1998 Cadillac Seville
As the European luxury imports started make more inroads in the Us Cadillac saw that their big cars were really not in the same category, and sought to plug the hole with a smaller Cadillac, which the Seville was conceived for. Interestingly, the Seville was also Cadillac’s highest priced car which went counter to the idea that as you go up in size you also go up in price. The Seville was based off of the GM corporate X-body platform, which the Chevy Nova was based from. But with a front suspension similar to GM’s Camaro/Firebird F-body, and other suspension upgrades, GM designated it as a K-body. Using both an Opel platform and also going front-wheel drive were considerations that were killed early on due to budget limitations. A chiseled body with arched wheel openings and a severely upright rear top profile helped user in those features in other Cadillac and GM bodies. When debuted in 1975 it was marketed as “international” pegging exactly where the Seville was aimed. Production that first year was 43,772 units. Initially produced with a two-piece top, all 1976 Sevilles came with vinyl tops. This was because Cadillac wanted a unique top profile, but had to share basic tooling with the Nova. In 1977 Cadillac tooled for a one-piece top for customers who wanted a painted top. The Oldsmobile fuel-injected 350ci engine powered Sevilles, with a diesel option in 1978—the first American car with a diesel. This first generation ran through 1979. In 1980 the second generation Seville was much more baroque, with styling cues taken from 1950s Rolls-Royce sedans. This new K-body platform was front-wheel drive, with an independent rear suspension. As the 1980s progressed, the Seville got even more baroque with the “Full Cabriolet Roof” option which mimicked a four-door convertible look. Third gen Sevilles released in 1986 were much smaller, and featured a traverse-mounted V8 front-wheel drive. Mileage was very much part of the consumer’s criteria for all cars, and thus the Seville was downsized. But it also became the first car ever to have its functions monitored by a computer, or ECU. Called the Body Control Module/Engine Control Module (BCM/ECM) it was developed by Hughes Electronics. In 1990 the Seville became fuel-injected, and also received a facelift. A fourth generation Seville lasted from 1992 to 1997. It was well received and garnered the 1992 Motor Trend Car of the Year award. In 1993 it got the Northstar quad-cam 32-valve V8 and suspension upgrades. The last generation of Seville was introduced in 1998, lasting through the 2004 model season. Based on a 112-inch G-body platform featuring a transverse-mount front-wheel drive, it was engineered to have either left- or right-hand drive, where it was sold in Japan, United Kingdom, and South Africa. Seville was discontinued in 2005.
1998 Seville
The completely redesigned Seville was engineered “to compete in the global market. Not available until the end of December 1997, the Seville was sold throughout Europe and Japan as it could be built as both left- or right-hand drive in Hamtramck, Michigan. On a 112-inch wheelbase, it looked similar to, but more refined than the previous fourth generation Seville.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
1998 Seville
- Engine Options
- 4.6-Liter Northstar V8, 275hp
- 4.6-Liter Northstar V8, 300hp
1998 Seville VIN Decoder:
First Character: Country
Second Character: Manufacturer
Third Character: Division
Fourth and Fifth Characters: Series
- K/S ~ Seville
- K/Y ~ Seville Touring Sedan
Sixth Character: Body
Seventh Character: Restraint Code
- 2 ~ Active Belts w/Dual Air Bags
- 4 ~ Passive Belts
Eighth Character: Engine
- Y ~ 4.6-Liter V8
- 9 ~ 4.6-Liter V8
Ninth Character: Check Digit
Tenth Character: Year
Eleventh Character: Assembly Plant
- 9 ~ Detroit, Michigan
- E ~ Linden, New Jersey
Seventh-Twelfth Characters: Sequential Production Number
Starting number 800001/Up
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