Cover photo

1979 Cadillac Seville by Gucci

Draped in Designer: The Extravagant Tale of the Gucci Cadillac Seville, America's Most Flamboyant Luxury Collaboration

basement5k

basement5k

From Milan to Miami: The Luxurious Birth of the Gucci Cadillac Seville

The late '70s were peak excess, and nobody understood that better than Aldo Gucci—the old-school boss of the Italian fashion dynasty. While Detroit was busy figuring out how to deal with emissions regulations, Aldo had the wild idea to slap his family name all over America's premier luxury sedan. He hooked up with those custom car wizards at International Automotive Design down in Miami, and they went to town on the Cadillac Seville—a car that was already no stranger to luxury. What rolled out of their shop wasn't subtle: gold-plated badges, designer fabric everywhere, and that unmistakable Gucci pattern that told everyone at the country club you were willing to drop what would be six figures in today's money on a tarted-up Caddy. It was excessive, it was flashy, and it was exactly what a certain type of well-heeled customer couldn't resist in the disco era.

Production and Rarity

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Truth is, nobody really knows exactly how many of each color of the Gucci Seville rolled out of that Miami shop back in the day. From what we can piece together from barn finds, auction listings, and old dealer records, there were about 200 of these fashion-forward Caddies produced in total during the '78-'79 run.

You could get one in white, black, or that rich "Saddle Brown" that just screamed late-seventies luxury. But trying to figure out if they made more white ones than black ones? That's where the trail goes cold. Back then, especially with these aftermarket specials, nobody was thinking about future collectors wanting to know production numbers—they were just building cool cars for people with deep pockets. What we do know for sure is that finding any Gucci Seville today, regardless of color, is like spotting a unicorn at a car show. If you come across one with its original Gucci luggage still in the trunk, buy a lottery ticket because your luck's running hot.


Guccillac Conversion Process:

The Gucci Seville conversion was a carefully orchestrated process involving Cadillac, I.A.D. (International Automotive Design) in Miami, and Gucci:

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Image from Original 1979 brochure

Ordering & Base Vehicles

  • Stock Sevilles were ordered from Cadillac without padded roofs

  • Vehicles were delivered to a Miami Cadillac dealer, then purchased by I.A.D.

  • Available in three Gucci-specified colors: white, black, and brown

  • All models featured saddle-colored leather interiors (standardized by Gucci)

  • Most factory options were included, particularly the 1978 digital trip computer/speedometer and wire wheel covers

  • Optional features available: diesel engine ($350) and astro roof ($1,400)

Conversion Details

  • I.A.D. added Gucci-patterned fabric to the rearmost part of the metal roof

  • Applied Gucci green-and-red stripe decals to trunks and hoods

  • Replaced all Cadillac logos (grille, wheel covers, trunk, steering wheel, interior) with 24-karat gold Gucci emblems "imported from Florence"

  • Replaced standard headliners with Gucci-pattern fabric

  • Added Gucci pattern to headrests and armrests

  • Included a fitted set of Gucci luggage in the trunk


Exclusive Gucci Design

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Photo by @kime011

Exterior: When it's totally fair to judge a book by it's cover

When it comes to the Gucci Seville, judging a book by its cover isn't just fair—it's exactly what buyers were paying for. This wasn't a vehicle that whispered its exclusivity; it announced it with golden flourishes and designer badges that transformed an already luxurious Cadillac into a rolling fashion statement.

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Photo by @kime011

Hood Ornament: A 24karat gold-plated hood ornament featuring the Gucci logo

Special Badging: Gucci logo emblems placed behind the front wheels, ensuring people knew it wasn't a regular Seville.

Distinctive Roof: A half-padded vinyl roof (also called a "rear cap vinyl roof") designed to enhance the luxury appearance.

Custom Wheels: Special Gucci-specific wire wheel covers with the Gucci logo/"G" in the center. These appear to be standard Cadillac wire wheels with custom Gucci centers replacing the Cadillac emblems.

Pin-striping: The vehicle featured signature Gucci pinstripes along the body.

Trunk Badging: A Gucci nameplate on the lower driver's side of the deck lid.

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Image taken from Original 1979 brochure

Lets take a step inside...

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Photo by @kime011

Interior: The Fabric of Fashion Reimagined for the Road

Step inside the Gucci Seville, and any doubt about what you paid for instantly vanishes. The cabin transforms the typical Cadillac luxury experience into a fashion boutique on wheels, where every surface becomes an opportunity to showcase Italian design sensibilities through America's lens of opulence.

