This 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Is Straight out of Donnie Brasco, Packs Trusted 425 Ci V8

The DeVille nameplate has been spammed by Cadillac over eight generations, covering everything from trim levels to outright standalone models. They finally retired the moniker back in 2006 to make way for the DTS and all of its successors.

What we have here is a fifth-generation model, riding on GM’s FR architecture – just like the Fleetwood Brougham, Buick Electra and the Oldsmobile 98. Compared to their predecessors, these deVilles were more compact (if you can call them that) and more practical. For the 1979 model year, Cadillac gave them a new grille, to go with a lightweight aluminum hood.

We should also point out that 1979 was the year just before a major facelift was applied, which is why these older deVilles look so different. Some people still prefer the design of the pre-facelift fifth-gen car, I for one am not sure. I think the deVille is a handsome vehicle either way – I certainly wouldn’t want to offend anyone who’s ever owned such car, seeing as how a lot of people who were in a “certain line of work” were also big deVille fans.

A great pop culture example is the movie Donnie Brasco, where Lefty Ruggiero (played by Al Pacino) drove a 1979 Coupe deVille not unlike the one we’re featuring here. Lefty loved his Cadillacs – or at least he did in the movie. Anyway, this Coupe deVille is still stunning to look at with its vinyl roof, leather upholstery and working air conditioning.

It also comes with cruise control, AM/FM radio, 15” wheels and GM’s old and very trusty 425 ci V8, which at the time would have been rated at about 180 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. Everything gets sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission.
While this Caddy is by no means in tip-top form, it’s still clearly very well looked-after. There are a few dings on the passenger-side quarter panel, chips on the steering column cover, and the hood insulation pad is worn, but other than that it looks kind of great. Even the color kicks serious behind. I’m not big on brown cars generally speaking, but the Coupe deVille pulls it off effortlessly.

If this had been a mint or even a near-mint example, it would have likely sold for well over $25,000, maybe even over $30,000 – especially if it had the 7.0-liter V8 option. In any case, $17.5k plus a buyer’s fee... what do you guys think of that number?