'd be surprised how many people - and a keg of beer - will fit.
I'm so glad the video brought back some good memories 😁 Thank you so much for the comment and for watching the video, John!
LOVE all your reviews of the old Caddy's. These were the Caddy's when I was young and they were the BEST and most BEAUITFUL. !!! You also give GREAT Reviews of these BEAUITFUL Cadillacs. !!!! Good Job Man. !!!!!
Thanks again, John! I’m glad you like them so much and I’m so glad that I can review these cars and bring the video to people like you 😄
@@JW_Reviews Thanks Again James, where do you get them....? Are they ever for sale....? This was the BEST Cadillac ever made I believe... simply Incredible. I currently own a 1990 Brougham in MINT Condition. These Caddy's were the utmost in luxury James.....Beautiful CARS.. !!!!!
You're very welcome! Some of these cars come from people I meet, friends, or are cars that I buy/sell. I've been extremely blessed and fortunate with the help I've had to even have these cars to review. It's been a really incredible experience. And this is definitely the pinnacle of luxury! I'm glad you like it so much. And that's very nice! I actually just parked by a white mid to late 80's Brougham which looked beautiful, they are really nice cars and it sounds like yours is fantastic. What is the color combo of the car?
@@JW_Reviews Yes Sir mine is the Beautiful Silver Frost Color.....I wanted triple black but could not find one ....It is really Beautiful James...Glad your car review channel is going so great.....the focus on the Cadillacs is SO AWESOME.....you would not believe how many people out there are in love with these old Cadillacs. I have loved them my whole life. Please let me know if you ever plan to sell any of your collection. Cant wait for your next Caddy review. Thanks... :)
Very nice! Sounds beautiful. And yes, I'm surprised at just how many people out there love these Cadillacs! It definitely makes me very happy 😁 I'll be sure to let you know! Thanks again, John!
A good friend of mine owned one of these beautiful automobiles. I was lucky enough to both ride as a rear passenger in it, as well as drive him in it a few times when he needed a driver available last minute as not just anyone can handle a car this large--especially parking & backing!!(the vinyl top created an enormous blind spot!) It was a beautifully awesome auto that oozed class for all to admire! Love it!! Thanks for the video!!
Hi James. I was originally looking for a video of a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham to show my 20 year old son. If I was lucky, I would find a video in the same dark blue exterior color and blue "velour" interior color of the car my dad once had. My dad bought a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in late 1975 and I remember vividly the new car sticker indicating a $11,700 price. I was 19 years old at the time and marveled at this car for many of the reasons you point out. So imagine my delight when I found your video highlighting a car that, in virtually every way, is a copy of my dad's car, even in color (minus the Series 75 aspect and the 8-track). This video served my original purpose of showing my son what his grandfather's Cadillac looked like. However the biggest bonus from watching your video was discovering how incredibly well done it was. the level of detail you included and the way it was presented was probably the closest this car could be experienced without physically being there. I've watch hundreds of car videos and I would rate yours easily in the top 1 %. I can see why your dad is proud of the work you did on this video. By the way, my parents moved to a small town in Michigan in 1966 and were living there when they bought their Cadillac. Even though we were from Michigan, the town they lived in (my hometown, where my 85 year old mom still lives) was only 25 feet from the Ohio border, so their Cadillac spent much of its time driving on country roads in Ohio very much like those depicted in your video. Thank you for bringing us a superbly well done video that brought back fond memories of the time when my dad owned his Fleetwood.
Thank you for your kind comments
I had one the same year mine had the partition window between the passenger and driver. Loved that car, have many good memories.
Very nice! I'm glad the video brought back some good memories. Thank you so much for watching the video, Adam 😁
Just got a 1975 Fleetwood the clock does work! Its like new though. 20k miles I love it!!
Very well done. The final full size Fleetwood 75, the 1976. Excellent!
You are right! I was at the N.Y.C. auto show in that year The last classic car show that showed full sized cars.Too
bad I did not think of bringing my camera. Would have taken many pictures.
Thank you, Mark! I'm glad you liked the video and the car so much 😁
Wow that's awesome you saw these cars new at the show! That must have been quite the sight to behold. Thank you for watching the video, Luis!
I LOVE the video. I’m so happy you made this video. I think I’ve watched every series 75 RUclips made and this, by far, explains better an any other. Thank you so much!
I'm so glad you love the video! I knew that you've been wanting to see a Fleetwood Series 75 video for a long time, I'm so glad you like it 😁 Thanks dad!
I grew up with a 76 Fleetwood brougham from Texas . My dad bought it for my mom. Tons of memories from the early 80`s . We drove it from BC to Alberta more than once to see the dinosaurs in Drumheller. Baby Blue with a dark blue corduroy like interior and a dark blue top .Salty air from the ocean didn't do it any favours and the motor and body quit by the late 80`s. I was between the ages of 4 to 11 when we had it . The badge stuck in my mind and ive owed nothing but Cadillac's since . Id love to own one for myself but that 500 is thirsty and id be driving around the ghosts of my past . Great cars though , this one is a beauty .
So cool to hear your stories about your family's 76 Fleetwood! I love hearing stories like that and the experiences people have with these cars. What sorts of Cadillacs have you owned? And thank you! This Series 75 truly is a great car 😎
@@JW_Reviews hey, thanks for the reply . I've had a 77 sedan . Had a beauty of a 78 coupe DeVille . A 1990 sedan . A 95 Concourse . A 1969 Fleetwood and currently a 2011 STS and a 1961 black 6 window sedan . I'm tall so leg room is important . Cheers !
