Square "egg-crate" grille openings this year, compared to slightly rectangular ones in 1975; this year
there were four rows of fourteen openings, each one divided into four smaller ones, above the front bumper,
and an additional two rows of four openings flanking the license plate frame, below the bumper. The
Cadillac name, in script, graced the top RH side of the grille shroud (when facing the car). 

   
Left:  flanked by paired rectangular headlamps, this year's rectangular grille
comprised fifty-six main square openings (egg-crate style), each divided into four

   
1976 rear clip on DeVille and Fleetwood models remained very much as in 1975;
the Fleetwood trunk (left) again carried a wreath and crest, whereas the DeVille
cars sported the traditional "V" and crest; there was limited durability for those
plastic fillers, located in the "crumple zone",  behind the vertical bumper ends!

 
Press kit photo

The Brougham wheel base was 3" longer then on DeVille models; although tail-lamps were reportedly new, still they
looked very much like those seen on the 1974 and 1975 Cadillacs; special touches included carpeted footrests and individual reading lights;
interiors were trimmed in Minoa ribbed velours with leather bolsters, shown here in light ivory-gold but available also in light gray
and dark blue;  Mansion cloth was another smooth-finish material available in black, dark blue-green, light gray, dark blue and
light buckskin; a popular trim option also was Sierra grain leather for the seat inserts, available in 11 different shades

              
A couple of  fine survivors (left) and the plush Interior of the bespoke d'Elegance version

Another beautiful survivor

   
In 1976, the Eldorado grille had nine rows of twenty slightly rectangular openings; an additional five rows of  two of these openings
flank the license plate frame, below the central bumper division; the Eldorado name appears in script at far right of the
front hood panel (facing the car); vertical "winged crest" emblems are applied to the vertical, brushed chrome fender extensions 

       
The front-wheel drive Eldorado models remained popular for their traction and maneuverability; inside and out were
signs of sportiness and luxury; the Mansion knit material for the Brougham was offered also on the Eldorado coupe;
in dark blue, light ivory-gold, light buckskin and black (shown at right); a Merlin plaid could be had also in either dark
blue-green or dark firethorn; Sierra grain leather for seating areas also was available in 11 different shades

   
The product brochure for this year's models states that the convertible Eldorado is the Last of the Breed; it would not be repeated in 1977;
soft, supple Sierra grain leather in the seating areas was the standard trim offered (shown at right, in white); white with black, white with dark blue,
white with dark blue-green, antique light gray, black, antique light blue, antique dark blue-green, antique light buckskin and antique dark firethorn also
were available; convertible tops were available in black, ivory, white, buckskin, dark blue, firethorn and dark blue-green; tying in were 21 regular
Cadillac exterior colors (13 of them new for 1976) - with accent striping available in eight colors; the top hard boot (seen below)  was optional

   
Fleetwood's wreath and crest appear in the center of the trunk lid base and the Eldorado
script on the RH side; another Eldorado script nameplate graces the rear fenders

   
The Eldorado had its own instrument panel, seen here

   
This is one of 200 of the alleged "last" Cadillac convertibles to be built
...that is, until another one was added to the standard line for 1984-85

   
The so-called "bicentennial" edition had white leather upholstery
trimmed with burgundy-red piping, as seen here

The Seville front grille is narrower than that of the Eldorado; it comprises four horizontal and
fourteen vertical openings,  plus three more openings on either side of the license plate
frame; the Cadillac name appears in script at the top,  far RH side of the hood panel

  
Tail-light lenses wrap around corners of car they are etched with a white, winged crest

To give an idea of the proportions of the Seville luxury sedan, the artist has drawn around it, in blue,
the outline of a full-sized Cadillac model of the same year; more than a foot shorter at both ends!

