Bring back the interiors

[Dave Smith]

Yesterday in traffic I was next to a 1990 SeVille.  It was white with a white leather interior.

Now the 86-91 SeVilles were not a favorite for many Cadillac fans.     But as I sat looking at this car, I noticed how the size of it was more appropriate today.    It fit right in.    The crisp lines looked refreshing in comparison to the Mazdas and toyotas in traffic.    The White seats were a breath of fresh air!  

The light turned green and we all moved on.   I suddenly had to snap back into reality that I was looking longingly at a 1990 Seville!

Why cant we have new Cadillacs with colorful interiors?

Sure, Grey and Tan can stay, but add White,  Yellow and how about a nice bold red?

Cant you picture a nice White DTS with a bold red interior?

Corvettes can get them, why cant Cadillac owners?

[Johnny]

Again, its a matter of economics and todays standards.  The less options a manufacture has to offer, the cheaper it is to produce a car.  Not to beat a dead horse, but obviously car buying is much different then it was back in the 50s and 60s, when you have more choices in colors and literally could build a car from scratch, instead of picking out "packages".  I have no documentation, or statistics, but I think more cars today are bought "off the lot", then ordered as in the past.

[Geoff Newcombe #4719]

Johnny is probably right, but I agree with you Dave ---- were talking CADILLACs here!  I wanted to buy a new Chevy Colorado last year, "sorry sir, black and grey are the only available interiors, unless of course you would like the extra cost leather option, then you can get beige".  YAWN, dull, dull, dull!  Im sick and tired of looking at black and grey, and beige too anymore.  I went out and found a body-off restored 72 C-10, it had a red and black interior, I can deal with that, I bought it and expect to keep it a long time.

[Barry M. Wheeler #2189]

When I was selling cars, I only "ordered" about half a dozen in three years, including a Riviera for my brother who wanted cloth seats and the Bose radio.
You have to remember as well, that we are in "instant gratification" mode these days, when if you buy a car, you have to have it "right away."
I often dream of seeing the cars lined up in the middle seventies up to the early nineties. What a rainbow of colors!

[Qaanik]

As a high school teacher, my students, once they recover from the the awesome size of my balmoral green 1972 Coupe, are simply not prepared to take in the green interior! Growing up their entire lives with the bland grey-black-tan interiors, they look at it in shock. They call it the "Emerald City" 

[Rich S]

The White Leather Interior is one of my favorite features of my 1971 Eldorado Convertible.

I am also someone who is sick of the beige, gray and black interior choices of the new cars! Although I read that Cadillac officially announced plans to offer "Mulberry" leather on the 2008 CTS, which was said to be similar to a Red Leather offered now on the 2007 Cadillac STS "V-Series" models, when I checked the ordering information posted on the GM site, it was not among the available interior colors. I hoped to order my 2008 CTS in White Diamond with the Mulberry Leather--but I guess it will not be a possibliity. The ordering information for the 2008 Cadillac DTS does include a new "Linen" leather interior color.  Here is the link:

http://eogld.ecomm.gm.com/NASApp/domestic/proddesc.jsp?year=2008&butID=1&regionID=1&divisionID=5&vehicleID=4824&type=0

While we're discussing colors, how about bringing back the some "Firemist" exterior colors as an option? These current designers also lack the creativity to come-up with appealing names for the colors, as in the past, too. "Cashmere" leather, is not descriptive of a color, but rather a material. Now, "Linen" is similarly a material, not descriptive of a color. Of course, they're naming them, so they can call them anything they desire. It was Shakespeare who said, "What's in a name? That which we call a 'rose' would by any other name smell as sweet."

[Matt427]

The red interior is what made me buy my '68 CDV. It stands out in a sea of black, blue, and brown that you most often see in the 2DHT (if you can really call it a sea that is- not like you see 'em every day!  )
 

[David Smith]

I'm sure it is no coincidence that whenever a brightly colored Cadillac goes up on Ebay there are a ton of bids on it.      And I'm not talking about the exterior being resale red either.    I'm talking about the triple Yellows and the Amber colors.     

When was the last yellow offered?  1993?

I remember a nice light Amythist (purple) too in 1987.

1977 had a great yellow too.

I don't think we'll ever see Persian Lime firemist (1974) ever come back,  but what about Autumn Maple Firemist (1984) ??



There are some memorable interior & exterior combinations too.

A hardtop Sedan deVille in  Cotillion white exterior with a bright red leather interior and a full black vinyl top.

Dark Academy gray metallic sedan with light gray or silver vinyl top and a red interior.

Triple Yellow Coupe DeVille with cabriolet top and opera lamps.

oh, and when I was a kid walking to school (yes, walking!)   a neighbor had a fairly new Cadillac.  It was a 1975 or 76 Coupe DeVille in a very metallic orangey-amber color.   It had a matching half top.  The car was huge and stunning.    On the same street was a 1971 Sedan DeVille in white with black top and red leather.      There was also a 1974 Sedan Deville in town those colors.    The Schools secretary had a triple black 74 Eldorado Coupe with power sunroof.