@@shaundis2117 They all are wonderful cars! 😁
I had so many of them cars back in the day they were great running cars beautiful cars
I'd love to have this in the driveway. Not to drive in today's traffic. But to just look at. Gorgeous.
It certainly is nice to look at and is quite a large car to drive around. I failed to mention this in the video, but this is the longest production car ever built which is pretty amazing!
@@JW_Reviews I used to own a '76 Olds Ninety-Eight (donated it to a church several years ago). I loved the car, loved the ride, and it handled decently, but in today's fast & furious traffic, without modern collision avoidance or even anti-lock brakes, it was dangerous to drive. I regret getting rid of it now; I should have put it into storage. Thanks for sharing the video of this Cadillac; it is glorious!
LOVE all your reviews of the old Caddy's. ))))
Being a Cadillac man myself, I appreciate your review of this excellent example of the '76 Series 75.
Thank you, Thomas! I'm glad to hear you're a Cadillac fan 😁 Thanks for watching!
My horn does go off. My folks bought a 74 Fleetwood brougham loaded. It had the foot rests and talisman version with the front console notepad etc. CB too. It was like this one. Total comfort. I loved it but so huge!
Thank you for posting this great video!!! I really enjoyed this big Cadillac with all that luxury 💰💰💰 from 1976.
Of course! I thought that it would be an enjoyable car to do a video on 😁 Thank you so much for watching, Richard!
..... Dios santo!..... Que preciocidad!..... que perfección!..... Un auto muy hermoso!, Felicidades por presentarlo!... Saludos y bendiciones desde el primer municipio de la América continental, La Antigua Veracruz México.
It just keeps getting better and better, just keep up the good work! I see no reason you shouldn't have your viewers in the hundreds of thousands eventually.
I'm so glad you enjoy the videos, we'll see how far the channel goes, it is exciting seeing the growth it's already had 😁 Thank you so much for the support!
This is American elegance that can't be compared to anything ever again! This car is iconic and priceless.
In 1978 I got my grandfather's 1970 sedan deVille to drive when I turned 16. It was a tank, but it floated down the road. I was probably the only 16 year old that wore both the lap and shoulder belts in that car, but they really enhanced the handling and feel of the car.
Wow, what a car to receive at 16! Must have been lots of fun. Thanks for watching!
@@JW_Reviews It was an awesome car. I had a lead foot and the car responded well, hence I wore both the lap and shoulder belts which was about the only smart thing I ever did in that car. LOL
I had a 1965 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, a fabulous car, felt like floating on air.
James, I really enjoyed this video. You look so comfy cozy in the back seat, maybe a bit under dressed for the car, but whatever! You are such a nice Ohio guy and you make high quality videos. This one brought back many memories from way back in the 70s when I worked for a dealership and we delivered a few of those series 75s to shady characters in Florida. I remember going through Savannah and people would lean over and stare at the car at every stop light. That was before Savannah was brought into the 20th century. Have you ever driven/reviewed the 1976 - 1979 Cadillac Seville? That was my all time favorite GM car for styling. I had one and sold it back in the 90s. Still think about it. Not many of those around now. So, thanks and keep those videos coming.
I’m glad you liked the video, James! The back seat was certainly beyond comfortable haha. That’s neat that you had first-hand experiences with these cars when they were new! I’m sure that they must have gotten sooo many stares. And I’m afraid that I haven’t had any experience with Seville’s of this era. They are beautiful cars though, several members of our Cadillac club own them and I get to see them every so often. Thanks again, James! I’ll certainly keep the videos coming 😄
The door click you get with these cars are solid
Very good example of excellence in automobile design.
I agree! Thank you for watching the video, Kenny 😁
Great video presentation.
As you can see, I have a '78 which is slightly shorter. Bought it out of Nevada in 2004.
Relaxing in the back seat with someone else driving is the ultimate way to enjoy these cars, as you alluded to.
Twenty years before I purchased my Fleetwood we were building a garage behind our home here in New Zealand.
My father asked me why I wanted the garage built so long.
One day a Cadillac is going in here, I confidently replied.
Thank you, Bruce! That is a really neat story, I still like the looks of the newer Series 75's a lot. And these Cadillacs do require long garages lol. Thanks again for the comment and for watching the video!
Were there many 70s cars like the Cadillac on the road back then?
My parents had a Cadillac just like this one I remember being driven in it on my way to to school
No kidding! That must have been a very fun car to be in while being driven to school as a kid 😁Thank you for watching, Freddy!
Are you a Carrington?
@@Smartychaseyes I am
The closed rear quarters are sharp, really makes the car more like a limousine. Reminds me of the old Derhams. Thank you for posting
I agree! Much more limousine like, definitely a stately look. You're very welcome, thank you for watching, Edward!
@@JW_Reviews I don't think I ever realized these special cars had tradition frameless front door glass but framed rear-door windows... hmm, interesting.
I didn't know that either until I first saw this car haha. It may have only come with the Fleetwood Series 75's rather than the Fleetwoods which could be why it is relatively unknown
@@JW_Reviews That's right, it's only the 75 series. I owned one of these and worked for a Cadillac dealership in that era.
