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46K Miles: 1978 Cadillac Eldorado

At almost 19-feet in length and the height of American luxury cars at the time, this 1978 Cadillac Eldorado was and still is large and in charge and it’s one beautiful car. This amazing luxury car can be found here on eBay in Manchester, Tennessee with a current bid price of $7,000 and there is no reserve.

Man, what a car. This one brings back a lot of memories for me. My first job after high school, after a couple of years as a guitar teacher during high school, was parking and washing cars at an indoor parking garage in a medical building. One of the doctors who had an office there had an Eldorado exactly like this one. This car looks almost like new and the seller says that it has just under 46,000 miles.

1978 was the last year for the ninth-generation Eldorado and the last year for GM’s full-sized E-body cars such as the Oldsmobile Toronado, Buick Riviera, and the Eldorado. The Eldorado would shrink by 20-inches in length and about 10-inches in width the following year. It appears that this car has its bumper filler panels in top-notch condition which is great to see. Spoiler alert: this car has been repainted.

The seller says that this car has a mix of original and restored parts so maybe that’s why it looks so good, it isn’t all original. Not that it’s a bad thing at all, most of us have cars that are partially-restored, even the ones we drive every day. They say that it was parked in 2009 and not driven but they recently took it out and drove it 350 miles and it worked great. The leather seats in front have as little bolstering as maybe any that I have seen but this isn’t a sports car, it’s a smooth cruiser. The back seat looks like new.

The engine looks fantastic and it’s Cadillac’s 425 cubic-inch V8 with 180 hp. I know, your Toyota has 100 more horsepower than that but come on, this was the late-70s and it’s an Eldorado! I can’t see anyone going wrong here. Hagerty is at $7,800 for a #3 good condition car which this certainly has to be if not better. Are there any fans of the last of the big Eldorados out there? Any present or former owners?

Comments

  1. Avatar Major Thom

    Although the seller is calling it “Gold”, I wonder what Cadillac called this particular hue…

    Like 1
    • Avatar CCFisher

      Medium Sienna Firemist

      Like 5
  2. Avatar Doc

    Canyon Copper Firemist

    Like 4
    • Avatar Oldog4tz

      It’s gorgeous, and I’d drive it in a heartbeat – but it’s exactly the sort of “interesting old car” that’s first to fall in hard times – hope the seller isn’t disappointed

      Like 4
  3. Avatar 370zpp Member

    Canyon Copper Firemist? Isn’t that a Glade air freshener?

    Like 11
    • Avatar DRV

      You win the internets today. Still laughing.

      Like 4
  4. Avatar Haig L Haleblian

    And one wonders when and why Cadillac lost its way.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Remo Ceriotti

    The colour seems Western Saddle Firemist
    The interior was a special order with two time colours
    I own one like this one

    Remo Ceriotti
    Italy

    Like 1
  6. Avatar DJ Meister

    Diaper Poopy Gold…a horrid time for Cadillac. And I worked for GM during this sad time.

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Bob_in_TN Member

    First, buy this car. Then, find a friend with a similar vintage Lincoln Mark in an appropriate period-correct color. Then get together and slow-cruise to a local cruise-in. I think that would be cool. You would not have a hard time making conversation with the spectators.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Steve1957

      I drove my ’72 Caddy Coupe de Ville down the beach a couple of weeks ago, 35k original miles car, gorgeous, and the beach drive is like a cruise night, and before I knew it, a 1963 Lincoln sedan was right upon me in the opposite direction. He gave me the nod, I gave him the nod, both secure in the knowledge that we possessed the coolest cars on the planet that nobody else wanted. But I’m good with that. I march to my own drummer – he must, too.

      Like 15
  8. Avatar rmward Member

    This car brings back lots of memories. I learned how to drive in a 1975 Eldorado Convertible in Emberust Firemist with a beige top and interior. Luckily on my first time backing out our long driveway, with my mom in the passenger seat, the top was down.

