Cadillac resurrected the Eldorado nameplate in 1967 and applied it to a new front-wheel-drive luxury car (GM’s second design of that type, the other being the 1966 Olds Toronado). The 1976 edition would be the last Eldorado to be offered as a convertible (until 1984), and the last for rest of General Motors for a few years, too. This beautiful Eldo is the last of a breed, which the seller says needs a little TLC (it also has a few custom touches). Located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, this open-air classic is available here on craigslist for $18,700. Another fine tip brought to us by Mitchell G.!
The 1976 model year was the last before Cadillac would begin to downsize its automobiles for better fuel economy. So, the DeVilles and the like would be smaller in 1977, and the Eldorado would catch up in 1979. We assume this led to Cadillac’s decision to exit the drop-top business in 1976, though the rest of GM had already done that in 1975. 14,000 Eldorados were produced in 1976, up 50% from the prior year, as the market was well aware that the big ragtops were about to be history.
There are some custom touches on this Caddy that I don’t think were offered in ’76. Certainly, the wheels are aftermarket, but the two-tone metallic blue and silver paint appears to be post-factory (though I could be wrong). Time and Mother Nature have been kind to this land yacht, and the car overall looks quite nice. Perhaps the seller may be nitpicking to say it needs TLC after living in Florida for many years and accumulating 82,000 miles.
We’re told the big Caddy runs great with a huge 500 cubic-inch V8 that, of course, comes with an automatic tranny. The power top works as it should, and if you don’t care for the 18” wheels on the car now, the seller has kept the originals. The leather seats are where the TLC reference comes from and would need refurbishing if you’re looking to collect awards (probably just fine as-is for cruising or Cars & Coffee).
Talk about a sweet evening rider along the FLA coast ⛱️ 🌴 take in that salt air, and then hit the gas and the awesome 500ci rumbles you away👍😎
I know Angel”s 🙏 gonna really like this. I can just see it now. I’m on a date with a really nice lady. The top is down, the tunes
are playing, and I reach over to hold her hand. And at the next traffic 🚦 light, I move in to kiss 💋 her. Such are the dreams of an old man like me. Maybe someday that will happen. And with a super nice Eldo like this, I
know it would.
I had to take care of 3 of these big Eldorados owned by the CEO of a Tulsa OK insurance company. From 1983 to 1990. They weigh too much for the front axles, which are the same part as the Toronado ones. Many strange stories including having one stripped to steel and repainted in LACQUER!
Could possibly used GMC motorhome axles?
I’d prefer the original wheels and tires, especially if they have thin stripe whitewalls. Those Ben Hur wheels do nothing for me and seem to make the car ride a bit high.
Very cool AND very large AND very heavy. Like driving your living room. “Bring me another beer! OOPS, can’t do that here! (lol)
Nice example. And yes I don’t appreciate these wheels either.
I’m an old Eldo owner, restorer, and cruiser for way too many years than I care to remember. But what I do remember is nothing but thumbs up from all who see you coming. Glad to hear they saved the orig wheels, put them back on and it’s restored. Yes they did come in two tone. GM didn’t design this battleship to be inconspicuous, it’s shouts where it goes “Get out of my way, I’m big and bold, and you ain’t!”
If you can afford to drive and maintain a Cadillac, especially a prestigious Eldorado then you should be able to afford white sidewall tires. Here’s an idea…… sell those ridiculously stupid wheels to pay for some Vogue Tyres!
I’m with you Angel!
Even though I read your comment, Angel, my first thought and comment was going to be … I just saw 2 plumes of smoke blowing horizontally from the east coast. I’m guessing it’s coming from Angel’s ears when she saw the black walls which is bad enough but add in the stupid rims and GRRRRR NOOOOO!!!!
For some reason the double bumper guard look upfront doesn’t look right, but maybe that’s how they were made. Never noticed that until now. Not my cup of tea.
Rick W, are you out there? Missed both you and Angel.
Hi Jon!
Yes, that’s how the ’75, ’76, ’77 & ’78 Eldorado came from the factory. The two outers were bumper guards and the two inners flanked the license plate.
You’re very perceptive. Nothing pisses me off more than blackwall tires on a luxobarge. I know wws have gone out of style but they belong on cars of the 70s, 60s & 50s & 40s.
They are expensive now, but as I said, if you can afford a Cadillac you can afford white wall tires.
And WHO ever came up with 20″ rims? Those damn things look like covered wagon wheels from the wild west. Another dumbass look for cars.
Anyway, Jon, thanks for knowing that smoke was me! LOL
More perception. Your name has changed from “Diva” to “Dica”. What the hell? 😁
A lot of postings on Facebook of cars with these outrageously sized rims. But judging by how misshapen these cars look, I suspect they’re Ai generated. Even so, I’ve seen plenty in person; UGLY!!!!! EWWW!
More perception. I noticed you name was changed from “Diva” to “Dica”. I’m sure it’s grammatical.
To the rims, I’ve seen lots of cars on Facebook with odd shapes which I suspect are Ai generated and these ridiculous 20- 26″ rims. I’ve been criticized for my remarks but who cares? I think a bomb thrown in the back seat of all of these puts the vehicle out of its misery. Lol!
Jon, Jon, Jon,
Typos. You know that. I think my fingers are getting fat. Been having lots of typos lately.
Corrections can be made to the body of the post but not the title name. Once that’s published, you are SOL!
Didn’t see the first comment posted. Sorry.
Those horrible wheels make this look like it belongs in the ghetto, being driven by the pimp Huggy Bear from the old Starsky & Hutch show!! I do like the 2-tone paint. Is it just me, or does the trunk look bumped up? It’s as if the raised the interior of the trunk’s lid. Maybe not, though.
But those ghetto wheels need to go, and be replaced with the stately wheels & covers it was designed to have. – Keith
Hi Jon, long time no see! You didn’t mention the loud BOOM! We heard on the East coast yesterday! Heard it while tending
to my store about Noon yesterday! My regular customers
heard it too and asked me what it
was and I told them that I didn’t know. But now it all makes sense. I talked to Angel Saturday
night and I told her about this car
while waiting for the kids to close
the store 🏬 for the night 🌉. So
THAT’S what it was! Angel took
one look at the car and blew her top! And yes dear, those rims and tires look redonkulous! Vogue tires are great, but Roger Miller got me thinking of wire rims instead. In his 1965 song
Kansas City Star ⭐ he mentions
driving a Cadillac with wire wheels. And here’s the chorus that says it:
🎵🎶 Kansas City Star,
that’s what I are. (Insert yodel)
You oughta see my car!
I drive a big ole Cadillac with
wire wheels. Got rhinestones
in ‘er spokes.
Got credit down at the grocery store and my barber tells me jokes. And I”m the number one
attraction at ever supermarket
parking lot. I’m the king of the Kansas City. No thanks Omaha
thanks a lot!🎶🎵
And for reasons of national safety, they did NOT book Roy Clark and Roger Miller on the same bill. Saw them both at the one and only show they did together and I laughed so hard 🤣 I almost wet myself! I was
backstage then and saw them from the wings. My sides hurt for
about a month thereafter. And yes dear, I can just imagine your
Italian temper exploding when you saw this car. And that to me was the boom that was heard from Baltimore to Melbourne. And yeah, some REALLY nice wire
rims and WSW tires would really
make this car pop IMHO. Very nice overall. If I could, I’d buy it for the dating factor, but that’s just me.
Nice looking, at least until you get down to the wheels! My ’73 pictured above was the last year before Caddy/Olds started using those plastic bumper fillers.