James, I've really enjoyed watching your car reviews. My dad had some Cadillacs when I was young starting with a 64 Deville, 64 limousine, 69 Fleetwood Brougham, my favorite, and then a 71 limousine.
I actually ended up owning a 2000 Catera recently which had very low miles, but sat for a long time and some of the common over heating issues I read about online and got rid of it. I really liked the ride of the car, and the fact that it was pretty solid.
When I was young I really enjoyed washing and waxing them and would notice all the attention to detail that you highlight in your reviews, thank you for taking me back to my youth when cars were made to last.
Thank you, Doug! Ooh, those are some very nice cars. My dads first vehicle was a '69 Fleetwood Brougham and he absolutely loved it! Very cool! I've only seen a few Catera's in person and have never been in one. I'm so glad the videos bring back some memories 😁
This Cadillac is stunning. One of my all time favourite models. True class unlike any other
They don't make them like this anymore
A true gem
I agree! Thank you for watching the video, Ralph. I really appreciate the support!
Thank fake jesus ROFLMAO
no they don't! building junk!
@@lindahines9380 say it sister today's plastic fantastic car's are garbage
" A Block Long " !
The Magnifcent Gold Standard in Automobile Excellence .Gorgeous
Cadillac's Series 75s were unique automobiles about which comparatively little has been written. Thank you for this great story and for all the details about the car's features and history.
You're so welcome! I agree, I'm surprised at how little contemporary work is shown about these vehicles. They are so special and deserve to be known! Thank you so much for watching the video, Henry! 😁
James, your video was exceptionally great. My family back in the 70’s had a 1972 Fleetwood Brougham. You pointedly the all the features well. I’m going to check out your other videos.
Thank you, Mark! I bet this car brought back some memories for you, I assume it is fairly similar to the ‘72 Fleetwood. Thanks again for commenting and for watching the video!
I drove a 1973 Coupe dé Ville for 9 years and later had a 1978 Fleetwood 75 limousine for a number of years.
It was a $244,500.00 car, when it was new in 1978 in Denmark. I bought it in 1998, when it was still prestine.
It was black with grey velour interior and completely original with no boomerang or other unsuitable things added.
We enjoyed it very much. If you can find a chauffeur who understands the limousine driving style, these limousines are the ultimate cars to be driven in.
I plan on getting back to having a private limousine and the 1975/76 models are no 2 and 3 on my list, only topped by the 1973 model.
Incredible! I’m sure that the high cost was due to shipping, that must have made it a VERY rare car. But that’s incredible you had one, it sounds beautiful. Let me know if you ever do buy another one someday! Maybe you’ll be able to get a chauffeur for the car too haha. Thanks for watching the video!
@@JW_Reviews
Shipping is less than $2.000. We have high car registration taxes. A 1978 Cadillac Fleetwood or Lincoln Town Car had a sticker price at around $75,000 in 1978.
1986 I imported a 1973 Cadillac Coupé de Ville and was charged $14,500 in registration tax - because it came from the UK. Had it come directly from the US, it would have been 10% more, because you pay EU and Danish V.A.T. on the shipment charge as well.
2002 I imported my current Mark IV. Purchase price was $3,700 in Florida.
No sales tax in Florida, because the car was not licensed.
Shipment roll-on/roll-off ferry $1,491
EU + DK V.A.T. $2,182
Registration Tax $8,920
Registrered to drive = $16,293
Even with added travel expenses for myself, this was a bargain price back then.
A dealer would have charged around $10K more. I am glad I did it, because the prices in the US have gone up since.
Wow!! I never realized just how high the shipping taxes were, it really is a shame... Makes it difficult to get these beauties in Europe!
Window tint and a "MOB CAR" tag.....
Perfect.
Great video! My uncle had a new '76 Cadillac Fleetwood back in the late 70's when i was a kid. His was baby blue with a navy blue interior. Thanks for sharing. BTW...your'e super cute!
That's awesome! It sounds like the car was beautiful, I hope the video brought back good memories for you. Thank you so much for watching!
That's one of the most beautiful machines man has ever created. Terrific review. I would much rather watch someone who is wowed by it and is enjoying it, rather than a review by one of the bigger YT auto guys who would snicker and mock at it all the way through his video.
Great point, I'm really glad you liked the review that I made 😁 Thank you so much for watching!
Thanks, James. You're thorough and pleasant. When I was in high school (graduated '68), our family car was a '60 Fleetwood Seventy-five. There were six of us teenagers, plus Mom and Pop, of course. The car took us to dinner, to the store, to the beach. We got used to it. I loved it. Keep bringing the videos.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video, William! And that is a VERY cool family car. Must have been a lot of fun! (Hopefully you didn't have to take your drivers license test with it though haha) And I'll be sure to keep these videos coming. Thanks for watching!
The lines on that car have classic Cadillac beauty. A stunning car of regálese inside and out. I would LOVE to own one.
I agree! It is the longest production car in the world so it definitely has a stance which is completely unmatched. I'm sure you'll be able to own one someday 😁 Thank you for watching the video, Charles!
New subscriber here. Great video! So many younger people today have no idea what Cadillac was really all about when they made REAL Cadillacs. Instead of chasing BMW they should have focused on making better Cadillacs. People who want a BMW are going to buy a BMW. There are no longer any big, comfortable, powerful, smooth cars unless you get to the S Class Mercedes. The Cadillac CT6 that was briefly in production from 2016-2020 was probably the closest thing to the REAL Cadillacs they've produced since the 1970s.
