This 1970 Cadillac Eldorado is a looker, with an excellent color combination of cranberry red over a white leather interior. The two door body always grabs your attention if for no other reason than the sheer size of it, but that also makes it easy to spot flaws like door dings and scrapes, neither of which appear to be present here. The Cadillac’s mileage of 56,000 is believed to be accurate, and given the impressive cosmetics, I wouldn’t doubt the odometer reading is accurate. The seller has listed this potentially low mileage Caddy here on craigslist in Tucson with an asking price of $23,900.
Every now and again, I think the market for big boats like these is poised to dry up, and it may indeed quiet down for the less desirable models. But when you drink in the looks of the low-slung two doors, it reminds you that some of the different eras of Cadillac design is so timeless, there’s no way it won’t continue to appeal to the next generation of collectors. The tailligths are my favorite detail with this era of Eldorado, as they’re so dang dainty but also accentuate the exceedingly fine point the rear fenders end in. If this generation has a wraparound rear windshield, there would be one in my garage at this very moment – I always felt the C-pillar was a touch too large. This Cadillac has clearly been a southwest car since new, with excellent bodywork and no signs of rust.
The interior is large enough for the whole family, as the seller notes, thanks to two rows of bench seats. The Cadillac is loaded up with features, including a power trunk, air conditioning, AM/FM cassette, electric windows, power steering, power brakes, and more. Although I imagine its mass could make tight parking situations a challenge, the Eldorado really does have the other features necessary that make daily driving far more pleasant. The white leather has some signs of wear and light soiling but not nearly as much as you might expect in a used car, and overall, the interior is as well-preserved as the exterior.
The 8.2L, 400 horsepower V8 takes up an incredible amount of space while drinking an impressive amount of fuel, but this Eldorado is still from an era in which the size of the engine had a very real correlation to the amount of power it put down. Despite its size, this Eldorado will still move right on out and sound incredibly mean while doing so. The seller doesn’t detail any maintenance conducted under his watch, but given the condition on display, one can safely assume it hasn’t needed much, either. The Eldorado of this generation will likely remain an item for some time, especially in coupe form – would you drive a cranberry Cadillac?
This is a nice-looking car. El Doraddos of those years had a certain flair to them. I hope this one’s as nice under the respray and the valve covers, which were repainted while on the engine.
Maybe they should have been painted while on the engine, at least then the bolts would have been painted!
400 Ponies To The Front Wheels. Love these and the Olds Toronado. They were BIG but they could move. Use to smoke the tires off of my Pappy’s and in the winter the studded snow tires were always fun for a fireworks show on dry payment.
Would love to have this car! Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure it won’t fit in my garage with my workbench in front of it. My 70 SuperSport Monte barely fits.
Turn the breather cap upside down and screw it tight to the breather filter. Then go find an on-ramp to the nearest expressway and mash the gas pedal down! You wouldn’t believe how monstrous that 500 CI motor sounds until you can actually hear it working under load through the breather!
My Grandfather was OLD School…….He had Smitty’s on his Caddie and Olds https://www.youarecurrent.com/2015/12/22/opinion-remembering-the-sound-of-smitty-mufflers/
I have 4 Eldorado convertibles They are nice riding cars with plenty of power.
2-1971, 1-1973 and a 1972 44,000 miles
The only problem I have with the rear window is that Cadillac really should’ve put chrome moldings around it on tintop Eldos. Yeah, vinyl tops were fashionable in 1970 and what buyers would be steered to, but surely at the Eldorado’s price point new GM would recognize it as a matter of taste and get past the Chevy Biscayne-type punish-the-cheapskates thinking they so often fell to?
The slick tops did have the painted trim and were smooth, the trim on this cars don’t look smooth, it appears to have texture on them which means this car originally had a vinyl top. It’s a beautiful car but it’s also a little too clean.
Definitely the prettiest of the Eldorado range and still a relative bargain for the accolades you will get wherever you end up. About 8-10 smiles per gallon. I would be inclined to install Holley fuel injection and a O2 sensor to eek out a couple more mpg.
So Fly.
1970 was Cadillac’s first year for the 500 C.I. V8, offered then in only the Eldorados. These would sail to 60 in short order!
The 1967-1970 El Dorado’s were a timeless design that still look great today.
The side windows are clamped in place over the vinyl top materials and are prone to leaking and rust on the coupes
Convertible tops frames are the same on all big GM cars. Top motors behind the rear seats often have broken drive cables
Here we go with these hicks and their cheesy steering wheel cover.
necessary for Arizona heat!
1970 was when aspiring to own a Cadillac meant power, luxury options and prestige and vibrant colors. The Eldorado offered unique styling. Now a Cadillac means a Chevrolet full size SUV wirh better equipment but an inflated Cadillac price in silver or black. Makes a nice hearse and VIP transport. The Eldorado still looks sharp with two caveats. If something does go wrong, Cadillac replacement parts and labor are very expensive even if new old stock or reproduction is available. Secondly, even the coupe is very large to fit in today’s parking places and condo garage stalls.
I have a 1962 Cadillac Hearse body by Miller Meteor owned since 1976
390 engine rebuilt
I’m glad that I’m not the only one that noticed the odd back window trim. This car looks athletic compared to the barf baroque 78 that it eventually morphed into. I think that the 79 redo brought the Eldo back to this models glory. Wouldn’t kick this one out of my garage! Going to check my lotto numbers now….