Finnish Line – 1999 Cadillac Seville STS

Antti Kautonen

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1999_cadillac_seville_sts

In direct continuation to yesterday’s 1991 Caprice post, and the Chrysler 300M last week, here’s another large American car spotted within close range from each other – not on the same day, though.

While the earthly brownish grey 300M was all about warm colours, this 1999 Cadillac Seville STS is all about cold blue steel.

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One of my favorite albums is Sacred Songs by Daryl Hall. Now, before you all make a quick exit, let me elaborate: it’s a very well realized collaboration with King Crimson’s Robert Fripp, and some of the feelings on that album are just beyond description. The songs were recorded in 1977, but RCA shelved the album until 1980 because they didn’t get it.

After completing work on Sacred Songs, Hall sang vocals on Fripp’s solo album Exposure (the title song also having been recorded by Peter Gabriel for his second solo album), and this is where I get to the point. On both Exposure and the re-release of Sacred Songs, you find a song called North Star. I can never think of the Cadillac Northstar engine without getting the song playing in my head. The album would definitely remain in any Northstar-engined Cadillac car I’d ever own.

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The L37 Northstar in this 1999 STS made 300 horsepower and 400Nm of torque. The exhaust tips are very restrained, and it’s a shame I didn’t hear the car running. Chromed wheels and studded tires are always a nice combination, too.

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Just like I’m fond of the song North Star, I’m fond of these Cadillacs. The shape, to my eyes, just works. Compared to the heavy-set players that the 1991-1996 Caprice and the 1999-onwards 300M are, the Seville is just a great deal more tactful.

[youtube width=”720″ height=”500″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeRJQ8T4r98[/youtube]

[Images: Copyright 2013 Hooniverse/Antti Kautonen]

 

About

Antti Kautonen

Antti Kautonen

The resident Finn of Hooniverse. Owns old Peugeots and whatnot, writes long thinkpieces on unloved cars. These two facts might be related.

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23 responses to “Finnish Line – 1999 Cadillac Seville STS”

  1. Synchromesh Avatar
    Synchromesh

    I got one of these as a loaner while my Miata was being PDR'd a few years back. It was a beater with interior that was falling apart. It was bulky, relatively thirsty and had some serious torque steer. These have almost disappeared from where I live now. So weird to see one in Europe!

    Reply
  2. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    If I were to make a list of secretly handsome cars – vehicles that are actually really nice looking but nobody seems to think about – the '92-'97 STS would be in a prominent place. I don't like this version as much – rounding off some of the lines made it less interesting – but it's still pretty handsome.

    Reply
    1. Impalamino Avatar
      Impalamino

      I'm with you. Back in '92, these were sharp cars. They still look quite modern in 2013, just entirely different from Cadillac's current design language. I'd be proud to own one.
      "bulky, relatively thirsty and had some serious torque steer" —well yeah, compared to your Miata. No one cross-shopped those two cars in the early 90s.

      Reply
      1. dukeisduke Avatar
        dukeisduke

        This is the fifth-gen Seville, that debuted for '98. Similar shape to the '92-97 car, but softer, and better looking (IMHO).

        Reply
        1. Impalamino Avatar
          Impalamino

          I'm aware. I was responding to Devin's mention of the 92-97 version; I like both versions.

          Reply
  3. Maxichamp Avatar
    Maxichamp

    The fact that my next car can't be a V8 is getting frustrating. My elderly neighbor has a white on white STS and I really want to ask him if he wants to sell it.

    Reply
    1. wunno sev Avatar
      wunno sev

      unplug four of the injectors
      bam, 4banger engine. and you have a spare with you at all times for when the head gasket goes on the first one.

      Reply
  4. duurtlang_ Avatar
    duurtlang_

    Funny, really. The universally acclaimed brand new CTS is liked by everybody except me, yet (the exterior of) this old Seville STS does look good to me.

    Reply
    1. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
      C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

      I'm still not a fan of the ultra-angular design Cadillac has been using since the first-gen CTS.
      My '05 STS is similarly angular, but restrained enough for me to be able to own it.

      Reply
    2. Devin Avatar
      Devin

      Are you talking about the current CTS with its tiny rear doors or the new-new CTS that was just revealed?
      I'm personally not too fond of either one, the front end of the new one is going to be quite polarizing I think (mostly because it's a mess). The ATS is lovely though.

      Reply
  5. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    I really do like these and agree with you on the looks. Only thing is, ever since launch all those years ago, I've been singularly unable to handle the concept of something this big being front wheel drive. I know GM have many valid reasons, but makes as much sense as herring with butterscotch sauce to me.

    Reply
    1. julkinen Avatar
      julkinen

      You know the '70s Eldorados were FWD too? That blows my mind.

      Reply
      1. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
        C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

        That was back when the French, I believe, stated you can't have a FWD car which is more than 2.0L and 1 metric tonne.
        That Eldorado was 8.2L and 5K lbs.
        'Murrica…

        Reply
      2. Ate Up With Motor Avatar
        Ate Up With Motor

        The Eldorado was FWD from 1967 on. Until 1985, though, its layout was quite a bit different than most modern FWD cars. The actual planetary transmission was turned backward (with the directions of its gear rotation and clutch engagement reversed) and mounted next to the engine block, driven by a chain off the torque converter. The engine was raised a bit compared to RWD Cadillacs and the sump was reshaped to allow one of the driveshafts to pass underneath. The whole package was very compact and had essentially no torque steer, even with a 8.2-liter engine.

        Reply
      3. dukeisduke Avatar
        dukeisduke

        I love the '67-'70 models (my favorite).

        Reply
    2. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      My family has had a series of unlikely FWD cars.
      Grandpa had a '37 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton that he had restored from a basket case.
      Dad owned an '80 Toronado with a 4bbl longitudinal 350 V8. Yeah, downsized from the Toros of yore, but still a big girl.
      And I now have a 5K lb 280+ HP FWD Saturn Outlook SUV.
      None of these, nor the STS, match the 80s American stereotype that FWD is for little economy cars. Then again, we've got a lot of big or powerful FWD cars & SUVs these days – Taurus, Impala, XTS, Mazdaspeed3, Explorer, Acadia, LaCrosse, Avalon, etc.

      Reply
    3. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      I've had two large front-drivers – first-gen Legend and second-gen Audi 5000. Both were stable and nice handling, well suited to Seattle's wet conditions.

      Reply
  6. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    More to love.

    Reply
  7. Preludacris Avatar
    Preludacris

    This car is far more interesting outside of its native habitat.
    (that habitat being, of course, sloooowly turning out in front of you as you drive past any seniors' home in the U.S. or Canada.)

    Reply
  8. stigshift Avatar
    stigshift

    I loved this body style when it came out in '92, and I think it still looks great. It doesn't even look out of place over there, unlike most American iron of the time.

    Reply
  9. speedy Avatar
    speedy

    love the body style.!
    The Northstar was the worst engine GM ever design the reason you don't see them anymore.?
    .Because of the design flaws
    from the dual revers flow water pumps to the headbolt /blown HG… Total Junk
    and the car it self not much better from the ignition switch to the electronic ride control to the heater fan motor…junk

    Reply
    1. acarr260 Avatar
      acarr260

      I was basically told to stay away from any pre-2003 Northstar. Apparently after that, they fixed the issues. They use oil (by design), but the latest ones are quite a nice powerplant.

      Reply
  10. Zaxbys Avatar
    Zaxbys

    A few years back I rode in one of these that the owner could (and had) remove block-off plates on the exhaust and basically make it straight pipes which dumped right under the cabin. Glorious sound. Glorious.

    Reply