Cadillac lost their way not only trying to go after BMW but making everything front wheel drive and/or with garbage engines that were unreliable (V8-6-4, Olds 350 Diesel, HT4100 were all nightmares that replaced that 500 cu in motor).
When you want a car that you can just relax in, that has comfortable seats that aren't designed to hug you at 100 mph on the Nurburgring, and a suspension that soaks up every bump instead of being able to corner at 100 mph, and an engine and transmission that are just superbly quiet, balanced, and move the car effortlessly without turbos or superchargers or gimmicks - that is what Cadillac should be.
Thank you so much for subscribing, Joe! Yes, a lot of people today are really missing out on what these cars have to offer. And that's a good point. I really did like the CT6 and thought it was a very good car. The Platinum trim came with some very nice and luxurious features. Hopefully Cadillac will build comfortable cars like this again in the future! Although it'll be very expensive, I'm hoping that the Celestiq will at least be a little bit like that. Thank you for watching the video and for subscribing, I really appreciate the support 😁
This ist not just Car ..
This ist Masterwork.
Thanx James.
Thank you so much!! 😁
You had to be a BIG WHEEL to have a car like this back in the day! You know what the say about big wheels, the go round and round! Beautiful car!
That's exactly right! Most of the people who purchased these cars definitely had a lot of money to go around lol. Thank you for watching the video, David!
@@JW_Reviews what was its price than and nowdays ??
What a great example of the 70's Cadillacs. That one in particular is very rare. I could see as you drove the vibration on the steering wheel. Those cars were built to drive smoothly even on not well-kept country roads. You might want to look into new shocks and ball joints. It would make such a difference you wouldn't even recognize the same car. It would blow you away.
If a car of that weight and size has 100k on it I would take a bet it needs them if those are original to the car
Now about the padded roof. 2000 dollars even for 76 was not a bad price if you knew what it entailed.
The top took a ton more material than the standard sedan and it required a special reduced framing around the rear window to accommodate great privacy
The interior covering the rear third window had to be made separately to cover that monster scenic cruiser glass that exposed the occupant who requested privacy. It wasn't designed to keep people from looking out, it was designed to keep "plebs" from gawking in.
The headliners had to be custom-made to accommodate all the rear air conditioning vents and notice the extra padding in the ceiling rear area to control road noise. Custom interior rear window framing was also necessary to accommodate the reduced window size to maintain privacy.
I used to own one of the early 90's Lincon town cars that ford built with the presidential roof line which covered the opera window" and a vastly reduced rear window. I always thought leaving out that silly window made the car look much more opulent. Lincoln didn't make many of those rooflines before farming the project out to the aftermarket.
The front grill and square headlights were a great improvement on the 76 from the 1974 model. The 76 was far more sophisticated over say the 74, as it took on a much more refined appearance. Thanks for sharing this great video with us. It was great fun.
James, your videos are the best! This video on the Series 75 is the best of the best. I’m sure I’ve watched this at lease 25 times and will continue watching. I LOVE it!😎
I'm so glad you like watching the video so much! Thank you for being my biggest fan 😁
Just found this channel, great presentation. Memories of my Uncle's 75 Talisman with that center console. Thank you
something extra special about '75 & '76, and when you pull up in one, people know you've 'arrived'. these cars are like fine jewelry that grace a driveway. that shot at 3:25 is astounding, I can just picture a visage of this car at 70mph slicing through the air like a black jetliner.
Very true! These cars were very prestigious and significant in what they meant back then. Thank you for watching the video!
Yeah, that "boaty" ride is something you just don't get today. Our family in the seventies had a 1974 Oldsmobile 98, and we had relatives with 1976 Chrysler New Yorkers and 1979 Lincoln Town Cars and they just floated down the road. The 1977 GM downsizing, while substantial on the outside, was actually very popular. It wasn't until the max-downsizing of the mid-eighties, the one that brought Cadillacs down to sizes that would have been considered compact in the mid-seventies, that sales dropped.
Very interesting stuff! First, I've heard a lot of good stuff about Oldsmobile 98's. I actually got to sit in one from the late 60's which was highly optioned and absolutely mint on the inside. It actually felt nicer than many Cadillacs I've been in from the era! That's very interesting that the downsizing was successful. I've heard stories about many people getting upset of GM and Cadillac downsizing and moving to brands such as Lincoln and Chrysler who didn't downsize for another year or two. And so many Cadillacs and other vehicles from the mid 80's seem way to small to me so I can see why people didn't like it much haha. Thank you so much for that info, I really enjoyed reading what you had to say!
For good reason
There were no Lincoln Town Cars in 1979. They were Continentals with the Town Car trim package.
In 1986 I was shopping for an Oldsmobile 98. A friend worked for an Oldsmobile dealership. He had a Delta 88 Royale Brougham. It was a prototype car that was optioned like you wouldn't believe. They would try out features to be standard on Buick and Cadillac if they worked out. The seats in that car were the most comfortable of any car I've owned. Pillow top plush. I really miss that car. So many great features. Had p
Series 75 designation was dropped for 1977-1984 model years. In those years, the long wheelbase models were simply called "Fleetwood Limousine" & "Fleetwood Formal Limousine" (w/division window). Vinyl roof was optional in 1976- two styles were offered. The roof on this car is the more expensive Landau roof option which could be ordered with or without Landau irons. The rear side windows were eliminated with this roof which was more thickly padded in addition to extending further into the glass area of the rear windshield for maximum privacy. The front compartment of the Series 75 Limousine (which in 1976 distinguished the model with division window between chauffeur and rear compartments) is upholstered in black leather. The car in the video is the Series 75 Eight Passenger Sedan (not Limousine) in which the same (cloth) upholstery is used throughout. Power recliners were not available in 1976. "Medici" (cloth) is pronounced MED-ichy. Thanks.
interesting, I wonder why they got rid of the series 75 name after all those years… Do you know why they were called Series 75’s? I was never sure what the 75 stands for. And thank you for that info about the vinyl tops! But I’m not even sure what landau irons are… Is that something that is visible?
