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844 Original Miles! 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

Talk about coming out of the woodwork! In the last several months, Barn Finds has seen its fair share of Bicentennial flavored 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertibles. And for your viewing enjoyment, here’s another that has only experienced 844 miles! The ’76 Eldo convertible was special as that was the last U.S. domestic convertible offered for some number of years. But the last of the last were Bicentennial editions, produced just in time for America’s July 4, 1976 Bicentennial celebration. This drop top, number 86 of 200, is located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and is available, here on craigslist for $55,000. Pat L. gets credit for this find!

As stated earlier, by ’76 auto manufacturers were getting out of the convertible business because of lack of demand, the additional expense of manufacturing a specialty model that varied considerably from its hardtop counterpart, and the threat of Federally imposed rollover standards that a convertible would not pass. Convertibles returned in limited numbers by the mid-’80s but in the mid-’70s it looked like that’s all she wrote for rag tops. As for the Eldorado itself, it was large and in charge in ’76, weighing in at over 5,000 lbs., stretching 224 inches in length, and riding on a 126″ wheelbase. That’s a lot of heft for a personal luxury coupe/convertible, so much so that it gets the official “Whammer-jammer” designation. Popular? You bet, total Eldo sales touched 49K units in ’76 with over 5K convertibles being assembled, including the 200 special Bicentennial editions.

Other than being among the last 200 drop tops produced, the bicentennial models were really nothing special as they were all finished in white, trimmed with red and blue pinstriping, and adorned with a dashboard-mounted commemorative plaque – that’s it. This example is claimed to have been stored between 1982 and 2019, the seller suggests “It still looks and smells new“. It is further stated that the mileage is the result of parade and show use only. There’s really nothing negative one can say about this humongo convertible, it still shows as new, and even has the window sticker still in place.

Cadillacs were always known for smooth and refined power, no doubt this Caddy has the smooth and refined part down pat but the power part of it is debatable as its gigantic 500 CI V8 engine eeks out a measly 190 net HP. There are 360 net pound-feet of torque on tap so that probably helps to at least get this leviathan up and moving. All Eldos used a Turbo-Hydramatic 425 three-speed automatic transaxle to drive the front wheels. Those are interesting arrangements, a sort of a backward mounted conventional Turbo 400 transmission with a chain drive and a differential component attached to half-shafts. No word on how this baby motors but if it has been properly maintained over the years, it should run and drive as intended.

There’s no missing that white leather upholstery replete with red piping and carpet. Some might consider it garish, I wouldn’t go that far but it is definitely noteworthy – and so is its condition, it’s like new and needs nothing.

This is one of those “have your cake and eat it too” situations. If you buy it, you have it and that’s nice but if you drive it, you up the mileage and drive down the value and condition though there’s probably a balancing act somewhere in that equation. As for the value, research shows asking prices that are all over the board and this example’s extremely low mileage makes it a bit of an outlier to general marketplace valuation. My suggestion to the next owner is to make sure that their garage will accommodate this over-sized land yacht, right?

Comments

  1. Avatar unclemymy Member

    In the late 70’s, there was a really tall Amazon-type “entertainer” that worked at a local establishment – rather intimidating in that I was not a big man. But I was still smitten. This car evokes the same feelings in me – desire, lust, and yes, a little fear of the cost.

    Like 9
  2. Avatar Will Fox

    Nice Eldorado cvt., but UH-OH…..somebody has trouble keeping the wheels away from the curb!! The white wheelcover appliques being scuffed will have to be addressed! OUCH! Otherwise, a great price for this!!

    Like 3
  3. Avatar Rw

    Friend of mine used to have a Coupe DeVille with a 500, he would pop hood and say “Son that’s a 500”.

    Like 6
  4. Avatar Al

    An old GF back in late 70’s father, had the last year Eldo full size like this, believe a ’78. He had less than 1000 miles on it & ordered it in a nice metallic blue with literally every conceivable option to get. So 43 years later, she had inherited it a decade & half ago, still has less than 2k miles on it. Garage kept & fired up once a month on the 1st & runs it for 15 minutes. Her dad done the same. He also had 2 of those 50’s Mercedes gullwing cars. We’d have to wash the 3 of them every Saturday before we headed out for the day. I recall he used to ask me ‘which one do you want’? I picked one even though I was the least bit interested in them, clueless about their worth as well. But residing in CT, he owned a coal mine in Kentucky as well as an investor in a motion picture studio of his namesake, Pantages Studios at the time, his love of cars like these were his passion. I don’t know if she also has the gullwings, her older brother may have got those.

    Like 3
  5. Avatar George Birth

    This one is a classic beauty, and so is the price tag.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Howie

    Gone.

    Like 2
  7. Avatar John Oliveri

    Hoping that this mid 70s time capsule earns its keep, and brings the money, loved these cars then, and now, The Bicentennial was a great time, we had cars with color and style, and we had Disco music, and clothes and big brash automobiles

    Like 4
  8. Avatar george mattar

    These things were worthless for many years. Suddenly, with the auctions being on TV and how ugly, boring and expensive new crap is, they are worth money. One sold recently for nearly $90,000 on BAT. The question is after you spend a ton of money, do you drive this thing? If you can afford this car, then the price of gas is not a factor. Beautiful when Cadillac actually meant something. Today, just overpriced electrical nightmares. Oh, and that ridiculous $100,000 Escalade driven by suburban housewives to look important.

    Like 4
  9. Avatar PRA4SNW

    gone.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar CenturyTurboCoupe

    For me I buy cars to keep and laugh at this “investment” talk. I am happy to find vehicles that were saved by previous owners and once in my ownership, I drive them as intended! So if I have the money to buy spotless examples, I do and then proceed to drive them and sometimes hard!!

    Like 0
  11. Avatar SDJames

    I’d put a pair of longhorns on the front and ride around in it wearing a white suit.

    Like 3

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