The Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman is a luxury car model produced by Cadillac, a division of General Motors. It was in production from 1974 to 1976, and it was the top-of-the-line trim level in the Fleetwood series. The Talisman was known for its luxurious features and high-end design. It featured a plush interior with premium materials, including leather upholstery and wood trim. The seats were designed to provide maximum comfort, with power adjustments and heating options. The cabin was also spacious, allowing for ample legroom and storage space.

The Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman was king of the dinosaurs

Please welcome Richard Bennett and his feature, “The Brougham Society”. He will be your tour guide to that glorious era of American cars when the tops were Landau, the leather was Corinthian, and the best-selling car on the road was truly Supreme.

The Seventies were a decade of decadence. Members of the Greatest Generation were firmly into their careers, and were ready to enjoy the good life. Luxury and style was served up in grand fashion. Sometimes that grand fashion crossed the line into garish — but it didn’t matter.

Personal Luxury was very much in vogue, which meant that Cordobas and Monte Carlos prowled the streets in packs. There were more Nimitz-class luxury sedans than ever before, including Cadillac’s wildly popular de Ville. Some titans of business and industry, however, would accept nothing less than the biggest and best. Enter the Talisman.

Richard Bennett Richard Bennett

General Motors’ large luxury cars were completely remade for the 1971 model year, and were land yachts in the truest sense. With overall length reaching over 233 inches by the mid 70’s, and a wheelbase that could stretch to 133 inches, there was no way one could not be awed and impressed by these luxurious machines.

Cadillac was still a fan of doing annual updates to their lineup during this era, so it’s not hard to tell these cars apart by year. Each year saw extra touches of luxury added, with the ultimate in luxury arriving in 1974, courtesy of the debut Talisman Edition. Imagine a motorcar this large with individual seating for only four passengers, thanks to full consoles installed in the middle of each row. Crushed “Medici” velour covered the thickly padded seats, and most of the door panels and the sail panels. Every power assist available at the time was present and accounted for. Courtesy lamps illuminated a forest of simulated woodgrain. 1975 and 76 saw the deletion of the rear console, as most customers wanted to be able to have room for three in the back.

The Talisman was intended to be the ultimate owner-driven large Cadillac, combining the opulence of the Seventy-Five limousine with the packaging of the Fleetwood town sedan. It could cost $17,000 in an era when a Nova rang the register for $3,300. Cadillac’s 500-cubic-inch V-8 motivated this two-and-a-half-ton beauty down the road with quiet authority, the wreath and crest hood ornament leading the way confidently.

You never heard the V8, as there was plenty of insulation to keep out any exterior noise. And while an electric sunroof (Astroroof in GM parlance) was available, the air conditioning was so good that there really was no reason to ever want to open the windows.

I spotted this beautiful example last year at a small car show in Belleville, Michigan. I didn’t get to meet the owner, but the car is obviously well loved, and still commands the respect that was, and is, due The Standard of the World.

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Brougham Society

The 1976 Fleetwood Talisman was the Broughamiest Brougham that ever Broughamed

Have you ever had a car you were immediately infatuated with at first sight, meant to write about as soon as possible, but kept getting displaced by other subjects? It happens to me frequently. Other car shows intervene, more and more photos get taken. Bright, shiny, rolling vehicles with opera windows and crushed velour distract your author.

In that same vein, after a long hiatus, I finally got this most excellent GM luxury cabin cruiser onto the page. May I present the Broughamiest Brougham that ever Broughamed? Well, at least in my opinion.

1976 Eldorado at the Rizza Buick all-GM show in Tinley Park, IL, June 25, 2017. Thomas Klockau

Sure, there are other good candidates: the 1977–78 Oldsmobile Toronado XSR, 1978 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham four-door hardtop, 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, 1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV Givenchy Designer Series, and many others. But the 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman is especially decadent—and well loved by yours truly.

Today’s subject is a Fleetwood Talisman in the most attractive color combination of Georgian Silver with a matching silver padded vinyl roof and Light Antique Blue velour interior. Maximum Cadillac. Maximum Brougham. Maximum Awesome.

I have had a serious jones for the 1971–76 Cadillac Fleetwood since I was a kid. A navy blue metallic, 1/64 scale toy Fleetwood Brougham by Pocket Cars had a lot (correction: everything) to do with it.

I loved that little model Fleetwood, and its companion, a Pocket Cars Continental Mark IV in the same blue with an off-white top. Explains why I do so many Cadillac and Lincoln articles, doesn’t it?

Pocket Cars Fleetwood Brougham and Lincoln Mark IV. Thomas Klockau

My parents got me both of them at about the same time, when I was perhaps two or three years old. They immediately became my favorite toy cars and I carried them around with me, virtually everywhere. And while those originals survived to the present day, they’re a little too rough for publication here. I added mint examples to my toy car collection, and they are shown above.

1976 was, in my opinion, peak Brougham. Over at Cadillac, the sky was the limit in Broughamtastic Broughams. If you loved long wheelbases, opera lamps, velour, leather and wire wheel covers, you were in luck. Coupe de Ville, Sedan de Ville, Eldorado, Eldorado Biarritz (a mid-year arrival), d’Elegance packages, the Fleetwood Brougham, the Fleetwood 75 limousine and sedan … and the Fleetwood Brougham d’Elegance. And the creme de la creme, the totally excessive, totally decadent Cadillac: the Fleetwood Talisman.