@@JW_Reviews That gets into some prewar Cadillac model name history when there were Series 90, Series 75, Series 67, Series (Fleetwood) Sixty Special, Series 62 and Series 61 models. Year by years, these models were eliminated one by one as models were either discontinued or names reshuffled. The series numbers loosely referred to the length of the bodies and/or wheelbase. By 1965, only the Series 75 and Fleetwood Sixty Special (Brougham) designations remained which lasted until 1976. By 1977 my guess is that Division evidently felt it simpler to call them "Fleetwood Limousine" and "Fleetwood Brougham" which is how most of the general public was calling them by then. However in 1985, Cadillac revived the Series 75 designation for the new downsized FWD long wheelbase Limousine models and 60 Special in 1987 & 1988 (not a "Brougham" however which was the older style large RWD body) for the newly introduced FWD Fleetwood with special 4" longer wheelbase. (Cadillac is often tradition-minded). Landau Irons are S-shaped bars which were part of the mechanism that allowed the REAR roof to be lowered on certain body styles of cars from the classic era (ie late '20/early '30s) which was referred to as "landau roof" and sometimes as "transformable Brougham". On later cars the landau irons were a stylistic nod to this classic feature of the past although they were purely decorative by this point.
Wow, I'm very impressed by what you know! I unfortunately don't know much about pre-war Cadillacs or those made soon after the war. Ah, I think I've seen a few photos of Fleetwood Series 75's with the landau irons, it definitely gives the car a formal look. Thank you so much for the informative comment, I'm glad I could learn a little about the history of the Series 75 name!
@@59cdv The landau you refer to (I've seen as early as '09) was called Laundolet. The rear portion of the roof actually opened.
These are the kind of Cadillacs that Elvis and I like.😊😊
Love this! I had a '69 Fleetwood 75 Limousine and a '75 Fleetwood 75 Limousine for my funeral home in Salina, Kansas.
Which one did you like better, the 1969 or the 1975? Why?
The '69 was sturdier, less plastic. '69 was the final years for real wood laminate on the door panels and dashboard. However, the '75 was much less clunky looking. Both were Sedans rather than limousines. I prefereed the 472 to the 500ci engine as the later got a bit better mpg.
That's awesome! Very cool that you had two of them and from two different eras. Thanks for watching the video!
@@mikemuller5193 thank for responding. Do you recall if one rode or handled better than the other?
I just discovered your channel through a mutual friend. Absolutely love the content. This Cadillac is amazing. I definitely look forward to more videos.
That's awesome to hear! I'm glad that they recommended the channel to you 😁 Thank you very much, Thomas. It really is an incredible car! And I'll be sure to bring more videos to the channel soon. Thanks for watching!
Great video! I grew up in heavy iron, and worked on a lot of this generation of Caddies. The loose steering is most likely a worn out center link in the steering linkage, and maybe could use a slight tweak on the steering gear itself. If it was all 100%, it would be perfect steering, I promise you.
I admit to chuckling over your fascination with the floor mounted dimmer switches. Please keep them coming!
Thanks for the info! There is definitely several things that need to be worked on with this car which would certainly improve the steering and ride. Thank you for watching the video, I'll be sure to make more videos just like this one 😁
So cool! My parents owned a 76 sedan deville it was a beautiful car
Your video brings back many great memories of driving those cars when they were new. I offer these observations. There was no wood in the car - only plastic. The 8.2 Liter v-8 had reduced compression from prior years but ran so smoothly, you might not realize it was running. The Cruise Control has a "Resume" function if you only slightly depress the button on the turn signal stalk to resume a previously selected speed so long as the ignition has not been turned off. Once the car attains speed, the slight depression should cause the car to accelerate. Activation of the interior lights and the keyhole lamps was courtesy of Cadillac's Illuminated Entry System. Cadillac called the three lights on top of each front fender "Illuminated Lamp Monitors." They came with two red lamps above the middle of the rear window which were visible in the rearview mirror so that you knew the taillights were functioning. The rear doors used what Cadillac called a "door into roof" design for less wind noise and easier ingress and egress from the car. The toggle switch on the lower dash was for driver activation of the Jubilee alarm system. What is the function of the second hole in the fender next to the alarm? Given that the original owner paid a 10% premium to cover the rear windows, it is odd that the car does not have the Guide-Matic Automatic Headlamp Dimmer which was a staple on Cadillacs since the introduction of the Autronic Eye in 1952. It is also odd that they opted for no rear defog and not to install an Astoroof (Cadillac's glass sunroof). The switched lamp on the inside of the Driver's door and the one on the dash in front of the passenger seat are "Map Lights" to more easily read a map at night without turning all of the interior lights on. The fender panel that was removed is generally referred to as a "fender skirt." Cadillacs had a rear fuel fill behind the license plate from 1963, through the mid-1980'5 on the full-size cars.
