The 1976 revival of the Biarritz trim package for Cadillac’s Eldorado established a luxury niche not seen since the 1960s, and then only on Cadillac’s wildly expensive convertible. Loaded with power accessories, classy cosmetics, and comfort options, the Biarritz name connotes top-shelf style. Meanwhile, like many automakers, Cadillac was busily downsizing nearly all of its offerings. The new-for-1979 tenth-generation Caddy sat on a wheelbase twelve inches shorter than just a year before, and the curb weight was about 1000 lbs lighter. This 1980 example shows only 54,300 miles on the clock and is in near-new condition throughout. It’s located in Elma, New York, and the new owner can drive it home.
Engine choices proliferated in the tenth-gen production run. A variety of V8s were offered, including a 350 and a 368 made of good old cast iron; digital electronic fuel injection featured on both. Cadillac later introduced an aluminum block V8 paired with cast iron heads – a less reliable formula. Its attempt at variable displacement – operating the engine on fewer cylinders as needed – was also pulled from production. Until 1984, the only transmission offered was a three-speed automatic; later cars came with a four-speed. This car has all the luxury driving amenities you can think of – and then some. In addition to the spiffy engine bay, this Caddy’s underside is decent, though wear is a bit more evident under here.
The hallmark of the Biarritz interior is that cushy tufted leather. Carpet runs up the door panels, and covers the map pocket in the passenger foot well. Faux wood grain is generously applied to the instrument and door panels. Wear is minimal in here; these rear seats appear nearly new. Cruise control, electric mirrors, power door locks, tilt steering wheel, an elaborate climate control system – all this and more is at your fingertips in the cabin.
The later Biarritz takes a page from its older cousin the 1957 Brougham, sporting a stainless steel roof panel. By the late 1970s, partial vinyl roofs were popular; this example increases its cosmetic impact with two-tone paint. There’s no shortage of these smaller Cadillacs on the market so prospective owners can be choosy. This low mileage example is worth a look; it can be found here on eBay, bid to $12,200, reserve not met. The seller would take $18,000 on a buy-it-now basis. We found a few comparables, all of them pricier than this one. What would you pay to travel in Cadillac style?
Wondering which engine this has? I once test drove an 80 Coupe de Ville with 6 cylinder motor! Not enough power for that big boat. Diesel, V 8 6 4 and aluminum were All problematic 😳. The ROLLS-ROYCE style grille is not original. Still it is a looker, But it BE A (bit) RITZY in price for me.
Not aware of any six-cylinder engines offered in an ‘80 DeVille (or any 1980 Cadillac). The 368 CID V8 translated into a roughly 6.0-liter displacement, but it wasn’t a six-cylinder. Perhaps I am mistaken…
Cadillac did offer a V 6 (supposedly for fuel efficiency) as a delete credit. But there was No efficiency in acceleration.
Rick W is correct. There was a Buick V6 offered as a “delete credit” to the V8-6-4. I was a sales manager at a large WI Caddy dealer at the time and drove Eldorados by choice as company cars. We never ordered a V6 car of any kind! I felt if a customer wanted one we’d see if we could trade another dealer who may have had one for it.
I don’t remember a V-6 in a full size Cadillac or Cadillac never offered it in the Rocky Mountain region. I do remember the V-6 being offered in the Cimarron (POS) in 1982.
Not to belabor the issue, but my understanding is that the 4.1-liter V6 credit-delete option was in model year 1981 (when the V8-6-4 engine was introduced), not 1980. As the comment that prompted my reply was regarding a 1980 Coupe DeVille, my reply was about that model year. But, I recognize that 44 years is a while ago…
This one has the 368 cu in with the throttle body electronic injection. This would have been a decent engine even with the throttle body injection but back in 1980 the gas we were filling up our gas tanks with was pretty dirty gas and the injection system was always clogging up.
1981, Seville models only as an option credit in place of the 8-6-4. 252 Buick V6.
That’s not a map pocket. In Cadillac terms, it’s a “carpeted litter receptacle.”
Lovely car. Hopefully a 350 under the hood. Like the overkill of the Barritz but might chuck the grille cap
Ended at 12.5K.
Reserve Not Met.
The Eldo would have a 307 or 350 olds power plant when in a front wheel drive ,never a never a Cadillac engine until 81 then 4.1 Buick v6 in Seville and a Cadillac aluminum engine that when you pulled the heads you had to put a plate on due to the block warping as shop temperatures changed overnite
Cadillac never put a 307 engine in an Eldorado, Dr. Dutton. That’s incorrect. The smallest Eldorado engine was a 350 with FI, standard in 1979. Next came the 368 in 1980, and there was the 500 CI V8 which began in 1970. The 4100 CC engine was the smallest V8 used, starting in 1982.
I was a Cadillac Tech. Everything that Cadillac put out from 1980 forward was junk. The V8,6,4 was the worst. Lots of law suits on that engine. But, the worst engine they put in these gorgeous cars was the 5.7 diesel engine. Too much black smoke, not enough power, and the list went on. The flex ring in the Roosa Master injection pump was always being replaced. That was the hardest 1.2 hrs to r&r the pump and another .8 of an hour to replace the plastic flex ring that was always brittle and in pieces. Worst design ever.. Then they put in the Sedan and Coupe De Ville’s was the 368 with the C3 system (Electronic Carberators) YUK! The best Cadillacs to purchase was everything behind 1980. 350 Olds engines were fast in the Seville, Eldorado’s and were reliable.. the 500’s were the best to work on along with the 425’s. Those were cars. Take it from an old tech.
A nice feature of that climate control, which was used in all Cadillac models of that era, was that it served as a sort of Check Engine light scan tool – holding the “Off” and “Warmer” buttons down made the digital control display OBD codes. 12 would flash three times indicating the ECM was in good health. Then trouble codes would be shown.
“Cadillac later introduced an aluminum block V8 paired with cast iron heads – a less reliable formula.” That may be the biggest understatement of 2024. Those 4100’s were a litany of leaks, warps, and oil pump failures. Excellent boat anchors, though!
Pretty Eldo, however at that price, I’d rather have one equipped with the Astro Roof too. The trouble probe 4-6-8 governor can easily be removed making it a very reliable classic.