Since we’re having Cadillac Brougham Day here at CC, I wanted to mention that I just loved these Cadillac commercials from the ’80s and ’90s. I was only 10-12 years old at the time, but I remember them very well. This is one jingle I don’t mind hearing over and over!
I wish I could still go out and buy a new Brougham—or a Coupe de Ville. Classic names, classic cars.
Video link is from Youtube – of course!
For a lack of a better term, this 1991 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham might be a Cadillac but underneath it still used a stretch modified platform/chassis of the 1973-77 vintage Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu/El Camino/Monte Carlo much in the same way Cadillac’s slightly smaller brethren the Chevrolet Impala and Caprice Classics from that point in time as well.
This is another one of those myths that keep being perpetuated. GM started with an almost clean sheet for the new for 77 B/C bodies. Yes the wheelbases were similar between the A/A special and the B/C, they shared the same basic suspension design but then again it was the same basic suspension design as used on the 71-76 B/C. Some of those parts that interchange with the 73-77 A’s also interchange with the 71-76 B/C
Wrong Pedro, but thanks for playing….
Now tell us the story about the Nova not selling in spanish speaking countries because of the name !!
Not debunk any myths nor urban legends Carmine yes the Latin American Countries mostly Argentina & Brazil never sold the Nova name whether it was based on the 1968-72 in which Argentinian’s renamed theirs Chevrolet Chevy or the Opel Rekord/Holden Monaro based Brazilian Chevrolet Opala which was also marketed in South Africa as the Chevrolet SS. But since this article only relates to the GM B & C Bodied RWDs from 1977-92 and in my opinion since I have also done extensive research on these cars they were also based on the 1973-77 GM A & A Special RWD chassis models as well. GM had done quite a few modifications to the Chevelle Malibu and Monte Carlo platforms so they would be more adaptable to the downsized 1977 GM RWD B/C/D Bodies as well. Sure there were chassis extensions made to account for more leg and trunk room but it was still based from those similar sized 1973-77 GM A & A Special RWD platforms. Think of it in this present day analogy that the Honda Odyssey Minivan as you would least expect is based on the Honda Accord chassis and now their size differences were even greater than the Chevelle were to the Fleetwood Brougham. Chassis modifications by extensions made this all possible. Lastly the 1971-76 RWD GM B & C Bodies may have some interchangeable suspension and suspension parts with the new for 1973 GM A & A Special Bodies and their chassis were based on full perimeter ladder type frame but those where the similarities end. The 1971-76 Chevrolet Impala/Caprice Classic used a different designed separate body and frame type construction for their pre-downsized models than the 1973-77 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu/El Camino/Monte Carlo.
Go to Napaonline.com and look up any suspension part for a 77-up B or C body and then click on the buyers guide. You’ll find that things like control arms are unique to that era B/C. Somethings do interchange with the A like steering boxes and idler arms but it is the 78+ A that shares that part, not the 73-77. Front shocks interchange with the 71-76 B/C and the rears with 71-76 B/C and 73-77 A/A special and the 78 up A/G.
So in my book if the front suspension is all new and the rear only shares shocks then no the 77 up B/C is not built off of the 73-77 A no matter how many times it’s been said on the internet. All new suspension even if the frame rails put those suspension pieces the same distance apart does not mean that it is based on the 73-77 A.
The frames aren’t Plug and Play but the 73-77 A Sedan frame and the 77+ B body frames are very similar. Completely different suspension geometry though.
The easiest way to put it to bed would be to get a hold of the Frame Alignment diagrams for both chassis and match them up.
I can tell you that the Nova was a hit at least in México since it was introduced in the early 70s, and sold very well in this country. Probably, what happened in other Spanish-speaking countries in this time is that the drivers and public in general were not very well acquainted with the US models. Let me explain: In México, the automatic transmission is used to the same degree as in the US and Canada. Air conditioning, power windows and other ammenities also are a must for Mexican drivers, since we have desert hot and polar ice temperatures, and those items were not very common in US-designed cars sold in Central and South America; the public was more eager to get an European sedan or coupe with 4 speed manual transmission and a spartan interior, more slanted towards economy than a comfortable ride. This I tell you after recalling a conversation with an Argentinean coworker several years ago, when he told me how could I afford to drive a Cadillac Sedan deVille and not to look for a more “common” daily driver. And again, perhaps IMHO, the name Nova had nothing to do with the issue of not selling well.
The fact is that it never happened, Snopes has disproven this old tired Nova and No Va story years ago.
That’s what he’s saying. Nova even sold very well in Mexico.
We had a 1990 Seville that was an ex Zone Managers’ company car. Very low miles and equally low price. One of the best deals we ever got on a car. The car was loaded with options IIRC. We had it for four years until an illegal alien destroyed the front end when they ran a stop sign. Had it repaired under my uninsured motorist coverage. Never drove right after that. Replaced it with a 1995 Seville.
> the ’80s and ’90s. I was only 10-12 years old at the time
Well, well; how old are you? 80s-90s is a good 20 years. Nice to know you’re not `almost senior’ yet (with apologies to a certain Editor-in-Chief 🙂 ).
I really like this version of the “Cadillac Style” commercials: Cadillac Style (1988)
Nothing says 1988 like white yuppies, yachts, equestrian shows, and spandex-clad aerobics. I was about 5 years old at the time, but I think these commercials really capture the overall “vibe” of life in aspirational upper-middle-class suburbs at the time. So weird looking back on it.
I also have a soft spot for these commercials and Caddys of this vintage because my best friend’s mom drove a series of Caddys in the late ’80s/early ’90s. I faintly remember a slantback Seville followed by two Sedan Devilles, probably an ’88 and a ’90, that I remember very well. It was replaced by a 1992 Seville (blew my young mind the first time I saw it — so modern! But still a Cadillac!). My friends’ mom was European and used to chain smoke cigarettes while she drove us around. That would probably get her arrested were she to do that today. The Seville was replaced by a series of BMWs as “Cadillac Style” went out of style with the yuppies in the mid-late ’90s.
Thanks for the memories.
Woops, total fail on my part with the above link. Here’s the correct link to the video I referred to above:
Cadillac Style (1988)