Thank you for all those facts! Pretty neat to hear of all those features 😁 And that makes sense that the toggle switch was for the alarm system as that seemed to be the only thing added to the car
The car does have rear window defogger. It is part of the rear climate control
My favorite year was the 1969 Fleetwood 60 Special. My last Cadillac was a1988 Brougham. I miss that ride and power. 🎉
I had to watch this a second time on my laptop. FYI to all, watching on a phone does this car no justice.
The bigger screen definitely makes the car pop! Thanks for watching again 😄
My Dad had a 76 deville in the same colour scheme, I found it years later and bought it back. Thanks for making this video, it brought back so many memories :-)
I used to think that these Fleetwood 75 Cadillacs were very heavy until we got one in our salvage yard. Our John Deere 544K loader lifted it with ease into the crusher. Then I put a Chevy suburban 4x4 on top and busted it down. Then I stacked 2 full size pickups on the Cady and Suburban and busted them down. It was a heavy bundle because my rear tires were coming off the ground. I like these old Cadillacs. My parents had a 1975 Sedan Deville back in the 70’s. The Fleetwood 75 is bigger than my parents car. I would like to own one of these in mint condition.
Wow that's amazing! And these are fun cars to own and drive. Unfortunately there probably aren't many mint-condition ones that go through your salvage yard haha. Thank you for watching the video!
I had a 1975 Coupe deVille and loved that beast. Horrible mileage but such a beauty. Yours is beyond unique with the windowless sail panel.
When I was in High School I was frequently driven there in this vintage Caddy (it was current at the time). The seats were leather and of course we did not use the seat belts. I had very little traction with the seat of my pants so sliding back and forth across the seat was a common occurrence. I love old Cadillac's!
No kidding! You must have felt like a million bucks while riding to school haha. I'm glad you love these cars! Thank you for watching the video 😁
Is This Cadilac Available?
Honestly, I'm surprised that Cadillac didn't use the fwd system for their sedan devilles, fleetwoods, 75's, etc. The advantage is a flat floor allowing for a no-hump middle seat and an independent rear suspension possibility. These were never going to be race cars, and driving dynamics weren't important beyond being able to glide and waft along, very serenly.
Thank you so much for finding and reviewing these otherwise nearly forgotten cars.
I know it came down to cost, but once a customer is shown the advantage of fwd, independent rear suspension, and flat floor, I'll bet they would've gladly paid.
Easier to service RWD cars for things up front (suspension, transmission, etc).
Had a 1967 fleetwood back in the early 80’s. To date it’s still one of my favorites. It was my daily driver, not terrible gas mileage as you think but I drove it with conserving on fuel. Loved the power it had, it cruised at 75-80 all day long on the highway. Of the 1970’s the 74 is my favorite and last year for round headlights first year of that body style.
That's awesome! My dad's first car was a 1969 Fleetwood and he loved the power it had too. It was a great college car/daily driver for him. Thank you again for watching the videos!
Tremendous presentation, very informative. I have two series 75 s, a 72 limousine, 76 series 75 sedan, 87 6 door Hess and Eisenhardt, other Cadillacs also. Thanks so much, Joe Caliri, Raymond, N H.
Thank you, Joe! Wow, I’d absolutely love to see your collection. I really like big cars like those! Thanks for commenting and for watching the video, I really appreciate the support 😄
Absolutely excellent review of this car. You've just earned a new subscriber!
Thank you so much, Archie! I really appreciate you subscribing to the channel, it means a lot to me 😁
@@JW_Reviews You're a gifted reviewer! I love the random wood inlays in the door panels. The '74 Fleetwood had ones that looked like rosettes, but I think they changed them each year.
@@joshuaecht Thank you, Joshua! And I like the wood inlays too, they certainly did seem to change a lot!
You have a hit on your hands. Others like Demuro are insulting and shrill. You are distractingly handsome, have a great countenance to your voice and hit on all the correct information in a thoughtful and thorough manner. Keep up the good work. I'll look forward to your videos.
Thank you, Tom! The video is definitely doing well, which is a very nice surprise 😁 I'm glad there's so much you like from these videos! I'll be sure to keep them coming. Thanks again, I really appreciate the support!
I’ve seriously got to agree. This man’s relaxed attitude and easy going approach really makes you want to tune in. He’s easy on the eyes as well.
52 years in funeral service and I have driven a lot of Cadillacs. I have enjoyed your review.
There are a few things that I would like to mention. Those of us that drove these daily will all remember how prone they were to overheat in hot weather especially if sitting in traffic.
This was from '68 thru to '76. (the 472 and 500 V-8's). Cadillac knew it was a problem but never could be talked into a cooling-system re-design. Even an added electric radiator fan would have helped. It was a real issue for us as getting stalled in a funeral procession with an over-heated car was NOT good! Even worse were the hearses! This was really frustrating after 1973 because the Government forced them to kill the horsepower. The '74-'76 just felt way underpowered which was NOT what Cadillac owners were used to. We were used to road-pounding power. 6MPG with 93 Octane fuel and a lame engine did not make Cadillac too many friends. Without a doubt, they were the quietest, most comfortable and best riding cars of their day. BTW "cornering lights" ought to be mandatory on all cars. They greatly improve night vision into the turn and are great for seeing house numbers if looking at night! They also indicate to the person beside you that your are signaling a turn.
