This was more a year of waiting than one of major changes.
All Cadillac engines were now fuel injected. All but Cimarron and Fleetwood limousines
carried the HT-4100 cu. in. (4.1 liter V-8 with aluminum alloy block and digital fuel
injection. This year, that 249 cu. in. engine gained a new exhaust system and catalytic
converter, plus revised calibration settings, to meet high-altitude emissions
standards.
New features on DeVille, Fleetwood Brougham and limos included a goldtone
horizontally-winged Cadillac crest ornament on front parking and turn signal lenses;
new car-colored bodyside moldings; new goldtone vertically-winged Cadillac crest and
goldtone accents on taillamp lenses; and new standard electronic level control. Diesel
engine identification plaques were now on the left rear of the decklid. Faster-warming
glow plugs went into the optional 5.7 liter diesel V-8, for improved cold-startups. A
modified optional theft-deterrent system could detect any object on the driver's seat
that weighed 40 pounds or more.
1984 Cadillac Notes
- Introduced: September 22, 1983.
- Robert D. Burger was general manager until January
- John O. Grettenberger became general manager in January
- Robert J. Templin was chief engineer for part of the year
- Edward H. Mertz became chief engineer
- Wayne Kady was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
- L. B. Pryor was general sales manager
- Model year production: 300.300 (not including early '85 DeVille/Fleetwoods).
- The total includes 2,465 diesels.
- Calendar year production: 328,534.
- Calendar year sales by U.S. dealers: 320,017 for a 4.0 percent market share.
- Model year sales by U.S. dealers: 327,587 (including 46,356 early '85 front-drives).
- Sales rose 13 percent for the model year, but Cadillac's
market share declined.
- (Figures are a bit distorted because both front-drive and
rear-drive DeVille/Fleetwood models were sold at the same time.)
- On the other hand, all the GM divisions experienced a drop in market share.
- Rising demand, though, kept plants working overtime during 1984.
- Cimarron continued as Cadillac's weakest seller, largely because it offered little more than the related J-car
Chevrolet Cavalier gave for far fewer dollars.
- Best performers in terms of increased sales were the big
DeVille and Fleetwood Brougham.
- Research had shown, however, that over
three-fourths of Cimarron buyers had never bought a Cadillac before; and
that many of them had previously owned an import.
- Late in 1983, a modern new plant at Orion Township in Michigan had begun production of the new
front-drive DeVille, to be introduced for 1985 after early production delays.
- Also late in 1983, Cadillac became part of the Buick-Cadillac-Oldsmobile group.
- In January 1984, John O. Grettenberger became Cadillac's new chief.
- Cadillac had offered the last American convertible in 1976, but wasn't the first to return with a ragtop in the
'80s.
- Already on the market were Buick Riviera, Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac Sunbird, Chrysler
LeBaron, Dodge 600, and Ford Mustang.
- Cadillac's version was, of course, the most costly of the lot for '84.
- The convertible was actually a conversion done by ASC Corporation in
Lansing, Michigan, after the car was assembled in New Jersey.
- The work included reinforcing inner rockers, radiator support cross rods, and many body braces.
- Front and rear anti-roll bars and tougher suspension components were added along with
the vinyl convertible top.
- All told, the convertible weighed 179 pounds more than
the coupe from which it evolved.
- Cadillac production figures
Cimarron21,898 (increased 2,604)
Fleetwood/de Ville series191,510 (increased 16,836)
Eldorado77,806 (increased 10,390)
Seville39,997 (increased 9,567)
Series 751,839 (increased 839)
1983