In 1967, the Cadillac Eldorado was the second car in so many years to be introduced by General Motors with front-wheel-drive. The year before, Oldsmobile debuted the Toronado using the same platform and FWD. Year-over-year, changes to the Eldorado would be more than minor and noticeable, like a hood that was five inches longer to further capitalize on the long hood/short deck styling of the automobile. The seller has owned this Caddy since 1982 and believes he/she is the second owner. While the car has 120,000 miles, the engine and transmission were rebuilt at around 100k. Located in Northbrook, Illinois, and available here on Barn Finds Classifieds, the asking price for this non-running land cruiser is $7,500.
The 1968 Eldorado was more refined than its predecessor if that was possible. Cadillac listened to buyers of the inaugural Eldorado to find out what they liked and didn’t like and discovered the new auto “didn’t ride like a Cadillac,” so the engineers tinkered with the suspension for 1968 to add more cushion to the ride. That must have resonated well with customers as sales of the new car increased by 38% in its second year to just shy of 25,000 copies. And that takes into consideration a three-week UAW strike at the Fisher Body Fleetwood Plant in Detroit.
Even with a rebuilt drivetrain, this Caddy found itself mothballed in the late 1990s and has been undercover ever since (maybe outside under canvas given the photos). We’re told that rust is largely of the surface variety, but the vinyl gave up the ghost long ago. The interior is said to be in good condition although the wood veneer paneling will need to be refurbished.
Under the hood resides a 472 cubic inch V8, which was new in 1968 and replaced the 429. Since the car has been dormant for more than 20 years, it doesn’t run although the engine will rotate by hand and is not seized up. The transmission is a Turbo Hydra-Matic, the torque converter type with a fixed stator. Its condition should also be in question after two decades of hibernation. Restorations on these kinds of cars can be tricky due to all the wiring they possess. But the seller says all of it worked properly back in the 1990s.
It’s frightening. Hagerty says a #3 “Good” condition car, which “runs and drives well, no noticeable flaws” would cost about $20,000. I’d guess this car needs 20K in rust repair and paint work, to say nothing of the mechanicals and interior work.
I know some have complained that the cars on BF were getting too high-falutin’, but this car swings the pendulum WAY to the other side.
IKR? Rex, if they’re not complaining about the stratosphere price, they’re complaining that Barn Finds is wasting space and time on reasonably priced “junk.”
Remember, most are over 70 and very crotchety. If they have nothing to complain about they will complain about the fact that there is nothing to complain about.
This is another one of those cars that you will clearly be way upside down in a restoration. So it falls into the category of a car that someone will want to restore just because they love the car. The price reduction is a clear indication of this as I’m sure they aren’t beating a path to look at the car. I absolutely love Caddies in this general year range (64 through 68) but if you’re going to restore one requiring as much work as this old girl is going to need, you really gotta love her.
Don’t you think if he would get the car started he would get more $$$$
“But the seller says all of it worked properly back in the 1990s.”
…until the march of the rodents….
Hi – Thanks for your interest. The car has been parked on a concrete driveway and there’s no infestation. I am happy to provide many pictures of the interior as well as the engine compartment and trunk.
If you would like to come look at it, I am happy to show it.
One of those that while neat, probably won’t make much economic sense given the cost of very nice ones. Paint and body probably gets you near that 20k figure cited above, assuming the underside isn’t rusty. In that regard, I wonder where and how it was “mothballed” over the last 25-ish years. From the looks of that top and paint, it was outside and exposed to the elements for at least a significant part of that time.
There is a turnkey driver 68 eldorado in Las Vegas for $4,500 needing paint interior is actually clean in it so yeah $7,500 way too much for that car
It’s been a summer only car for as long as I’ve owned it – the frame and body are all solid and rot free.
It’s been stored on a concrete driveway away from the road so not exposed to any salt spray, and kept under a cover. The vinyl tops were always a weak spot on those era cars and deteriorate rapidly.
The ad has many photos of the body and I’m happy to send more if you’d like.