In spite of the tremendous length they were easy to park-------but--------by the 1980's parking spaces began to shrink. We kept our '75 and '76 FW75's about 5 years.
The stand-up wreath and crest did not become popular until the '71 Eldo. and the "Super-Fly" era. The Government stepped in and forced everybody with stand-up medallions to make them spring-loaded for safety in case they hit a pedestrian. Most people didn't care about a stand-up medallion because it was assumed you knew what you were riding in to begin with. Most believed them to be garish and tacky.
It was a big shock when the '77's came out----but----we actually came to like them. Even though the roof was too low, the much improved fuel mileage and the nimble handling more than made up for it. They were also lighter and quicker and got much better MPG.
The 1980 75 Series were really very good. They finally seemed to get it all right.
Looking forward to more reviews!
Those are great points to mention, Steve! That would be a major problem if the cars were to overheat during services. Interesting that Cadillac didn't do more to prevent that sooner. Thank you so much for the comment, the interesting points that you brought forward, and for watching the video! I really appreciate the support 😁
What’s the ultimate year, ultimate trim, long wheel base, smooth riding, 20+ MPG, RWD Cadillac car ever made? I’m guessing the year would be 1996?
Should average around 10-11 mpg. The '74-'76 were not as powerful for sure. Still could run 17s in the 1/4 mile.
the blind c-pillar gives it a real unique look...you'd have thought that if the original owner was that concerned about privacy they would have bought the limousine with its divider...maybe the blind pillar wasn't available on the limo.
great car...fun vid. thx for showing.
That’s what I thought as well! If it was a chauffeur car then it would have most certainly been ordered as the formal version. It is possible that it was both a chauffeur car and a driver car for the owner. And I’m really glad you liked the video and the car. Thank you for watching the video, Steve!
The closed quarters were available with or without the divider.
Just stumbled across your channel, enjoying the reviews
I'm glad you found the channel! Thank you so much for watching the videos, I really appreciate the support 😁
Ohh how it brings back my childhood love for this model of Cadi when i was 12 years old , i was opssesed with it"s luxurios flat front end along with the gorgious bumper , and the interior as well . thanks a ton .
The info that you have heard about a more powerful engine is probably referring to the optional digital fuel injection. That option added about 20 more HP over the carbureted version.
Ah that would make sense. It did up the power slightly from the non-fuel injection models. Thank you for letting me know, Mitchell!
Engines in the '70's need internal engine mods to bump MPG up from 8's to around 15 - 16 MPG...
I think big Caddy's got TBI (2 injectors) and Sevilles got Port Injection (8 injectors) on an Olds 350" V8...
Throughout the 70's emissions restrictions forced most of these formerly powerful engines to be detuned. This is why nearly each year, the HP drop increased.
@@76TomD - Then some engines in '76 started getting better MPG and also more HP/torque as efficiency came back in style...
It's pretty crazy that you can't buy a decent Cadillac today. Your exactly right that this car is more comfortable and rides nicer than today's luxury vehicles. The Escalades are the closest thing you can find but they ride more like a truck, I get a harsh ride in the back, your sitting right over the rear wheel.
Yes, no car today can match the room or ride feel of this car (unless if you're buying an extremely expensive Rolls Royce). And that's a good point, Escalades are the closest things to Cadillacs of the past but yet are still very far from being the same. Thank you for watching the video!
This is a fantastic example of a fantastic car. FYI, the regular 1976 Fleetwood, that is, the Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham, was 233.7 inches long, not 230.7 as stated in the video. The regular Fleetwood was on a frame that was stretched three inches beyond the other C-body Cadillacs, so that may explain the mistaken figure. The extra length for the regular Fleetwood was all in the wheelbase and can be seen mainly in the backseat as extended legroom and on the exterior through the inclusion of B-pillars (the others were hardtops) and larger rear doors. Though the regular Fleetwood was the most opulent "owner-driven" car, the platform was extended even further to create the D-body Fleetwood 75, as you show here, where the focus was more on being chauffeured.
It certainly is! That is correct, I'm afraid I got my numbers wrong. Their too big for me to remember correctly haha 😂 That's neat that the regular Fleetwoods were that much longer too. Thank you for the neat facts and for watching the video, David!
The most BEAUTIFUL car ever built... Grew up with my parents owning a 1975 model. We used to park in the limousine parking at the airport and never had an issue.
Wow, that's awesome you grew up with one of these! They have an awesome presence and ride that is unmatched by anything else. Thank you for watching the video, Jeremy 😁
It's so strange to watch someone from a different, and younger generation giving a car review for a car that was built when I was a young man. I remember these cars very well, in fact, my uncle had a 1967 Fleetwood Series 75 Cadillac. He bought it in 1969 with about 10-K on the odometer. His 67 Cadillac had a 428-ci Cadillac engine, (7-liter) with about 345-HP and 480-ft-lbs of torque. It was actually the very first car I had ever driven. It was the most beautiful, well-crafted automobile I have ever had the pleasure to drive! (Just a note to James: They had car antennas that were in the windshield glass as far back as the 1960s)
I'm glad that you liked the video and hearing what I had to say from my perspective 😁 Very nice! That Series 75 must have been an intimidating car to drive as a new driver, these cars are huge!!! Hopefully you didn't have to take your drivers license test in it too haha. Ah, I didn't know they had the ability to put antennas into glass back then, thank you so much for letting me know! And thank you for watching the video, I really appreciate the support
@@JW_Reviews I took my test in a new 1967 Chrysler New Yorker....and I knew how to drive and I still flunked, those things huge!
