Don’t let the tired paint fool you because this 1970 Cadillac Eldorado has a lot to commend it. It is a classic car ready to be driven and enjoyed, although a fresh coat of paint would make it really “pop.” If life in the lap of luxury appeals to you, then you will find the Cadillac located in Gresham, Oregon, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding sits at $4,850 in a No Reserve auction.
There’s no hiding the fact that the Adriatic Turquoise paint on the Eldorado is showing its age. A repaint will be on the cards unless you fancy adopting the automotive “shabby chic” look. It’s when you look beyond the tired paint that you realize how much this car has to offer. The White vinyl top is new, and the seller says that there is no rust beneath it. Speaking of rust, there is none that needs to be tackled on this classic. The seller states that it has never had any rust problems nor suffered any accident damage. The panels are straight, with no noticeable dings or dents. The tinted glass shows no evidence of problems, and the trim is better than average for a driver-quality car. One of the impressive aspects of the Cadillac is the condition of the hubcaps. These can be susceptible to damage and curb strike, but there are none of those issues here.
The Eldorado is a big and heavy car, so it takes something special under the hood if it is going to perform well. Cadillac didn’t mess around here because we find a monster 500ci V8, pumping out 400hp. The vehicle utilizes GM’s “unified powerplant package” to send those horses to the front wheels via a 3-speed THM425 automatic transmission. Power steering is standard fitment, as are power front disc brakes. There are a couple of things that are worth considering with this sort of package. The first is that power steering is a real blessing in this car. As well as an impressive amount of power, the V8 also pumps out 550 ft/lbs of torque. This is enough to produce significant levels of torque-steer, risking ripping the wheel out of the driver’s hands when they plant the right boot. Power steering isolates the driver from this unpleasant experience. The other thing to consider here is vehicle weight. The Eldorado tips the scales at 4,718lbs, which is not what you’d call light. Couple this with a front-wheel-drive configuration and a ¼ mile ET of 15.4 seconds is mighty impressive. The seller says that the Cadillac runs and drives well. The odometer shows 17,500 miles, but it is believed to have rolled over.
One of the major highlights of this Cadillac is the interior. It presents beautifully, and this is because it has recently been completely refurbished. There’s nothing here that can be criticized because it all looks showroom fresh. It’s a Cadillac, so there is also no shortage of luxury appointments. As well as climate-control air conditioning, the vehicle comes equipped with power windows, power locks, a power front seat, a power exterior mirror, remote trunk release, and a tilt/telescope wheel.
The 1970 Cadillac Eldorado offers owners a luxurious motoring experience combined with impressive performance levels. As a collectible, they are an interesting proposition. During the first half of 2020, values took a bit of a hit. However, they have now begun to recover, meaning that this could be an excellent time to look at buying a good one. This one looks a bit shabby, but returning it to its former glory would not be a difficult or expensive undertaking. Spotless examples have been easily achieving prices of $20,000 in the last few months, while figures beyond $30,000 are not out of the question. If this one sells for somewhere around its current bid price, that could make it the first bargain of 2021.
A great opportunity for someone who wants a personal luxury car made before emission controls sapped away power and massive bumpers ruined the lines!
I car like this should never be kept ‘shabby chic’. It appears to be a good solid Caddy that will be worth big bucks once it’s painted. I expect the price bids will certainly go up.
The clientele for old Cadillacs is dying off just like it is for Model T Fords. To get this car looking anywhere near respectable looking, you are going to be upside down very quickly. Don’t buy this car if you think that you are going to make money off of it.
It’s up to $5100.00 with 2 days left.
Somehow the green interior doesn’t seem to coordinate with the teal exterior.
It looks blue to me. Maybe the author knows?
I vote for ‘Teal’.
From memory, the color from that year is a frosted lighter turquoise which will look very different when heavily oxidized and needing a respray.
I’m pretty sure the interior is a deeper relative of the exterior color – you just can’t tell accurate colors in cell phone shots
Anyone who puts blackwalls on a luxury car manufactured before 1990 should be drawn and quartered. I may just run for office on that platform.
A side note should be: Anyone who puts ‘wide’ whitewalls on a 1962, or newer car should also be drawn, and quartered. In 1962 all new cars with whitewalls had the thinner whitewalls on them.
Being period correct with a classic car is important.
The 1965 dual ring white walls were good looking tires. I saw a set of them on a 1965 Cadillac hearse and they were the original tires for the car. The car had 23,000 miles on it.
