1982 Cadillac DeVille Coupe 4.1L from North America

Summary:

Potential to be a nice cruiser

Faults:

I bought it as a basket case as is...

The engine has a miss in one cylinder and a clicking sound.

I need to check for a collapsed lifter or flat lobe on the camshaft.

General Comments:

I like big cruisers. This Caddy has real potential. I bought the car a few days ago. The car has a good body, but needs a paint job.

The interior is nice but needs a radio. Dash radio opening has been "modified" to accept a newer radio system. I haven't driven the car yet. I got it for $400 as is..

The engine has a miss in one cylinder and a clicking sound. I need to check for a collapsed lifter or flat lobe on the camshaft. Depending on the results of my engine teardown, I will either rebuild it or make it into a street rod. I have a choice of a Chev SB400 and turbo tranny or a 1983 Buick 455 engine and tranny. I prefer to keep it a economy cruiser, but if the engine work is too costly, then here comes a street rod project.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th January, 2010

1982 Cadillac DeVille HT4100 from North America

Summary:

Cool, odd, but so much fun!

Faults:

New radiator.

New brake pads and lines.

New exhaust.

All new belts and hoses.

This was done immediately after purchase, so far no problems.

General Comments:

I love this car, so far it's been awesome.

I've done a lot of reading on the ht4100, and find the motor to be fascinating. To me, owning a perfectly operational experimental/accidental unique piece of motoring is simply really cool.

I purchased this car from a guy whose mother owned it up until 2004 when she passed away. She used it to drive to church and back, kept it in a garage, and chain smoked cigarettes inside it. The car was on the side of the road and my father who also loves caddies gave me a call. At the time I was driving a 92 Deville, which I loved, but I got into a car accident and had to replace the hood with a mismatched color. The 82, which is in immaculate shape was mine. I worked overtime for a month and made the 1050 bucks I needed, put another 1500 into her and she runs like new.

Since then I’ve been driving it as my daily driver. I love it, the comfort, size, the fuel economy, and the fact that it's a Cadillac makes for a all around cool car. I realize that it could potentially be a total nightmare, but for now as it runs like a brand new car so I don’t really care. I think the ht4100 is a cool motor, who’d a thought that a 75 miles per hour on the highway you can average 25-27 miles per gallon in a 2.5 ton car!

Anyways, I can't complain. If it craps out after a couple years or so, I won't get my panties in a bunch. After all, it's a 27 year old car, and will probably be one of the coolest cars I ever own.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st January, 2010

2nd Jan 2010, 17:10

Great attitude! And yes it's a cool car. Keep in mind that if it 'craps out on you', it wouldn't cost much at all to have someone install a junkyard Oldsmobile 307 V-8, as was standard after the 4.1 liter.

(Actually I had a front wheel drive '86 with the 4.1 and never had any problems, so who knows).

10th Jul 2010, 16:34

I am a new owner of a 4100 CAD, I love the car. My engine is now smoking lightly. She is a beauty and I will stand by her even if have to change the engine. Her body is worth it.

Jason. Trinidad, West Indies.

29th Apr 2013, 09:52

Yes, but a 1986 DeVille doesn't weigh in excess of 2 tons.