Great drone shots !!! Car is fire !!!!
Gorgeous car, who would have imagined they would someday put this badge on a whored-up Suburban. Enjoy yiur channel very much, lots of interesting facts and info without the snark, silliness and mocking like too many other channels. You appreciate the car and thats awesome. Keep them coming 👌
Thank you so much, Devine! I’m glad you like the channel so much, I truly do appreciate the support. I’m looking forward to hearing from you again in future videos!
Everybody would have imagined
GM's specialty is rebadging
Great report James, some people forget that there are people who like quiet, comfort and smoothness. Not everyone wants pinpoint handling and rock hard suspension. The best I could get here in Malaysia was a Lexus and it is pretty good. but I love that Cadillac.
Yes, Lexus is definitely known for being quiet and comfortable! I think that there are lots of people out there who like cars just like that. Thank you so much for watching the video, Peter!
Bought a 1977 series 75 in triple black in early 2000s when I was in college. Lord the stories I could tell! It was the best $500.00 car I ever had!!! Still own it however the transmission is out. It was a blast to cruise in! Now I find out 1976 was better..... Oh well still a fun college ride! Thanks for all the information this is a great video!!!!
Haha that would be an AWESOME car to have in college! How many people did you fit in the back? 😂😂 I'm glad you liked the video and the information, these are great cars to learn about 😁
@@JW_Reviews Oh there are lots of stories! Most times 3 or 5 in the back
James, you are a very engaging host. I love spending time with you. I found your channel about 3 weeks ago. I am working my way through your content.
This car, a Series 75, which is basically a factory limo, looks more like a giant private sedan because of the rear side window delete. I really like this version of this car. Thanks for bringing it to us. I would daily one of these.
These Caddys were absolute tanks. Haha I love it!! Great review man. Can't wait to see the next!!
Thank you so much, Joe! I really appreciate the support 😁
I had 73 Fleetwood 75 with a 492cid VB, loved that car so much. Now I have a DTS-L which is the last of the factory stretch Cadillacs.
Thanks so much for all the fun memories of growing up in a Cadillac family. I remember all those nicities. On the hood ornament according to Wikipedia, fixed hood ornaments were banned in 1968 for pedestrian safety. Thanks for the great memories!
You’re very welcome, Harry! These cars sure do bring back many memories for people which I really do enjoy. And thank you for that info about the hood ornament, I’ll be sure to mention that in the next one! Thank you so much for watching the video
Nice video & info. Keep it up. Long live american classics. Greetings from malaysia ❤️
Great video. Takes me back to 1971 when I bought a 1970 Fleetwood 75 limousine. I really enjoyed riding in the back with the division glass up.
Thank you, Raymond! Wow, that's awesome that you had one back then. Must have been a great car! Thank you for watching the video
AWESOME car and video! ! ! To me this car is the epitome of the Cadillac brand. My first car was a 74 Eldorado followed by a 73 Fleetwood, man I miss them! :(
Thank you!! I'm so glad you have a love for these cars and even owned a few. Its amazing the sort of experiences that these cars can bring us 😁 Thank you for watching the video!
I owned a 1976 coupe Deville in aqua marine blue with a white padded landaue roof an fully optioned. Was a great car and it jade the optional 500 cubic inch electronic fuel injected engine. Also had white leather interior. Really was a gorgeous car.
Wow, I absolutely love the combination of blue and white. It truly does sound gorgeous. It’s also rare to have fuel injection! Thank you, Dan, for telling me about your coupe Deville and for watching the video. I really appreciate the support!
Great car, great video. I also like the fact you replied to everyone's comments. I used to drive my father's '74 Fleetwood when I first started driving. So when you described the ride, I knew exactly what you were feeling.
Thank you! I'm glad you like the video and that I reply to comments. Responding to others who watch my videos has always been enjoyable and an important thing for me to do. I enjoy the conversations and love hearing new stories 😁 Thank you so much for the comment and for watching the video!
Beautiful car. I didn’t know rural Ohio was so beautiful. You the man!
I wish I could have heard the car start up. The background music covered up the engine sound.
Great video though.
Thank you! Yes, the area is definitely quite beautiful 😁 I'll be sure to pay attention to the engine start ups in the future and if it can be heard or not. Thank you for watching the video!
I loved that these could sleep 6. I learned to drive in a Buick Electra Deuce and a Quarter. 455ci with 4 barrel carb. She’d scoot.
I owned a 73 Fleetwood Brougham De’Elegance. It had the crush velour interior. It had the flip down rear foot support like this one. I wished Cadillac had put an overhead map light in it. Like the other GM cars. When you would open the doors, it wasn’t real bright. It was a fun car to drive. People would ask me why I drove one of these and I’d tell them…. I could go spend my money on a new car, or have fun and buy gas for it. I also said it’s an insurance policy all in itself. The only things I feared were freight trains, 18wheelers and another Cadillac. 😜
That is so cool! Sounds beautiful and I agree, these are fun to drive!! Definitely so much fun and worth owning 😁 Definitely very few things on the road bigger than these haha. Thanks for watching the video!
i drive an 88 Eldorado daily. Love this era of Cadillac
That's awesome! These cars certainly are special and wonderful to drive. Thank you for watching the video!