    Then the car I was “allowed” to drive to high school was a 1971 Eldorado Coupe. Man, did I ever get a lot of sh*t for driving a Cadillac to school at 16. If I remember correctly, as a family of four, we had 5-6 cars at the time. I had money saved up to buy my own car, but Dad said I could drive the ’71 Eldo or walk to school. I chose the Cadillac. First world problems.

    I would love to have this if I room. It would be a great weekend cruiser.

    Like 3
  9. Avatar DETROIT LAND YACHT

    I’d prefer a convertible Eldo in from this body style…but this one is nice.
    Excellent paint.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Eric

    My Grandparents were Oldsmobile fans, the top of the line coupes, until the Toronado which they felt was an ugly car and then switched to Cadillac Eldorado’s in 1970. They both loved the 70, so much so that they kept it when they rushed out to get the triple black 78. They loved the 78 but did complain that it was a slug compared to the 70. The 70 had a luxury performance vibe, very sleek, simple car, and the 78 was posh and not at all a performer. I learned to drive in the 70 but had driven the 78 once, no comparing the two. The 70 really was a simple car that was well engineered, no gimmicky crap on it, an excellent build quality, the luxury was the build quality and components used, as the 70’s wore on they got more flashy (fake luxury), these were the end of an era. Things never improved for Cadillac after 1977, not that they haven’t tried but they always seem to miss the mark.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Bill Pressler

    I love the look of leather, but it just doesn’t hold up like a good vinyl. The expanded vinyl used in Cadillac Calais models of the seventies still looks like new…when you can find one.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Mike

    I love this color! I wish it and others were offered today. Everything now is black, white and 50 shades of grey…sooo boring.

    Like 5
  13. Avatar Jim in FL Member

    Are you sure it’s a 425ci motor?
    My 73 and 74 Eldo’s both had 500ci motors.

    Love the color, would own this in a heartbeat if I wasn’t already so invested….

    Like 0
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Jim, it would have come from the factory with a 425 V8. The 500 was gone after the 1976 model year.

      Like 3
  14. Avatar Dave

    Your question was ..are there any fans or present owners of the REAL Eldorados? Yes…I have a ’75 convertible and ’74 Fleetwood 60 Special. I’d never part with either of them….and wouldn’t be caught dead in one of the recent (post-’76) Tinker Toys that GM produces. GM products are now pathetic disgraces …as are Chrysler and Ford products.

    Like 2
  15. Avatar Angel Cadillac Diva Member

    The bumper filler panels (as you call them) have been replaced. At least in the front. Probably the rear as well. There are chrome pieces on the bottom of the front ones that are missing. These are possibly the hard plastic replacements you can buy to replace the soft rubber originals.
    I had a ’75 convertible, baby blue, white top. Cadillac, as all of GM went down hill after 1978, and in my opinion, never recovered. They keep trying, but management and the bean counters rule, and you end up with cars like the Cimmeron.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Bill Hall

    I used to work for someone who had a couple of mid 70s Eldos in his yard along with one he drove. This guy was a real squirl and had a few more neat cars just sitting rotting away. I don’t know what happened to all this junk when he died. Most of it was pretty much restorable.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Bob McK

    I owned a 78 with 26K miles. Black with red interior. The car looked like new and I only got 10K for it. I just bought a 76 Convertible with 14K miles for 22K. It too is like new. Would love to own this one if it were not these colors. But it is already up to 8K… Too much for what you are getting.

    Like 2
  18. Avatar gbt

    I had a 75 Eldo convertible, black with red interior, black top. It was low mileage and everyone loved it. A neighbor across the street caught me in a weak moment, and I sold it. I took the money, added a little more and bought a beautiful 63 Imperial convertible….white with dark gray interior. But I still miss my beautiful black Eldo. It was such a great road car cruiser.

    Like 2
  19. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Ended:Apr 05, 2020 , 7:24PM
    Winning bid:US $8,100.00
    [ 34 bids ]

    Like 0

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