Occasionally, cars cross our desks at Barn Finds that almost defy description. Such is the case with this 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. The term “time capsule” is one of the most overused in the classic world, but when a vehicle of this caliber has only accumulated 2,949 genuine miles in forty-seven years, it seems entirely appropriate. It appears to need nothing, raising the question of whether it will see active service when it heads to a new home, or if its destiny is as a museum piece. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mitchell G. for spotting the Cadillac listed here on Craigslist in Wind Gap, Pennsylvania. The seller set their price at $35,900, so let’s take a close look to determine whether that figure is justified.
The 1978 model year marked the end of the line for Cadillac’s Ninth Generation Eldorado series. It also signaled the end of an era, with its successor being downsized in line with prevailing market trends. The company added the Biarritz package in late 1976, with the option remaining available until the end of production. This final-year Eldorado Biarritz presents superbly in Cotillion White with a matching Landau-style padded vinyl top. The level of padding can be best determined by the opera windows, which look deeply recessed. The Biarritz package included contrasting pinstripe, which is Red, in this case, and color-matched hubcaps. As you might expect, finding anything deserving criticism is virtually impossible. I am sure that an in-person inspection might unearth minor flaws, but none are visible in the supplied images. The seller is willing to negotiate inspections, suggesting that they are confident that this Caddy has nothing to hide. They took some shots with the car on a lift, and the underside wears what I believe is its original underseal and is as solid as the day this classic rolled off the lot. The trim is spotless, the bumper fillers haven’t succumbed to age, and the glass is clear.
One of the defining interior features of the 1977 and 1978 Biarritz was the “pillowed” seat treatment, which this car scores in White Sierra-grain leather. The rest of the interior is finished in Red and White, continuing the theme set by the exterior paint and pinstripe combination. As with the exterior, there is little to criticize about the presentation. The White surfaces are free from stains and yellowing, while the carpet appears to be wear-free. The lashings of woodgrain haven’t lifted or deteriorated, and there is no evidence of UV damage. Since this is a Cadillac, you can be sure that the interior is loaded with creature comforts. The buyer will receive air conditioning, power operation for the windows, locks, seats, and the antenna, remote exterior mirrors, cruise control, and an AM/FM stereo radio.
Although the Ninth Generation Eldorado range launched with the 500ci V8 under the hood, it made way for the 425ci powerplant from 1977. Buyers could team this motor with a three-speed automatic transmission or…a three-speed automatic. Power assistance for the steering and four-wheel disc brakes was included in the price, ensuring that life behind the wheel was pretty relaxed. The V8 suffered at the hands of emission regulations, producing 180hp and 320 ft/lbs of torque in a car tipping the scales north of 5,100 lbs. Therefore, acceleration will be pretty sedate by modern standards, although it is a safe bet that most buyers in 1978 weren’t that concerned with the type of ¼-mile ET their Biarritz could produce. The seller doesn’t mention verifying evidence for the extraordinary mileage claim, but their willingness to consider inspections is a positive sign. The engine bay probably doesn’t present as nicely as the rest of the car, but I would describe the appearance as honest. While there is no specific information on this classic’s mechanical health, the impression left by the listing is that the news should be good.
There is no denying that $35,900 is a lot of money to pay for a forty-seven-year-old Cadillac, with that figure above what sometimes optimistic Hagerty quotes for a pristine example. However, delving deeper into past successful sales demonstrates that the price isn’t unprecedented. I found several successful sales for similar vehicles, including one with 1,400 miles on the clock that changed hands a year ago for $49,000. That suggests that this Biarritz should find a new home, but raises the question of what its future holds. I would love to think that it will cruise our streets as its creators intended, but I suspect that the only miles it will clock will be in a trailer on the show circuit. Do you agree?
All I can say is WOW!!! This looks like its straight from the 1978 Cadillac brochure!! Condition wise what immediately caught my eye was the carpet. That dark burgundy carpet will fade into an almost orange like color. This one looks brand new. This actually just may be one of the nicest lowest mileage Eldorados left. Looks like new underneath, bumper fillers look great, everything!!! Great fine here Mitchell G. And a great write up too Adam, I enjoyed it!!!
🗣 Wow
Also, to comment on the difference between the 425 and 500. In ’76 I believe it had 190 HP and I believe 360 ft. Pounds of torque, the 425 being at 180 and 325 is indeed a drop, but a bit surprising that it wasnt too much of a drop between the two. That 500 I believe was 400 (gross) hp in 1970. Very healthy in the beginning before all the emissions stuff got installed and the compression dropped.
Oh, I wish I could buy it!!!
I’m picturing the original owner as a single man in his late 40s/early 50s, about 5’9″, thoroughly tanned, with a mustache and a combover to hide his baldness. He’s wearing a red leisure suit with a white belt and shoes, and a white silk shirt with a huge, pointy collar opened nearly to his navel to show off his gold chains and chest hair. He reeks of Pall Mall cigarettes and Jovan Musk cologne. By his side is a buxom young lady with blonde hair covering one eye in the latest Farah Fawcett style. She’s wearing a tight, red minidress that is clearly struggling to contain her. On her feet are red platform stilettos that make her a good two inches taller than him.
