A look back. . . ’78 Seville tested alarm in downtown setting
I’ve told this story a couple of times since its occurrence 44 years ago on a spring evening in downtown Denver. Janice, her parents Lyle and Ruth Davis, and I enjoyed the comfortable drive of a new, 1978 Cadillac Seville, which would be reviewed in The Denver Post the following weekend. I parked the luxurious Seville in a lot on 14th Street, a block away from the Auditorium Theatre, where we were heading for a performance of Carol Channing in
“Hello, Dolly!”
Even though I’d received a 20-minute briefing on the car’s operation by Art Bowman,
Cadillac regional service assistant, the new-to-theindustry theft-deterrent system was triggered inadvertently when we locked the car doors. The horn began to honk and the lights began to flash, drawing much attention from well-dressed patrons walking past; several even offered suggestions before I finally inserted the key in the door lock to disarm the alarm.
Following are excerpts from the review of the Cadillac:
Unusually comfortable seating, quietness provided by a well-insulated body and a suspension system that smoothed and leveled the ride made the test of the $17,000 Cadillac Seville a good one.
This is a car that chimes (rather than buzzes) as a seat-belt warning. It has headlights that switch on automatically as darkness approaches. And when the driver drops it into Drive, all four doors are locked.
The 4,200-pound car moves smoothly down the road at all highway speeds. Economy tests produced an average of 13.4 miles per gallon in town and 16.6 at speeds of 55 to 60 on the highway. The autowas equipped with a 350-cubicinch engine and automatic transmission. It had a fault – losing4miles per hour on hills with its cruise control. George Mcdonald, Cadillac zone manager, said company officials are working on a solution.
Base price of the ’78 Seville is $14,267, with transportation charges of $456 for $14,723. The list of standard equipment on this auto is staggering, including a large steering wheel which not only tilts but also telescopes and power steering/power windows/ power brakes.
A long list of options brought sticker price to $17,174. Among
these were locking wire wheel discs $233, AM/FM stereo radio tape player with citizens band $427, leather seating $315, rear-windowdefogger $94, cruise control $122, illuminated vanitymirror $50. By pushing the outside door button when unlocking the car in the dark, a keyhole light and interior light are turned on. The seat belts and shoulder belts were easy to use.
Overall length of the Seville is 204 inches, about a foot and a half shorter than the big Cadillacs. In evaluating the Seville, it is safe to say no sacrifice of comfort was made by the designers.