When the final cars rolled off the production line in 1985, it looked like the world had said goodbye to the Cadillac Eldorado Convertible for good. However, there were people with other ideas, and a few of them made the decision to revive the concept. The result was cars like this 1996 Eldorado Convertible, which is listed for sale here on Craigslist. Barn Finder Roger referred the Cadillac to us, so thank you for that. Located in Farmingdale, New Jersey, the owner has set the sale price for the Eldorado at $9,999 OBO.
Normally, I’m a bit dubious about cars where a third-party company has decided to cut off the roof to produce a convertible. However, this one is a bit different. The work was completed by a company called Coach Builders Limited, of High Springs, Florida. That company is still operating to this day (although with a name change), and have been performing conversions like this one since 1976. The workmanship on this car looks good, and the fact that it has survived to the point where it has 122,000 miles on the clock suggests that it is structurally sound. The car presents well, although the owner does admit that it is fitted with a different grille but that it is otherwise standard and well maintained. The owner also says that the car was used in the Adam Sandler movie “Grown Ups.” He says that he didn’t own the car at the time, but that he does hold the paperwork that verifies its authenticity.
The interior of the Eldorado presents quite well for a 23-year-old car with more than 100,000 miles on the clock, but there are few areas where it is beginning to show its age. The most obvious of these is the wear on the steering wheel. There is also some visible wear beginning on the seats. However, a good leather restoration company should be able to revive them at a reasonable cost. Of course, this wouldn’t be a Cadillac without some luxury appointments, so power windows, power seats, power mirrors, a tilt wheel, cruise control, and air conditioning are all there to make life that bit more pleasant.
Under the hood is a 4.6-liter V8 engine, hooked to a 4-speed manual transmission. We don’t get any photos of the engine, but judging by the text in the listing, it does appear that the car has been well maintained. The owner says that the car drives really smoothly and that he holds a significant amount of documentation and receipts for servicing. This photo actually shows the car in its starring role, with actor Kevin James behind the wheel.
I don’t feel guilty to admit that I have never seen the movie in which this car featured. Chances are that I never will, although I guess we’ll have some readers who have. For me, the impact that this sort of role has on a car’s value is wholly dependant on the iconic stature of the movie. For example, “Bullitt” was filmed 51-years-ago, but the value of the Mustangs from that movie will only continue to rise in the coming years. I have to ask myself seriously whether people will remember this car and the movie in which it featured in another 50 years, and the chances are that they won’t. So, my guess is that whoever buys this Cadillac will do so because they like the car, not the movie.
Aftermarket drop top conversions usually don’t look good at all, especially with the top up, but this one works surprisingly well!
How can I reach you to purchase this car
Four speed manual? Are you sure?
Interior photo sure looks like it’s equipped with an automatic tranny.
yes, it is an automatic
Looks like an automatic to me!!
Hi – this is my car – I am the actual owner and seller……. yes, the car is an automatic
Should be a NorthStar engine correct?
yes – it is a Northstar. and it runs great!
If I was an elderly dry cleaning store owner, this would be perfect for me. I’m not.
Yawn…………
This car screams Florida retirement village
Not the movie car…body side trim and wheels are different.
I kind of like the Eldorados but you have that pesky Northstar.
Read the ad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this IS the movie car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Del Boca Vista Phase 2 .. .
I do love this car. Belongs in my garage. Yes, I live in Florida!
Different wheels than on the movie car. Are we sure it’s from the movie?
yes – read the ad!!!!!!!!!! the last owner changed the wheels…….
why is it so hard to think that in 10 years since the movie came out that someone might have changed the wheels ?>!?!?!?!?!??!?!
Not the same car period!
Try actually reading the ad instead of leaving obnoxious comments!!!!
I agree Al. It’s not the same car as in the movie. Totally different.
Try actually reading the ad instead of leaving obnoxious comments!!!!
Car has been for sale for over five years usually with about 30 ads at the same time clogging up Craig’s list. Should be listed on eBay starting at $1,500 and let the market do its magic.
Do any you even bother to read the ad !??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??
As I said in the ad……… I HAVE THE PAPERWORK FROM THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!
the last owner did alot of work to this car to make it his own.
before leaving obnoxious comments…….. you should read the ad!!!!!!
Chill out Greg…go see a movie or something….
“Happy Gilmore” might be a start.
Really? The last owner faked the paperwork so it looks like it was the movie car? Hard to believe, are you sure?
I’m NotSure
After reading Greg, the owners comments, I take back the nice things I said earlier. I would never buy a car from him.
This isn’t the same car as the grille and those wheels don’t match.
The rear window looks bad .
I like the car though…
I wonder why it’s not authenticated 🤔
Probably like the Seinfeld John Voght car skit which was a similar name but not the actor
🙃
Wait! The tires are different, the whitewalls aren’t the same,
There isn’t the same amount of tread……………….!!!! What a bunch of Morooons
o k … boys and girls ..lets play nice …. all things being equal … it appears to be a nice car … probably worth the asking price especially if you live in ‘ The Villages ‘
This was fun!
I remember seeing this car in the movie, which was filmed in the cities I grew up in (Swampscott, and Marblehead) Massachusetts to name a couple. What strikes me the most is that when I saw the car in the movie I thought it was beautiful car and it never occurred to me that there was never a factory Eldorado Convertible. Judging by the looks of this one there should have been!
I love these cars. My grand parents had a maroon on white 98. Even if this is the movie car, it’s not a big bonus. It’s a minor part in a recent comedic movie.
This man made Eldorado convertible is ‘one of thousands’ made during the 1992 – 2002 production cycle and has absolutely no historical significance.
Said another way, it will never be presented side by side with a 1959 Eldorado Biarritz.
I did read the ad. The movie car was a different color, different wheels, didn’t have the chrome around the wheel wells, so on. I do feel the car is worth the asking price as a car. I would buy it if I had the funds & a place to put it, but I will never believe it is the car from the movie. I can make paperwork reflect whatever I want. I am not saying the seller did that, but maybe the person who sold to him. I don’t like how defensive the seller became on his posts. So either he realized whoever he bought the car fooled him & his male ego (I got one too, I get it lol) is forcing him to be so defensive or he is trying to make the car out to be what it is not. Shouldn’t matter. Neat car. Probably the ONLY North star powered car I would EVER buy.
Lot of change for a used car with 120,000 miles, its structural integrity must be shot, ergo no undercarriage pictures.
Was the Northstar that bad?
I owned the car directly after the movie company. I added the Deville wheels, vogue tires, wheel well trim and even the Biarritz trim down the side. Car had 112k on it when I got it. It has changed hands a few times since I sold it.
96 was a horrible year for the Northstar engine.
Cadillac didn’t properly engineer the Northstar until 2003, an afterthought for the Eldorado’s through 2002 with blown engine gaskets with short bolts costing thousands to fix.