Boss Hog type of guy 👦 😎 👌
I’ll give you guys a chuckle when I tell you I had 5 leisure suits at one time. 3 of them were $100+. I also had 2 Touch of Class shirts with airplane wing collars, about $160 for both of them. And, can’t leave out the necklaces.
With all of that polyester, it was not advisable to stand under a heat lamp because of risk of a fire!
CC, you and I must’ve bought each other drinks somewhere because I also wore Jovan Musk Oil cologne bought by my married girlfriend.
Thanks, CC, for bringing back the memories of fun & crazy days!
Ah yes, Jon! Those halcyon disco DAZE. As you know, Too much is NEVER enough for me. Besides the cost of all The Popular Polyester, being in great shape, I paid to have them tapered. Necklaces galore draped meticulously around my neck. One in particular stands out. A silver chain with a crucifix suspended between my manscaped Pecs with a funny little oval at the bottom. Then a friend asked if I was using that coke spoon 🥄 Jovan Musk was a must, unless Joop. At a friendly gathering of 10, the waiter politely asked if I was wearing Musk, since the Chef in the kitchen could smell it! 😲 At that point I thought MAYBE Too much was Too much. Have your people phone my people and let’s do Lunch. 🍾 🥂 With some luck, perhaps our Divine DIVA will join us!
Gee! You REMEMBER me! Unfortunately I never escorted Farah, she was to busy with Charlie.
Just wait til Angel sees this one!
Definitely her cup of tea ☕. I can just see her now, tooling around
town in a nice outfit with her hair up in a beehive just looking classy all the way. But seriously,
what do you do with a low mileage car like this? Do you drive it or store it away in some
climate controlled vault somewhere? Only the new owner
will decide this car”s fate in the end. We can only hope that their
decision will be the correct one.
And yes, I hope it doesn’t get turned into a pimp mobile.
Reminds me of the Caddy convertible used in the movie Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.
I really miss those plush, lush seats
I would inspect this car pretty good and here’s why.
Years ago my guy at a small shop him & his brother owned had a ’78 Eldorado Bairritz in with 800 actual miles. Special order tan with dark brown hood, roof, and trunk.
Well, it was apparently stored in a wet area, because the paint was cracked, not weatherchecked, all over and there were other issues, too. Very sad when the only fix was strip and redo. $20,000 at least.
To Angel’s new ride about town, this is a true beauty with the contrasting color combo.
It’ll probably fetch $40,000. Angel will just reach into her Louis Vitton and count it out!
What a beauty! It reminds me of a former employer who bought one red, one white, and one blue 78 Eldo…… all at once. One went in the downstairs storeroom with his 55 T Bird, one went to his house on Long Island, and the other became the wife’s daily driver. I wonder where those are now…..
Beautiful car. I’ve been searching for this car for awile now& finially found it. The only drawback, is the price. Sitting on those pillow top seats reminds e of the 77′ i had. Mine had T-Tops though before I got rear ended withe the tops off & crinkled the roof so they totaled it.Wish it was priced a little better. Good luckwith the sale.
Ah yes, Jon! Those halcyon disco DAZE. As you know, Too much is NEVER enough for me. Besides the cost of all The Popular Polyester, being in great shape, I paid to have them tapered. Necklaces galore draped meticulously around my neck. One in particular stands out. A silver chain with a crucifix suspended between my manscaped Pecs with a funny little oval at the bottom. Then a friend asked if I was using that coke spoon 🥄 Jovan Musk was a must, unless Joop. At a friendly gathering of 10, the waited politely asked if I was wearing Musk, since the Chef in the kitchen could smell it! 😲 At that point I thought MAYBE Too much was Too much. Have your people phone my people and let’s do Lunch. 🍾 🥂 With some luck, perhaps our Divine DIVA will join us!
Sounds like a good lunch plan. Rick! You drive there and I’ll drive back, both of us alone up front. Angel can hang in the back with whoever isn’t driving. LOL!
Good to hear from you again!
WHEREVER there’s a real LAND YACHT, I’ll likely be there! That driving plan sounds veerrry interesting 🤔
nice but a lot of money for a hardtop
Uh guys, that would no doubt be me. But if you guys think that she’ll ride in the back seat with me, you’ve had too many drinks at the pedal bar again! You know full well that SHE’LL be driving this car and not any of us. It suits her perfectly too. I left her a message about this car earlier today and I wonder why she hasn’t joined us yet. Maybe she’s
spending time with her many subjects. All I know is that she’ll
flip when she sees this one.
My dad had one of these. It really made a statement.
Oh for the days you could land a plane on these flattops.
“Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end. We’d sing and dance forever and a day…”
As a comparable sale – a 1984 27K Biarritz in Midnight Blue / Blue Leather just auctioned and sold for $19,260 on Hagerty.