But the best of all was a retired couple in town that had a silver 1960 Coupe DeVille!     That in 1980.     It looked like the bat mobile to me with those fins!    LOL


What are / were some of your favorite models and color combinations?

[Jim S., CLC #15958]

My '71 Eldorado coupe was Clove (metallic brown) with Medium Maize vinyl top and interior (gold).
My '68 Eldorado has a white leather interior.
My '77 Eldorado has a light blue leather interior.
My '87 El Camino has a plum velour interior.

The white leather is the only "plain" color, but it sure beats what they offer today!

[RAMcGrew CLC# 17693]

My '71 Eldorado coupe was Clove (metallic brown) with Medium Maize vinyl top and interior (gold).
My '68 Eldorado has a white leather interior.
My '77 Eldorado has a light blue leather interior.
My '87 El Camino has a plum velour interior.

The white leather is the only "plain" color, but it sure beats what they offer today!

My 1956 series 6219 (I have two) even on the cheapest level, have amazing combinations of materials, textures and colors.  The White and Dark Blue car ( Canyon Grey and Cascade Grey originally) has light blue, medium grey and silver/grey with white vinyl.  The Blue and light color car (Tahoe Blue and Cascade Grey) has a lovely metallic blue dash, blue-green vinyl pads, soft light blue gabardine, and Heather Blue Brocade.

And these were some of the fixed choices offered by Cadillac's Fashion Designers for the year.  The choice limit was 78 different colors, and pattern combinations.  The warning on the document that was used to make these selections said, it was advisable for the customer to take advantage of the aid of the Cadillac Fashion Designers to avoid clashing colors or unfortunate combinations.

Yeah, yeah I know its market driven etc. etc. etc.  Just thinking of the choices once provided.  Quite simply, it was a wonderful experience.

[Porter]

My '71 Eldorado coupe was Clove (metallic brown) with Medium Maize vinyl top and interior (gold).
My '68 Eldorado has a white leather interior.
My '77 Eldorado has a light blue leather interior.
My '87 El Camino has a plum velour interior.

The white leather is the only "plain" color, but it sure beats what they offer today!

My 1956 series 6219 (I have two) even on the cheapest level, have amazing combinations of materials, textures and colors.  The White and Dark Blue car ( Canyon Grey and Cascade Grey originally) has light blue, medium grey and silver/grey with white vinyl.  The Blue and light color car (Tahoe Blue and Cascade Grey) has a lovely metallic blue dash, blue-green vinyl pads, soft light blue gabardine, and Heather Blue Brocade.

And these were some of the fixed choices offered by Cadillac's Fashion Designers for the year.  The choice limit was 78 different colors, and pattern combinations.  The warning on the doent that was used to make these selections said, it was advisable for the customer to take advantage of the aid of the Cadillac Fashion Designers to avoid clashing colors or unfortunate combinations.

Yeah, yeah I know its market driven etc. etc. etc.  Just thinking of the choices once provided.  Quite simply, it was a wonderful experience.

Randall,

Get with the program, this ain't your father's Oldsmobile.

An auto isn't a fashion statement anymore, it's a computer on wheels.

How many GHz - MB - GB - DVD - CD Rom's and air bags do you want with your computer controlled suspension black boxed computer traction controlled GPS Onstar remote controlled Cadillac ?

You only get a few basic colors to choose from, you won't own the car long enough to really get attached to it anyway so get over it.

You couldn't afford to own the car longer than ten years with electronic repair costs.

These are the new socialist cars for the wealthy: sameness. Want a real custom Cadillac get a customizer, just like way back in the good old days, like Elvis did.

Porter 

[David Smith]

. Want a real custom Cadillac get a customizer, just like way back in the good old days, like Elvis did.

Porter 

You mean how like those "Pimp my Ride" shows do?  Where they often re-do interiors in bright colors and add accent piping?

Heck, even here in Connecticut I see alot of cars and riding on huge chromed rims with Vogue whitewalls.  The SUVs with oversized chrome spinning rims too.      DTS and CTS with add-on roof packages, gold trim and tinted windows.

Yup,  Detroit is right.   The public wants dull, ordinary cars.  (rolls eyes)

I'm not saying everyone wants to own a SuperFly Cadillac.  But even those of us who like to keep our cars stock still lament the time when there were so many color combinations and option choices you never saw the same looking Cadillac twice.

What we are missing?     Wheel choices?  What are we offered today?    Regular alloy wheels or Chrome pressed ones?   Do we still get that choice?  LOL.

Exterior colors.   Remember when Cadillac had at least 21 colors, many exclusive to Cadillac and several Firemist colors.

Interior colors....  Black,  Blue, Red,   Maroon, Tan, White,  Yellow, Green,  Grey,  plus whatever color matched a unique exterior that year.   ie:  Firethorn,  Terracotta,  etc .

Roof tops.     Full vinyl top,  Cabriolet half top,   Fake convertible tops,  Opera lamps,  etc.

Pin striping.   in colors to match the tops or interiors of course.

White walls.......sigh.