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Photos by @defuntis

-Upholstery in genuine Gucci fabric featuring the interlocking "G" pattern

-Headrests embroidered with Gucci logos

-Door panels trimmed with Gucci fabric and emblems

-Custom Gucci instrument panel accents

-Matching Gucci luggage in the trunk of some models

-Leather interior components featuring Gucci's distinctive green and red striping

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Image taken from Original 1979 brochure

But wait....Theres MORE

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ICING ON THE MF'n CAKE: Unique Luggage Kit

As if the car itself wasn't enough of a status symbol, the Gucci Seville came with the ultimate luxury flex—a complete set of matching designer luggage. This wasn't just any afterthought add-on; this five-piece collection was meticulously engineered to maximize every inch of the Seville's modest 14 cubic feet of trunk space, proving that even practicality could be fashionable when Gucci was involved.

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- Each Gucci Seville came with a five-piece luggage set

-The luggage was specially designed to fit in the Seville's relatively small trunk (14 cubic feet)

- The set was custom-made to maximize the limited trunk space, which included a space-saver spare tire

-The luggage matched the car's Gucci styling/fabric pattern


Where are they now?

To be frank, nobody really fkn knows.

We do know that the Gucci Seville has carved out its own quirky corner in the collector car world. Not quite a darling of Cadillac purists or mainstream collectors, these fashion-forward rides have found their people – enthusiasts who appreciate them as early pioneers of the luxury brand collaborations we see everywhere now.

Finding one in good shape is tough these days. The special Gucci fabrics don't age gracefully, and complete examples with the original luggage set are seriously rare finds. When they do pop up for sale, prices reflect their uniqueness more than their driving experience (which, let's be honest, was never the point).

What's cool is watching younger car fans discover these through Instagram or TikTok. What might have seemed over-the-top in 1979 now reads as delightfully bold and authentic.

Recent Listing

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Photo taken from original seller on https://www.cadillacforums.com/

Late last year, I spotted a brown example for sale in Indiana that exemplifies the quirky brilliance of this collaboration. It features the infamous Oldsmobile diesel V8 engine – a notorious power plant that delivers glacial acceleration (0-60 mph in approximately 20 seconds) but surprisingly good fuel economy. /

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Photos taken from original seller on https://www.cadillacforums.com/

While described as "mechanically perfect" with 33,000 miles, the interior and signature Gucci vinyl roof need significant restoration, which presents a substantial challenge given the unique materials involved. Listed at $55,000 – considerably more than typical Sevilles from this era – this vehicle represents the fascinating intersection of fashion and automotive design that defined a unique moment in luxury car history.

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Photos taken from original seller on https://www.cadillacforums.com/


Final Thoughts

Sure, modern folks might raise an eyebrow at all that gold plating and patterned fabric, but the Gucci Seville was peak late-70s luxury vibes. It was doing exactly what it set out to do – turning heads and making a statement. You can trace a direct line from this flashy collaboration to today's world where fashion brands and car companies hook up all the time to create special editions that turn ordinary rides into status symbols on wheels.

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Photo by @defuntis

If you're lucky enough to have one in your garage these days, you've got more than just a car – you've got a slice of a time when "too much" wasn't in the vocabulary. The Gucci Seville reminds us that the coolest cars in history aren't always the fastest or most high-tech, but sometimes they're just the ones weird enough to be memorable.

Though the Gucci Seville eventually disappeared as new models rolled in, its DNA lives on whenever a luxury brand slaps its name on a limited-edition vehicle. It was one of the first to show what happens when the fashion runway meets the highway – and that's a stylish legacy worth remembering.

Thanks for reading, and hope you enjoyed, until next time. - @basement5k

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Photo by @kime011

*Disclosure: None of the photos in this piece are owned or were taken by me - I sifted through dozens of blog posts, Auto media sites, and forum threads to connect the story from ideation to current day and wanted to bring that story to life visually.

Reid DeRamusFarcaster
Reid DeRamus
Commented 3 months ago

After a brief hiatus, we're back with a fresh round of great writing over the past few weeks!