Did anyone ever figure out who the jerk off was that said cars look better w blackwalls, cause cars lost all they’re style, and became monotone boxes, dull and unexceptional, no contrast, now these idiots are doing away w chrome
I loved my ’67 Eldo (“Thirsty, the Great Blue Whale”). This ’70 version retains most of the phenomenal looks of the 67-70, despite the side marker lamps and open headlights. It’s funny to think the 4,700 lbs is unusually heavy, given that my 2017 Tesla Model S is 200 lbs heavier still! And for that matter, most popular current full-size SUVs are, too. At least the Tesla rips the doors off the Caddy in acceleration and efficiency, if not beauty.
I’ve seen faded paint like this brought back to beautiful with the use of rubbing compound and then high-quality wax. Not for concourse display, but lots cheaper than a complete paint job if the intention is to drive and enjoy. And just as many admiring looks at the cruise-ins.
I would assume that the interior has been redone in vinyl rather than the original being in leather. One would need the answer to that question from the owner. It would, as Jack pointed out, easily get you upside down especially if you had to redo the interior (just in case it’s vinyl). Had a couple of these in the past. Honestly like my Mark III better.
Paint this beauty…douse the leather in Old Spice aftershave…go find a Playboy Club to fall into for a three martini lunch!
Don’t know how I would vote! PofP is right but so is Dale S. DLY has it right too!
I had one of these in 1974. Believe it or not, I traded a Chevy Vega for it.
You could literally watch the gas gauge move down even while the car was sitting still, idling. Forget tromping on the gas pedal. You do that and the gas gauge literally goes from full to 3/4 full in less than a minute. Being 21 at the time, I couldn’t afford it, so had to get rid of it.
Live and learn.
I used to work for someone in Portlandia who had a yard full of Eldos like this rotting in a yard with a restorable 70 Coupe de Ville and a big Buick wagon of similar vintage. He also had a 73 ELDO as his daily driver. I don’t know what happened to all of this when he died as he had nobody to leave it to and the yard is bare.
That “new interior” is absolutely useless and has to be completely redone if its vinyl instead of leather. Highly suspicious. That car probably came with a green/blue brocade cloth/leather interior.
My dad had a 67 that I really enjoyed. Went through gas quickly. Dad told me it ran on ethyl. Wish he still had it.
Very odd the Eldorado got few changes since ’67, while the Toronado got several changes front & back. Makes no sense.
What are you talking about?
1) the Eldorado is not an Oldsmobile
2) the Toronado is not a Cadillac
3) the Eldorado got a complete body change in 1971. They even added a convertible. In 1979 they got an even bigger change as that’s when Cadillac downsized the Eldorado.
When you’ve got a good design that the public likes, why mess with it until you come up with an even better design
Sorry, i was talking just about the “1st gen” of both cars.
The original ’66-67 Toronado was just as beautiful a design as the 1st Eldo! & I believe both were built on the same platform. So why did Olds give its Toro a “fish mouth” in ’68? & then changed it again in ’70? While caddy did little to its Eldo thru 1970, other than getting rid of the hidden headlites? I would think Caddy would have had more development dinero than Olds! lol
I know what you’re saying, Joe, and that’s a question I just can’t answer. Maybe the stylist at Olds got antsy and wanted a change. Maybe Cadillac was so happy with their design (as it was now a completely different design from other Cadillacs) that they felt it just needed mi or changes.
Most car companies used to change up their lineup every 3 years.
Olds did it in 2. Cadillac did it in 4.
But now, in the end of the 20th century and into the 21st century, it’s a toss up as to when they change.
Camaro kept the same design for 12 years at one point
Angel, if you think about it, if you buy a “new” stang, camaro, or chally, the basic body style is more or less the same as it was almost 15 years ago! & the avg non car person might not be able to tell that you are driving a 2021 chally or a 2008! & as for most other generic cars, they could be 25 yrs old, for all i know &
i sure dont care or even want to know who makes them – they all came out of the same oven, if you ask me.
In the old days people bought new models every 3-5 years so that they could show off to the world that the car they are driving indeed is a new model(& that they are well off too!). Look at any 60’s pic of cars in parkin lots or on the road, & not only 98% of them are american, but you can tell what make, model & sometimes year they were built! Try that today – ha ha. MIght as well buy an ’08 Chally for the LOOK, if you don’t care it’s not the fastest.
I have three Cadillacs that’s been garage kept a 1970 Eldorado go brown leather white 1977 Eldorado call Jimmy Dore hard tops leather the white has 32,009 Chevelle and then last night I have a silver and red interior Eldorado silver have fun on top of the door hardtop you’re all beautiful I’m gonna sell wanna roll interested let me know thank you for looking