   
The Seville was rated at 21 miles per gallon, at highway speeds, and 15 mpg in town;
this model was 25" shorter than most full-sized American luxury cars of that period

Some of the many colors available

   
Right:  individual reading lights for rear seat passengers

Silver gray was very popular

...as was Gold

   
Seville instrument panel (left) and large capacity trunk (right)

   
Seville had  padded formal-looking roof covering; a full-metal, painted roof was a cost-free option
Right:  controls for power convenience items on driver's door arm-rest (windows, seat, door-lock, rear-view mirror)

   
Leather for the seating areas was a frequent choice with the more affluent buyers; shown is antique light buckskin,
one of 11 combinations; Magnan, a less-costly ribbed knit material came in black, dark blue, light ivory gold, light buckskin,
dark blue-green and dark firethorn; also available was Manhattan velours in either blue or light buckskin

       
Easy ID on this year's Coupe de Ville was the new, see-through, stand-up crest (far right)  

   
The Coupe de Ville continued to be a sales leader; attractive trim combinations included Merlin dark blue-green plaid (here), available also in
dark firethorn; six shades of Magnan ribbed fabrics also were offered, as were also two shades of Manhattan velours (blue and light buckskin)

    
Superb survivor!

    
Superb low-mileage survivors belonging to CLC members

I had one of these; it was a real mess but it cost only 200 Swiss francs ($75 at the time)
 

   
Standard trim for both the sedan and coupe was Morgan plaid, shown at right in blue-green and gray-black;
other color combinations included red and gray-black, blue and gray-black, gray-black and red;
optionally available was expanded vinyl in either antique light buckskin or black

   
1976 would be the last year for the least expensive cars in the range, the Calais coupe and sedan models;
outwardly similar in appearance to the DeVille coupe and sedan, only the rear fender nameplate gave it away;

   
Among the refinements in Cadillac's limousines were two separate climate control systems (one for the passengers,
another for the driver); the trim you see here, in the passenger compartment, is dark blue Medici crushed velours,
available also in black with light gray Magnan knit seating areas; the 1976 models still retained a powered glass division

    
Frequently used by funeral homes, these two images show it in this kind of operation

   
Here is a survivor with the regular interior trim

Another great survivor on Internet

   
This interior (from a survivor)  has been custom trimmed

Fleetwood Talisman

   
First offered in 1974, then again in 1975, the Fleetwood Talisman was a more sumptuous version of the already luxurious
Fleetwood Brougham; it had individual front seats (above, left) trimmed in black or blue Medici crushed velours; there
was an illuminated locking console was located between the front seats; outside was a padded Elk grain vinyl, special turbine
vaned wheel discs and a Talisman nameplate on the roof sail panel; it increased the base price of the Brougham by $1,813 in 1976!

   
The survivor shown in the preceding two rows is a 1974 model;
it resides in France; 1200 units were thus outfitted in 1976

Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance¹

Added luxury included contoured pillow-style seats [50/50 dual-comfort in front] trimmed in Mansion knit
material available in light gray, black, dark blue, dark blue-green and light buckskin; in addition were
seat-back storage pockets of the same plush material, extra deep pile carpeting; on the outside were , turbine-vaned
wheel discs, opera lamps , an Elk grain vinyl roof covering and brushed chrome door moldings

De Ville d'Elegance¹

   
Like the Brougham  d'Elegance, the DeVille equivalent featured contoured pillow-style seats
[50/50 dual-comfort n front] trimmed in Magnan, a ribbed knit material available in black, dark blue,
dark blue-green and light buckskin and extra deep-pile carpeting; on the outside were the new, see-through,
stand-up crest, opera lamps, accent striping the full length of the car and formal-style, slim  opera lamps

Cabriolet roof

This Cabriolet-style roof covering in Elk grain vinyl, with
a cross-over chrome molding was offered on the regular
Coupe de Ville as well as the custom DeVille d'Elegance

¹ This unfortunate misuse of the French language is irritating to any ear attuned to that language. Elegance is a noun; it has the same meaning  in French and
    English; the French  d'  (short for de) means "of", so DeVille of Elegance and Brougham of Elegance. More correct would have been DeVille  Elegante
    [Elegant DeVille] or Brougham Elegante [Elegant Brougham], as in the correctly named Seville Elegante!

       
Left: Illuminated door locks for night entry
Center: the instrument board on Fleetwood and De Ville models
Right: cornering lamps, Fleetwood stand-up wreath and crest

       
Left: Power reclining front passenger seat;
Right: switches for power door locks and windows on driver's door panel

       
1976                                                                       1977                                                1978

Left: electrically-powered sliding roof panel gave supplementary fresh air ventilation; interestingly,  the same, blonde model wearing a different
outfit was photographed in the same pose, at the same location (right) but in a different car also for the 1977 and 1978 product brochures

   
Right: trunk space is never at a premium
when you drive a full-size Cadillac