Cadillac DeVille 1985 to 2005 including: 1985-1992 Fleetwood, 1993 Sixty Special, All FWD ForumForum for discussions regarding the front wheel drive 1985 to 2005 DeVille, 1985-1992 Fleetwood and 1993 Sixty Special.
1998s were built on the commercial chassis (intented for hearses, flower cars and ambulances) and therefore were found to have a poor quality ride, as in bumpy, hard, and unforgiviing. The underpinning were so beefed up with so much heavy duty that it was much more than needed. To correct this, they built the 1989 on a stock chassis and they ride much better. I am not sure that the switch was exactly with Job 1 of the 1989 cars. To know for sure, they used different VIN prefixes. A "Heavy Duty" car will have a VIN that starts:- 1GEEH while a regular chassis will have a VIN that starts 1G6KD.
Nicest one I ever saw is that Balboa Blue one, above. It's a 1G6KD car and the rarest color made (1 of 2). Has Skirts & nice color-keyed vinyl top, looking "Factory" rather than a tacky looking Sim-Con.
What's VERY different (yet correct) here is that the base car was a CONCOURS (most are base models) and being a Concours, she correctly got a black grille and her hood moutned Cadillac emblem was not installed, but rather was moved to center of grille. However, they also ordered that Night Vision and therefore the camera is mounted in the grille's center, where the wreath & crest WOULD have gone, therefore.... there is no Cadillac identification anywhere on the car's front end. This was almost a design blunder ! Never saw this combo before.
Above I called the blue Florida example "Balboa Blue" ~ that's incorrect! It's "Parisian Blue" in 1999 ! They made two. Strangely, the other one was on e-bay too, long ago. See one of my 1st posts in this thread on page one. THAT car was all seedy looking & worn out. Not the same car.
This blue on is beautiful with factory chrome rims, hood cap, full vinyl top, fender skirts and more. The other one had no visable options.
You're right Sandy, I totally overlooked the year on it. The '99 had the standard chassis rather than the commercial one. I had to laugh, you still keep typing "89" instead of "99"!!
BTW, the VIN difference you pointed out isn't necessarily anything "heavy-duty". That designation is just for an "incomplete vehicle". I think the '99 cars were built with the W20 Livery upgrades if memory serves.
Yes, the 99s were built with the W20 upgrade. You know the old story....."If I could only turn back the hands of time....." I'd order me a '99 With every allowed Cady option (means NO sunroof ) but in Parisian Blue, with Dk. Blue leather, Grlle Cap, Skirts, DVD, Twin Tables, Chrome Wheels, Pin Stripe, and full length matching Vinyl Top. Just like that one at Dolphion Automotive 4-sale, now, but with dark blue leather, and don't forget the footrests. It's just such a distinct car. So rare.
I know Kat - you don't like it, but that's okay, i'd bring the Town Car to see you in, anyhow.
Yes, the 99s were built with the W20 upgrade. You know the old story....."If I could only turn back the hands of time....." I'd order me a '99 With every allowed Cady option (means NO sunroof ) but in Parisian Blue, with Dk. Blue leather, Grlle Cap, Skirts, DVD, Twin Tables, Chrome Wheels, Pin Stripe, and full length matching Vinyl Top. Just like that one at Dolphion Automotive 4-sale, now, but with dark blue leather, and don't forget the footrests. It's just such a distinct car. So rare.
I know Kat - you don't like it, but that's okay, i'd bring the Town Car to see you in, anyhow.
Thanks. I'll take the T/C for sure between those two.
I never much liked the '97 through '99 Devilles. Boring looking IMO. Only liked the previous design marginally better. Didn't like the '98 Fleetwood Limited at all due to the choice of chassis, and by the time the '99 Limited came around, the car was really doomed anyway. IMO, it was a lame attempt at trying to copy the RWD Fleetwood, and being kind of partial to THEM, I guess I was/am resentful and dislike it on principal if nothing else.
I really liked the '00 Deville and the DTS was a car that I could've actually enjoyed but that damn Northstar just kills it for me. Same goes for the last gen. STS. Hot "looking" car but I just can't get by the engine.
I have a white 98 Fleetwood Limited with a blue top.
Simulated Convertible With the rear table(one)foot rests, pin stripe, skirt and gold package it's pretty cool. Very comfortable. Wish it was RWD =(.
Bought wire wheels for it.
Huh...I never knew that a '98 would be so different from the '99.
Actually, even though I'm not a huge fan of these cars, I'd like to find a '98 just to see how firm and heavy duty they feel on the road...I tend to like that feeling in a car
On another note, how odd/rare is it for a '99 like that blue one to have Onstar? Was that a dealer thing back then, or what?
) but in Parisian Blue, with Dk. Blue leather, Grlle Cap, Skirts, DVD, Twin Tables, Chrome Wheels, Pin Stripe, and full length matching Vinyl Top. Just like that one at Dolphion Automotive 4-sale, now, but with dark blue leather, and don't forget the footrests. It's just such a distinct car. So rare. 