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Marcelo Terça-Nada 💎🎩✨Farcaster
Marcelo Terça-Nada 💎🎩✨
Commented 3 months ago

Super ✨

Reid DeRamusFarcaster
Reid DeRamus
Commented 3 months ago

Lol, thank you! :)

basement5kFarcaster
basement5k
Commented 3 months ago

Wow. Humbled to have made the list. Appreciate it and hope you enjoyed the read

Reid DeRamusFarcaster
Reid DeRamus
Commented 3 months ago

Absolutely, loved it! Was totally unaware that Gucci Seville was an actual thing. The old pics were really cool too.

HenrieTheGre🅰️t.base.ethFarcaster
HenrieTheGre🅰️t.base.eth
Commented 3 months ago

Welcome back this is insightful

The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨Farcaster
The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨
Commented 4 months ago

Installed this at a friends house a while back. He’s a big hot wheels collector as you can see. Any cars you like there @basement5k.eth ?

Kyle PatrickFarcaster
Kyle Patrick
Commented 4 months ago

Out of the box too, love to see it

The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨Farcaster
The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨
Commented 4 months ago

Exactly!! He doesn’t hold them for flipping!! I have a bunch on my desk too, just for the vibes hehe

TonyMinhFarcaster
TonyMinh
Commented 4 months ago

Wow. Sick mate. I really want to have one as well after saw this

The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨Farcaster
The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨
Commented 4 months ago

Good thing is, I know how to make and install one of these now hahaha. So you can always invite me and I’ll make it hahaa it’s so good right

TonyMinhFarcaster
TonyMinh
Commented 4 months ago

I wonder how much total cost including all the cars 🥹

RafaelloFarcaster
Rafaello
Commented 4 months ago

This is so cool

𝙍𝘼𝘿 🎩 Farcaster
𝙍𝘼𝘿 🎩
Commented 4 months ago

LOVE this. I have a bad habit of never wanting to open mine, but something like this goes so hard

The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨Farcaster
The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨
Commented 4 months ago

you really should open them haha they're super fun to be on the desk too these are just some of them from around my desk, yes thats a batmobile. and a rick and morty space ship hahaa

Chic BangsFarcaster
Chic Bangs
Commented 4 months ago

love the color coordination!!

The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨Farcaster
The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨
Commented 4 months ago

I thought you would like it! especially the red shelf!!

🌈 YONFarcaster
🌈 YON
Commented 4 months ago

mfer got the trippy hot wheels shelf.

0ffline.xo 👽🪐✨Farcaster
0ffline.xo 👽🪐✨
Commented 4 months ago

lmaooo this is amazing

DVFarcaster
DV
Commented 4 months ago

Love the color scheme

amosnenaFarcaster
amosnena
Commented 4 months ago

Wow! This is cool

The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨Farcaster
The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨
Commented 4 months ago

thanks friend!! do you have a favourite one on the shelf?

Alexey 🎩🐲🐹Farcaster
Alexey 🎩🐲🐹
Commented 4 months ago

rainbow collection 🤘

The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨Farcaster
The Dude Bart🐘🌳 ⌐◨-◨
Commented 4 months ago

ooh never thought of it that way, but fuck yeahhh I like it

basement5kFarcaster
basement5k
Commented 4 months ago

Drive Aesthetic Vol. 2: 1979 Cadillac Seville by Gucci This one took a bit more time - there is some real awesome lore around this collab which leaves a lot of unanswered questions.

OG🏴‍☠️🎩Farcaster
OG🏴‍☠️🎩
Commented 4 months ago

nice read, i was not aware of this Gucci drop back in 1979 LOL pretty cool. i wonder who are the owners of these things in the wild.

basement5kFarcaster
basement5k
Commented 4 months ago

I’ve seen them occasionally on instagram. All from the same two photographers mainly. But after doing a ton of research they are extremely hard to find. Which is why I bet less than 200 were made

OG🏴‍☠️🎩Farcaster
OG🏴‍☠️🎩
Commented 4 months ago

42 $degen

basement5kFarcaster
basement5k
Commented 4 months ago

Drive Aesthetic Vol. 2: 1979 Cadillac Seville by Gucci This one took a bit more time - there is some real awesome lore around this collab which leaves a lot of unanswered questions.

Seattledog🎩Farcaster
Seattledog🎩
Commented 4 months ago

Baseline mistakes were made

MightyMoss 🎩🔵❇️Farcaster
MightyMoss 🎩🔵❇️
Commented 4 months ago

that interior 🔥 75 $DEGEN

1979 Cadillac Seville by Gucci