Every once in a while I see a red vehicle and it really stands out among the silver, black, white, and gray vehicles, mostly SUVs. I don’t mean the maroon or burgundy “red” as some companies offer, but a real bright red like this 1979 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. It would be impossible to not be noticed in this car. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Tallahassee, Florida and the current bid price is $8,350.
“This new breed of Eldorado is unique in features. World-class in engineering. It’s everything you expect of Eldorado–with front-wheel drive, electronic level control, four-wheel disc brakes, automatic climate control. Plus new four-wheel independent suspension and electronic fuel injection. More legroom and headroom than ’78.” So says a 1979 Eldorado brocure. More room inside a new Eldorado that’s 20 inches shorter than the previous one? Nice.
This car appears to be wearing a modified grille but otherwise it looks great. The Biarritz models had a stainless steel roof, and the 10th-generation Eldorado was made from 1979 until the end of the 1985 model year. They came in a two-door body style, as we all know, but Cadillac partnered with ASC (American Sunroof Corporation) in 1984 and 1985 to make a convertible. This one is wearing wire wheel covers but cast aluminum wheels would be a nice feature.
The seller says that since they’ve owned this Eldorado they’ve done “everything front to rear to make it 100% road-worthy.” The interior has the fancy Biarritz leather and it looks nice inside. We don’t see the back seat but I imagine it’s even nicer than the front is. The trunk looks as clean as the rest of the car does. The seller cleaned the gas tank and added two new fuel pumps, a new filter, and injectors.
The engine is an Oldsmobile-sourced, fuel-injected 350-cu.in. OHV V8 with 170 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque when new. and it sends power through a three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission to the front wheels. This car has a new “GM Harrison” radiator, new brakes, and the seller sent out the fuel-injection system computer to be checked out by a specialist. Hagerty is at $12,000 for a #3 good-condition car so this one is a steal at its current price. Any thoughts on this Eldorado Biarritz?
While I prefer previous larger Eldorados, this is an attention grabber. Love the brilliant red exterior and tufted leather seats (would prefer plush velvet). The extra chrome trim and ROLLS-ROYCE style grille take it OTT, just the way I like it! 👍 Not really looking, but I can feel my hand going for my checkbook! Truly Devine Decadence 🏆 from the last days when Cadillac WAS The Standard of the WORLD.
Had almost the exact vehicle. (1979) Mine was the same red exterior but with white leather. Also had the Vogue Tyres w/dealer accessory Tru-Spoke wheels. It was such a flashy car.
I think best engine you could get, beauty in and out.
From back when a luxury car was comfortable with soft, pillow-top seats, and came in a variety of beautiful colors. We’ve gone backwards, now all you can get is mostly black or gray, because the manufacturers can’t seem to be able to offer choices at their exorbitant prices.
Today overpriced glorified trucks and melted jelly beans are all that’s available from all manufacturers. Choice? Not allowed. Just follow along like lambs to the slaughter. Drink 🍸 the Kool Aid and have an ORANGE Julius.
I’d probably agree with you politically too. I do like this Eldo. My first choice of this gen would be a 79, next an 80, and thirdly an 81 and Nothing after that until 1992.
What’s not to like about the color combo, leather interior, low miles and the right motor?
Absolutely nothing, except missing the cassette player, although I’m not sure if the AM-FM/cassette/ cb combo was available yet. I know 8-track combo units were out there
Great car in all aspects!
Agree Jon. Make short work of a 9hr hwy 🛣 drive. Beautiful Eldo Biarritz. 😍
Well, Well, Well! Good to hear from you again. I figured you’d love this Eldorado from the days when downsized versions became El DO OH NO 🤮. Great 🤔 minds do travel the same roads to Great Barn Finds. Never one to Mar a logo, still hoping you’ll COMB OVER for an ORANGE Julius. But PLEASE do not bring the ORANGE a TAN! As always 🏆 💐 👍
I have a 79 cadillac eldorado with 22k Mike’s
Love it
6 bids? For this fantastic automobile? What is wrong with people today? Don’t answer that, as to derail the authors otherwise great submissions. It’s not even half of what it cost new.( $14,688) Where’s your inflation calculator,, now, eh? Again, like the pickups, people today wouldn’t know a great vehicle if it ran them over, does one really have slap them behind the head saying this is the best it ever got? Nah, it’s just gratifying enough knowing WE knew what a nice car was.
What is wrong? Those of us who truly appreciate and understand the OTT excellence of these vehicles are slowly becoming extinct, just like the vehicles. This is clearly a Bon Marche. But few younger folks won’t even look at it, or even know what that means 🤔, being brainwashed into Glorified trucks and melted jelly beans masquerading as Luxury vehicles. As stated in my original post, my check book is ALMOST open.
I did the exact same to my Cadillac Seville and it solved my problem with the fuel Injection. I believe the 76 was pre injection.
You mentioned in ’84 & ’85 they were farmed out to make them convertibles. Back around 2002 I had a choice, buy a 1975 Eldorado convertible or a 1985 Eldorado convertible. I chose the ’75.
