Cadillac Models & History 1998

All Cadillac models offered the year previous were carried over to 1998.

  • The all-new 1998 Seville, not available until December 1997, was designed to lead Cadillac into the “global” market, with exports to 40 countries
  • Both left-hand and right-hand drive versions were built at Cadillac’s Detroit Hamtramck assembly facility.
  • StabiliTrak was now offered on all front-drive Cadillacs.
  • The Catera joined the rest of the lineup in offering the Onstar communications system as optional equipment

V.I.N. DATA

The 1998 Cadillac had a 17-symbol vehicle identification number (VIN) stamped on a metal tag attached to the upper left surface of the cowl visible through the windshield. The code was as follows:
POSITION DIGIT MEANING
1 1 or 4 manufacturing country (United States)
2 G General Motors
3 6 Cadillac
4 & 5 car line series
  • V/R = Catera
  • E/L = Eldorado
  • E/T = Eldorado Touring
  • K/D = DeVille
  • K/E = d’Elegance
  • K/F = Concours
  • K/S = Seville (SLS)
  • K/Y = Seville (STS)
6 the body style:
  • 1 = two-door coupe
  • 2 = two-door
  • 3 = two-door convertible
  • 4 = two-door station wagon
  • 5 = four-door sedan
  • 6 = four-door
  • 8 = four-door station wagon
7 the restraint code
  • 2 = active (manual) belts w/dual frontal airbags
  • 4 = active (manual) belts w/dual frontal and side airbags
8 the engine
  • Y = LD8 4.6L V-8
  • 9 = L37 4.6L V-8
  • R = L81 3.0L V-6
9 check digit
10 model year W = 1998
11 the assembly plant
12-17 the production sequence number

HISTORICAL NOTES

1999 Cadillac Notes

  • Cadillac’s model year production totaled 162,715 compared with 159,820 the year previous (this figure does not include imported Cateras).

1998 Automotive Notes

  • John F. Smith, Jr. was president of GM until October when G. Richard Waoner, Jr. became president
  • John F. Smith, Jr. was chairman of the board at GM
  • Top model year production for 1998

1998 Automotive Notes

  • GM news:
  • Ford news:
  • Chrysler news:
  • AMC news:
  • Other makes news:
  • Top American Automobile Corporations for 1998


1. General Motors………………………………………………………………………………………………..?
2. Ford……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….?
3. Chrysler………………………………………………………………………………………………………….?
4. AMC………………………………………………………………………………………………………………?
5. Others……………………………………………………………………………………………………………?


  • Top model year production for 1998
Ford……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..878,405
Chevrolet………………………………………………………………………………………………………561,218
Pontiac…………………………………………………………………………………………………………473,804
Lincoln/Mercury…………………………………………………………………………………………..332,403
Oldsmobile…………………………………………………………………………………………………..291,064
Saturn………………………………………………………………………………………………………….243,814
Dodge………………………………………………………………………………………………………….241,619
Buick…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..212,780
Cadillac………………………………………………………………………………………………………..175,089
Plymouth……………………………………………………………………………………………………..143,245
Chrysler………………………………………………………………………………………………………..48,739
Acura……………………………………………………………………………………………………………108,758