Cadillac Seville STS Bustleback
The second-generation Cadillac Seville, produced from 1980 to 1985, is one of the most love-it-or-hate-it designs in American automotive history. Its dramatic bustleback rear end — a razor-edged, formal trunk treatment inspired by classic English coachwork and endorsed by fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy — was a radical departure from conventional American sedan design. People either found it strikingly elegant or profoundly strange.
The bustleback Seville represented Cadillac's most ambitious attempt to compete with European luxury marques like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The second-generation car moved to front-wheel drive on GM's E-body platform (shared with the Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado), featured fully independent suspension front and rear, and offered Cadillac's digital fuel injection system — cutting-edge technology for 1980.
The Seville Elegante was the premium trim, offering two-tone paint, wire wheel covers, and a plush interior. The Seville Touring Sedan (STS) was the sporting variant, but both shared the same engines. Initially, the Seville used the 368 cubic inch V8 (producing a dismal 145 horsepower), and from 1982 onward, the infamous HT4100 4.1-liter V8 producing 135 horsepower. Both engines were woefully inadequate for a car weighing nearly 4,000 pounds, and the HT4100 earned a terrible reputation for reliability issues including head bolt failures and coolant leaks.
The 1980 Seville also offered the short-lived V8-6-4 cylinder deactivation engine, which was a technological disaster. The system, which shut down cylinders to save fuel, was plagued by surging and drivability problems. Most were converted to run on all eight cylinders.
Despite its mechanical shortcomings, the bustleback Seville has aged remarkably well as a design. The sharp-edged styling looks intentional and cohesive in a way that many anonymous 1980s luxury cars do not. Cadillac designer Wayne Kady created a car that was genuinely forward-thinking, even if the execution of its mechanical systems lagged behind the ambition of its styling.
Today, the bustleback Seville is an affordable entry into 1980s Cadillac ownership. The unique styling ensures it will always draw attention, and clean, well-maintained examples are increasingly appreciated by collectors who recognize its design significance even if they acknowledge its mechanical limitations.
The biggest concern is the engine. Avoid the V8-6-4 (1981 only) and the Oldsmobile diesel at all costs. The HT4100 is problematic but manageable if well-maintained — check for head gasket issues, coolant leaks, and overheating history. The 1980 model with the 368 V8 is the most reliable mechanically. The front-wheel-drive transaxle can be expensive to rebuild. Body rust is less severe than on older Cadillacs but check the rocker panels and lower quarters. The unique bustleback trunk lid is specific to the Seville and expensive to replace if damaged. Interior electronics (trip computer, climate control) often malfunction. The Elegante trim's two-tone paint is difficult and expensive to replicate properly.
The second-generation Seville was produced from 1980-1985. The Elegante was the luxury trim; a diesel option (Oldsmobile 5.7L V8 diesel) was briefly offered and proved disastrous. The V8-6-4 was available only for 1981. The HT4100 engine was used from 1982-1985. Total production across all years was substantial — the Seville was one of Cadillac's best-selling models.