First Time Up For Sale: 1968 Cadillac Eldorado

Cadillac reinvented the Eldorado in 1967. It continued as a personal luxury car, but now with front-wheel drive like the Oldsmobile Toronado from the year before. It would remain a Cadillac fixture for the next 35 years. The 1968 edition was little changed, but buyers were receptive to the changes as sales picked up by 40%. This survivor has been in the same family since new, though more recently it was up on jacks. Located in Artesia, California, this documented Caddy is available without reserve here on eBay, where $6,889 is currently the number to beat.

A family named Porter bought this Cadillac new in Southern California. Much of its documentation has survived, at least back to 1972. When the family was done using it on a regular or semi-regular basis, it was put up off the ground in the garage and left alone. Occasionally people would come by asking to buy it, but the Porters always said no. As time went on and they passed away, the son (seller?) decided it was time to pull it out of mothballs, get it running, and finally put it on the resale market for the first time.

About $4,000 was invested in the original 472 cubic inch V8, Turbo-Hydramatic, and more. The work includes flushing the fuel delivery system, giving it a tuneup, replacing the fuel pump, water pump, tires, and a lot more. As a result, we were told it runs and drives like a Cadillac is supposed to. Other work may be needed down the road, like replacing the gaskets in the V8, and the vehicle leaks a bit of fluid from its hibernation (nothing that appears to be immediate).

The cool Spectre Blue Firemist custom paint was redone about 40 years ago and looks great for the age.  The interior is also good, but there is a little cracking in the leather. The hideaway headlights work, though the doors are a bit slow to react. If you’re drawn to Cadillacs of this era, this car is more or less survivor-quality and should turn heads wherever it goes.