1976 was the last year for the truly large, truly opulent full-size Cadillacs, though the Eldorado would continue in 100 percent full-sized form through model year ’78. The last year for the Fleetwood Talisman was 1976.

The Fleetwood Talisman originally appeared in 1974. It combined the Fleetwood Brougham body with velour. Velour, everywhere. And the 1974 Talisman was the most opulent, Broughamtastic four-seat luxury automobile you could buy that year. Yes, that’s correct, it was a four-seater, with giant, velour-clad center consoles in both the front and back.

The 1974 Talisman was an excessively luxurious, velour-bomb of epic proportions. Of course, I love them. Many a driver accidentally fell asleep due to the cosseting plushness, leading to few Talismans surviving today. I’m kidding, of course, but with their massive center consoles front and rear, long wheelbase, and options on top of options, the ’74 Talisman was a special car. Either you got it, or you didn’t. This was unapologetic American-style luxury.

The four-seater Talisman lasted for 1974 only. In ’75, the front velour-clad buckets and console remained, but the rear seat console went away, leaving room for one additional lucky passenger. All the usual refinements, other than that back-seat console, remained as before. Talisman production was 1898 for the inaugural ’74 model, and 1238 were built in 1975.

The 1976 Fleetwood Talisman was introduced alongside all the other ’76 Cadillacs on September 12, 1975. In its final year, 1200 Talismans were built. Our subject car, photographed by my friend Jayson Coombes in autumn 2018 at the Gilmore Museum, is one of them. She appears to be a lovingly preserved example, and the silver over blue combination is just plain excellent. Special thanks to Jayson for documenting this most excellent Cadillac!

Mac's Motor City Garage

The cabin was also spacious, allowing for ample legroom and storage space. On the exterior, the Talisman had a distinctive look that set it apart from other Cadillac models. It featured a unique grille design, chrome accents, and exclusive badging.

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The Queen of Cadillacs: 1974-76 Fleetwood Talisman

Posted on June 21, 2022 by MCG

In Cadillac’s fabulous brougham era, there was one Caddy that was even more decadent than the rest: the 1974-76 Fleetwood Talisman.

No, Cadillacs of the early-mid ’70s weren’t especially noted for their restraint. Oversized, overweight, and over the top in most every way, they were powered by enormous 472 and 500 cubic-inch V8s and offered every luxury and convenience feature known to humankind. But for buyers who were seeking even more crushed-velour decadance, Cadillac offered the fabulous Fleetwood Talisman of 1974-76. Some connoisseurs have described the Talisman as the most luxuriously trimmed production Cadillac since the coachbuilt era.

Offered on the Fleetwood Sixty Special platform with its generous 133-inch wheelbase and available only as a four-door sedan, the Talisman wasn’t a separate model as such. Rather, it was an option package (code V4U) that added nearly $2000 to the SIxty Special’s already hefty base price of around ten grand. (At the time, a nicely equipped Chevy Caprice cost around $4500.)

While the package included modest exterior badges on the rear sail panels, an elk-grain vinyl roof, and other touches, the major focus was in the cabin. Overstuffed, ultra-rich Medici Velour covered everything, including the wide front console with its built-in, fold-out writing desk. The first-year ’74 vehicles included a wide console for rear seat passengers as well, and a leather Talisman package was also available. (See our feature on the Motor City’s velour period, “Life in a Trombone Case,” here.)

When the Cadillac rear-drive platform was downsized for 1977 along with the rest of the full-size cars at General Motors, the Fleetwood Sixty Special was discontinued and naturally, the Talisman was dropped as well. Factory records indicate that 1,898 Talismans were produced in 1974, 1,238 in 1975, and 1,200 in ’76, and Cadillac experts believe that only a fraction of them have survived.

Reviews for "Driving in Style: Experience the Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman"

1. John - 2 stars

I was really disappointed with the Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman. First of all, the exterior design was outdated and lacked any modern style. The interior was no different, with outdated features and uncomfortable seating. The engine performance was also lackluster, with poor acceleration and handling. Overall, I expected more from a luxury car like the Talisman, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a modern and stylish ride.

2. Sarah - 1 star

I had high hopes for the Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman, but it was a complete letdown. The car had numerous mechanical issues, from engine problems to electrical failures. It spent more time at the repair shop than on the road. The interior was also disappointing, with cheap materials and uncomfortable seats. The overall driving experience was far from luxurious, and I regretted investing in this car. I would advise others to steer clear of the Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman unless they enjoy spending their time and money on constant repairs.

3. Mike - 2 stars

The Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman did not meet my expectations. The car had poor fuel efficiency, which was a major letdown considering its high price tag. The handling was also subpar, making it difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. Additionally, the cabin was noisy, and the ride quality was not as smooth as I had hoped. The lack of modern features and outdated design further added to my disappointment. Overall, I would advise potential buyers to look elsewhere for a luxury car that offers better performance and value for money.

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