These downsized ones were too small, too narrow (which in my opinion made them really ugly) and after 1978, anything with a Cadillac nameplate was basically just junk.
There were a few exceptions, but thank goodness the new millinium came and we started getting some nice Cadillacs.
Like you, I do prefer the previous larger Eldorados and late 80S Fleetwood Brougham deElegance. But with respect, WHAT did new millennium Cadillacs offer that compares to the halcyon days when Cadillac WAS The Standard of the WORLD!
It’s a new millennium, new tech, new standards. It brought us the XLR, the CTS-V coupe, the CTS-V wagon, and like SUVs or not, the Escalade. Yes, I know, the Escalade came out in 1999 but that was a rush job and nothing more than a Cadillac badged Chevrolet Suburban with a Northstar engine.
The old “Standard of the World” was aimed at the man who made it, was successful. The new “Standard of the World” is aimed at the man…. or woman who wants to race his or her Cadillac. Times achangin’.
This OLD DOG 🐕 just can’t fathom all the emphasis on tech and speed. Like many great American vehicles, I believe there is more to life. So I’ll just keep rolling along as a Vintage Rolls Canardly, Roll down one hill and can ardly get up the next! Love your comments, but Don’t ever become CRUELLA 😉 even if cars have SPOTS!😄 😁 🤣 😂
I have a 99 Escalade and it does not have a Northstar engine. It has a 350(5.7L) Vortex. I bought it after the flood that wiped out all my Cadillacs, 9 years ago. Mine has 92,000 miles on it and although it’s not a real Cadillac, I still like it.
I am sorry for your vehicular losses.
That must have been VERY PAINFUL. ☹️
I would love to own this one I had a 79 Oldsmobile toronado
Frankly, I smell a rat.
That grille is horrendous… almost as bad as the fake wire wheel covers. This one makes me wonder what the real story is!
We all are STILL able to have our own opinions! Not sure how much longer 😕. For me, as stated in my original post, Too much is never enough! Love that grille (similar to ROLLS-ROYCE as well as Lincoln for years) is one of the best features 👌
Those wheel covers are factory
Ah yes, the pimpmobile grills. Used mainly in the 70s with superfly headlights, wide whitewalls, leopard print interiors, fake fur dashboards, thick paded landau roofs, chrome skirts , curb feelers and fake Continental kits. Those were the days! 🤣🤣🤣👍
On occassion, you’d see a 60s Caddy with one, rare though. I prefer stock, but on occassion these were cool.
Hey TCK, my memory is not the best these days, as most of us are 70+, but I could have sworn I read an article back in 1999 that the delay for introducing the brand new Escalade was because they were having problems getting the Northstar to fit, having to rearrange and alter the suspension and frame. I could be wrong. It might have been the Vortex. At anyrate, fitting the engine was the cause for the delay.
🎵 Now some folks think it’s too BIG 🎶 and uses too much gas! 🎵 Some folks think it’s too old! Well they can kiss my …🎶 just love a 🎵 🎶 Pink Cadillac! 😉 Or RED. After all These ARE automotive DIVAS! 🏆 💐. Those WERE The Days of Our Lives. CHROMETICLY yours, RICK DEMERIAKIS 🏰 😉
I saw a late 70s Eldorado on an episode of Cannon or one of those TV cop shows that had all of the attributes you mentioned in your first paragraph + are you ready for this, Texas longhorns on the header panel! ( palm slap to the temples here.)
Former Mn. Viking Carl Eller was in the show as one of the “bad dudes” driving the car.
Hell yeah! TEXAS EXCESS! Saw that on a front vanity plate on a 78 Mark V! YeeHaaaa! Certain public figures need bull horns on their vehicles for obvious reasons! 🍊 🏰 😀 😄 😁 🤣 😂
Jon…..
In the movie, “Twins” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito, Arnie drives a white 1975/76 Cadillac Eldorado convertible with Steer horns on the hood of the car that he “appropriated” from a cowboy.
Ok. Plenty of comments on the pimp accesories on this ride. I’ve actually lived in Tallahassee, and know about the ghetto culture there, so this car fits right in with the culture. People should just be thankful it doesn’t have a raised suspention and 22’s that make it look like a covered wagon. In the mid-late 2000’s, there were shops that rented spinning rims for those who wanted to show out on the weekends. The saying “if you can’t make it, fake it” is still alive and well up there. Having said that, you see a lot of old cars in the area. At least I did all the time, especially in the country.
Regarding the chrome grille, my late father-in-law had a 1985 Eldorado with that style grille. It had a vertical rectangle at the top front that read “Classic Eldorado” with the letters CE in the center. I have a photo to prove this.
I believe that’s the same company or companies that put out the butt ugly fake continental kits on the 80s fwd GMs and the non- factory landau vinyl roofs.
E & G Classics was the company name here in the Twin Cities.
Auction update: this one sold for $12,200.
That’s a wonderful sugar daddy pimp mobile. Front to back and corner to corner and a great price.
Yea boy in 79-80’ the Eldorado, Riviera and Toronado used Oldsmobile 350’ which I consider the best years without any doubt. As far as this pimp mobile I’ll take Toronado or Riviera over this particular one any day of the year.