35 years ago was just 1991; it seems like it should be longer ago than that. I remember 1991. I was an adult in 1991. This 1988 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz comes just 35 years after the first Eldorado in 1953. There is a stark difference between the years of 1953 and 1988, as much as between 1991 and 2026. The seller has this car posted here on craigslist in Vancouver, Washington, and they’re asking $5,950. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Barney for the tip!
There’s something about a Cadillac in black, even a small one. I don’t know if the Eleventh-generation Eldorado would make anyone’s favorite list, but as they say, there are no bad dogs, and there are no bad Cadillacs. Well, maybe the Catera, but not even the Cimarron. That’s one of my favorites, right along with the classic 1950s DeVilles, late-60s Eldorados, and everything in between. This is the top model, a Biarritz.
This era of the Eldorado was the smallest version of this model, being around a foot shorter than the previous generation, which was a foot and a half shorter than the previous version, etc. So yeah, they were relatively small for a top-line luxury Cadillac. The eleventh-generation Eldorado was made from 1986 through 1991 in one body style, a two-door coupe. Some aftermarket conversion companies made convertibles, but this one would work well for me.
This car appears to be in outstanding condition both inside and outside. The seller mentions a 1″ repair on the driver’s side armrest, but other than that, the interior looks great. The back seat looks perfect, and they say this car has had just two owners, with the second owner being since 1993, and it has been “lady-driven” since then. Here is a 1988 Cadillac brochure showing the full line.
The engine is Cadillac’s 4.5-liter OHV transverse-mounted V8, which was factory-rated at 155 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque when new. Power is sent through a Turbo-Hydramatic 440-T4 four-speed automatic to the front wheels. With 92,562 miles, this isn’t an ultra-low-mile car, but it looks outstanding, and the price is right between Hagerty’s”lo” and “hi” range. I’m not a fan of Hagerty’s reconfigured website, just for the record. “Lo” and “Hi?” Really? Anywho, I think this would be a fun weekend car, or it could even be a daily driver. Any thoughts on this one, or the eleventh-gen Eldorados, in general?
Barney spotted a cloud mobile ☁️
I realize the previous gen HT 4100 V8 had a bad reputation, and the last gen 4900 V8 was sorted out with 200 horsepower just before the Northstar. How was the mid term 4500 V8 in this Eldorado for power and reliability? Any personal experience?
I was in High School when these came out, and I remember how small these, the Riviera, and Toronados were compared to their predecessor. The 3.8 V6 did a great job moving the Toro and Riv I’m sure, so a V8 under the hood of such a small light car like this Eldorado should make it move along very well. This is another one of those cars we see where I don’t believe the mileage claim, it just doesn’t look like it has that many miles on it, more like 35,000 or 45,000. Hope it goes to a good new home, seems like a reasonable price too.
Is it supposed to be a better car because only a lady drove it? Just wondering?
Yeah, my thinking also.
I’ve seen, been close to and owned some of those claimed cars. The claims were true however they all were lacking in scheduled maintenance.
I don’t need to beat that horse. The only way I buy these anymore is pay hardly nothing. You can figure out the rest of my thinking.
It’s just to let you know that it has been driven consistently 15 MPH over the speed limit, rushed through every yellow light it saw, meandered in its own lane and parked poorly at its destination. At least, that’s how I read it.