Back to square "egg-crate" grille openings this year; there were three rows of twenty
openings above the front bumper and an additional two rows of six,  flanking the license
plate frame, below the central bumper division. The Cadillac name, in script, graced
the top RH side of the front hood panel, above the grille shroud (as you face the car). 

         
Left: flanked by two vertical, rectangular, amber turn signal lamps and paired rectangular
headlamps, this year's rectangular grill comprised  square openings (egg-crate style)
as opposed to the rectangular openings on last year's models;
Right: tall, narrow, oval-shaped tail light housings were new this year; a long, slim "winged crest"
decorated the center of the red glass reflector; the side marker portion of the tail-light occupied
the middle portion of the housing and measured about one quarter of the total housing height

DeVille models featured a free-standing crest, while the
Fleetwoods had the well-known, stand-up wreath and crest

    
(Left) Regular Eldorado and (right) Custom Biarritz grilles have four rows of twenty-six   square, "egg-crate" openings; an additional
two rows of eight openings flank the license plate frame, below the central bumper division: additional, narrow chrome strip on three
central division bars provides illusion of double moldings around each grille opening.  E L D O R A D  O  name, in block letters, graces
center of the front hood panel, above the grille; vertical "winged crest" emblem adds flair to vertical chrome fender extensions 

    
Basically unchanged in its general outline from last year, the car again featured color-coordinated  wheel disc centers and a roof
covered in Elk Grain vinyl, with opera lamps and  the Fleetwood Brougham script on the sail panels. The Fleetwood name plate
was deleted from the front fender; at right is the standard Florentine velours trim available in light gray, black, light blue, dark
green, yellow, light beige and mulberry (shown here);  eleven shades of leather also were available (for the seating areas only)
 

Survivors are always welcome in these pages ... especially nice ones like this!

   
The Cabriolet roof treatment seen here was available only on the Coupe de Ville; a chrome crossover roof molding was paired
with an Elk Grain vinyl covering; up front, on the hood,  was a new, solid color, stand-up crest; leather seating areas came in a
choice of 11 colors  including antique light gray, black, antique light beige, dark carmine, antique mulberry and white
(shown here); nine colors of the Random velours were also available, as well as Hampton woven cloth

I like to find the occasional nice survivor, like this one, to prove once again the quality of our collectible Cadillacs

    
The regular Sedan de Ville came this year with attractive new wheel discs; the car is shown here in Sterling blue with
the optional Elk Grain vinyl roof covering; the upholstery selection illustrated at right is light blue (mulberry was also
available); Random velours was also offered in light gray, yellow, beige, dark green, mulberry, light blue or
black; additionally, Sierra Grain leather could be ordered for the seating areas in 12 different colors

    
The limited production Fleetwood limousines always have been designed  for chauffeuring dignitaries of all kinds as well as corporate
executives; luxurious privacy were the keywords; the Fleetwood nameplate was retained on the front fender but was now in script; in 1978,
a sliding glass partition was featured in the formal version, while twin auxiliary seats in the rear compartment were common to both models;
as to upholstery, seating areas in the front compartment were upholstered in black leather (there was a 45/45 front seat)
while one of three shades of Florentine velours could be selected for the rear compartment (light gray, black or dark blue) 

The regular and formal Fleetwood limousines could be ordered
with this Cabriolet style roof, opera lamps and decorative landau bars

A survivor in navy blue

This year featured a couple of special editions:  the DeVille d'Elegance and the Brougham d'Elegance
[between you and me Elegante would be a more correct use of French, as in Seville Elegante¹]
These special offerings had pillow-type seating in Random velours as well as  50/50 front seats;
there was a DeVille d'Elegance script on the glove box door, three assist straps and door pull handles;
there was pinstriping on the outside and vinyl inserts to match the exterior color;
sail panels carried opera lamps and, again, the d'Elegance script nameplate

    
Left: Interior of  DeVille d'Elegance in dark green Random velours
Right: Brougham d'Elegance interior in medium saddle leather (seating areas only)

Cabriolet roof in white Elk Grain vinyl,
used on request on the Coupe de Ville

¹ Elegance is a noun; it has the same meaning  in French and English; the French  d'  (short for de) means "of", i.e. DeVille of Elegance,
   Brougham of Elegance. Linguistically more correct would have been DeVille Elegante or Brougham Elegante (i.e Elegant DeVille or
   Elegant Brougham, as in Seville Elegante!

         
This is the classic coupe; Sierra Grain leather seating areas were available in twelve single colors or three two-tone shades (shown, right,
is two-tone Mulberry); the car featured at the left,  painted Canyon Copper Firemist, sports the optional Cabriolet roof treatment

Right: Halifax knit material also was available, in four
different colors (shown is black and white);

The Eldorado Custom Biarritz

   
Available in five color combinations, with color-coordinated wheel disc centers, the Custom Biarritz
featured the Cabriolet roof treatment with a crossover molding descending in a point at the door
handles; opera lamps were mounted on the sail panels just aft of the quarter windows and pin-striping
accented the belt area; the pillow-style seats used soft, supple Sierra Grain leather for the seating areas

         
The colors available for the limited edition Custom Biarritz were  Mediterranean Blue Firemist (top row)
Cotillion White, Carmine Red, Colonial Yellow and Ruidoso Saddle (shown immediately above)

    
A pair of lovely survivors

    
The Seville front grille has four horizontal and thirty-four vertical zones,  plus two more
horizontal and eight vertical ones on either side of the license plate frame;
Right: in the rear were new, engraved tail light emblems (wing and crest)

    
Seville had a new electronic spark selection for 1978, as well as four wheel brakes and a new electronic level control
as standard equipment; the car shown above is painted Ruiodoso saddle and has a color-coordinated Tuxedo Grain roof covering
in dark Camel metallic; the interior (right) is upholstered with Sierra Grain leather for the seating areas, in Saddle brown;
nine other hues were available; the standard trim for the Seville was Dover cloth, available in seven colors.

Seville Elegante

    
Left: the Elegante version of the Seville was available in two duo-tone color combinations: platinum and black (as
shown here) or saddle Firemist and Ruidoso brown; a wreath and crest and the Elegante script graced the sail panels;
Right:  perforated leather seat inserts are shown here in antique gray; antique medium saddle also was available

    
Factory promotional color photo showing the Seville Elegante; chrome-plated wire wheels were standard;
note the absence of a center molding (rubbing strake) on the Elegante; the car shown here has due-tone finish
and a full-length brushed-chrome body molding just above the door handles

A survivor found on Internet