Jamie, It appears you’ve represented this vehicle honestly and accurately. It’s always a roll of the dice when you inherit someone else’s project (ask me how I know!). Would have loved to get this in my stable. But alas, health, age, and since selling my shop with lifts, etc, I can only wish you good luck, sir!
“Ran when parked”Parked, I’ve heard that a time or twelve.
I want to know why the engine and transmission had to be rebuilt? The 472 was tested and developed and perfected in a lab since 1964! In the development of this engine it ran under the harshest conditions and beaten HARD for the “Equivalent” of 400,000 miles without any major mechanical breakdowns! I’d question the rebuild and the rebuilder! I’d remove 1 of the valve covers and make sure the heads are the originals. If they put 74-76 heads on it to burn unleaded fuel instead of putting hardened seats in the original heads it will only have a little over 6 to 1 compression and have no where near the power that 10.25 to 1 compression had and may have been put away out of the sheer disgust of 7 mpg and it’s inability to pass a Pinto!
Hi Will. I rebuilt it at 100k miles because I had the intention of doing a full show-car restoration. Obviously, that didn’t happen – I got the engine and related done, but got a ‘dream job’ in CA and was going to eventually send for it to finish the work. One year turned into two, I got out of the hobby, and suddenly 20 years had gone by.
I’d like to find someone who wants to put it back to it’s original glory. I have plenty of pictures from back then as well as the receipts of the work
Re: the heads, they are the original ones and it has full compression. The cam was upgraded to provide more low end torque and I put in hardened seats, but the rest of the engine is stock.
I have plenty of pictures and receipts that I’m happy to share.
As for acceleration, running leaded aviation fuel, it would do under 15 seconds for a quarter mile.
Also, it got 9 MPG, not 7…. :)
I always liked the looks of these. I hope someone saves it.
It’s a great $750 parts car.
Northbrook Illinois is a Chicago suburb.
This beast has been immersed in winter salt and slush it’s entire life.
I’ve lived at least thirty-six of my sixty-seven years in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area and I know what this thing looks like from the bottom up and it’s not going to be pretty.
In regards to the comment on the engine being rebuilt far earlier than what should have been a very long lifetime, 90% of vehicle owners in NE Illinois and NW Indiana care very little about taking care of their vehicles because they expect them to rot out in 6-7 years.
I know a guy up in Evanston that buys a new Toyota pickup truck about every 4-5 years and he doesn’t change the oil… I think that he might put new windshield wipers on a vehicle when the grooves in the glass are deep enough.
But again,
This heap is a parts car at best.
Hi Ron –
The car was stored in winter when I was driving it – it pretty much a summer only vehicle. (If you count the number of times I’ve driven it in winter, you would not run out of fingers) The frame is sound and there’s no rot on any of the body panels. The underside was coated with rust protectant.
My parents were very much into that era Caddy’s and I’ve restored several of them in my youth so know about how to properly care for classics.
Since you’re in the Chicago area, you can come by to look at it and inspect for yourself, or, if you’d like I’m happy to send more picture.
For what a GOOD one would cost, this car looks more like a $7500 parts car to me.
At first glance I was prepared to poo poo this as strictly a parts car. However looking through the seller’s pictures and realizing how much work has been done, I’m more inclined to suggest a restoration. Yes, needs paint and if desired, a top. Having restored several 70’s Eldo’s, (along with being a Chicago native), I have a sweet spot for this car. Unfortunately not in a position to grab it, but it sure would be nice to see it returned to glory!
Hi Jim –
Thanks for the kind words. The main problem is that the paint is shot, but the frame and all body panels are solid. It was basically a summer only car and parked on a concrete driveway away from the road, so there’s no salt damage.
I originally was going to restore it as a show car, but fell out of the hobby and it’s been sitting patiently waiting for me. I figure it’s time to find someone who wants to finish the job and put it back to it’s original glory.
Based on the owner’s description of storage and the underside condition, I retract my statements about it being a rotted beater… (Under car photos help sales).
At $7500 it’s a good deal but still going to take a lot of cash to look pretty again….