Barn Cad: 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

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We have some friends in Iowa who have a farm and they have a few barn cats, but this 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible is a barn cad, as in an actual barn find according to the seller. They have it posted here on craigslist in Clements, California, southeast of Sacramento, and they’re asking $8,500 or best offer. Thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip! Here is the original listing.

I don’t know if the original owner of this car bought it because this was supposed to be the last American-made convertible, maybe ever? I doubt it, they may have gone for the 1-of-200 Bicentennial Edition Eldorado convertibles if that was the case. I’m guessing that they bought it because they wanted the biggest, most-luxurious American convertible available at the time and they got it. It’s even gold, how supremely appropriate of a color for this car.

The seller says that this is a rust-free car from California and it does look great other than the discolored bumper filler panels. Were those changed? I’m assuming they were but there’s no mention of that and no mention of what looks like could be brand new tires with the blue still on the whitewalls. I would want to have those filler panels painted to match the rest of the gold paint but that’s just me. Here’s a right-front 3/4 view.

They say that this was a barn find but we don’t know the history of how long it was stored in a barn, where it was stored in a barn, or why it was stored in a barn. They say to call or text for more info and truthfully, given Hagerty’s #4 fair condition valuation of $14,400, the seller’s asking price of $8,500 or best offer looks like a steal. They say that it needs some tinkering to be a daily driver but there’s a lot of room there, value-wise. The seats appear to need some nourishment but hopefully they aren’t brittle, just dirty.

The ninth-generation Eldorados were big, really big, and they needed a really big engine. This one is Cadillac’s 500 cubic-inch V8 which unfortunately didn’t have big horsepower at just 190 for the carb version and 215 for the fuel-injected version. At over 5,200 pounds, you’ll need all the oomph you can get but this car isn’t about 0-60 times, it’s about driving an Eldorado convertible and this one runs well. This appears to be a good buy, what are your thoughts?

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Comments

  1. rmwardMember

    Already gone. Not surprising at that price!

    I learned how to drive in a 1975 Eldo Convertible. Luckily the top was down the first time I had to back it out of the driveway. Oh my the blind spots.

    Like 13
  2. Jim in FLMember

    Funny story about blue-wall tires. In 1973 I was a snot-nosed kid pumping gas at a Standard Station. Guy came in one evening needing a tire. After confirming the size, found one in stock (Atlas brand).
    However…..I told him with a totally straight face and youthful ignorance, “We have the right size tire, but only in a blue-wall”. sigh!

    Like 16
  3. Richard

    Thanks for providing a look at the original listing since it has disappeared from Craigslist. Looks like someone got a good deal. Those plastic bumper inserts commonly discolored with exposure to the sun and this car looks kinda baked. Regardless, I doubt they were replaced, only sun damaged.

    Like 4
  4. Angel_Cadillac_Diva Angel Cadillac DivaMember

    Too much gold IMO. It should have a white top and interior. It does, however, have the rubber piece under the rear license plate, which many Cadillacs of this vintage seem to lose and are difficult to replace.
    Before I die, I’m going to have another Caddy convertible even if it kills me. And it probably will.

    Like 5
  5. Paul. C

    I used to detail cars like this in the 70’s. First time driving one to my garage there was uneven railroad tracks and in this car it was like driving over marshmallows. I couldn’t believe how solid. There was another car that drove good over those tracks it was a Mercedes coupe. Very solid.

    Like 3
  6. Jim in FL

    Never would have lasted at that price. Well bought and well sold, passing along to someone who will use the car as opposed to holding out for a few bucks. People like that keep out hobby moving along. Let’s see pics when the paint is buffed.

    Me, I would have DD that.

    Like 2
  7. charlieMember

    The bargain in used Caddy drop tops are Allantes. Plenty around at any one time, most less than $10,000, parts and help are available. Capable of 80 mph all day, and the newest ones are now 25 years old, so that may make a difference in your state in regisration fees and emissions standards – my ’93 with 150,000 miles passed the CA standards, with a new cat, and they are about the toughist.

    Like 3

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