I was 12 when the all-new Cadillac Eldorado was introduced and I thought it was one really cool-looking car. With its hidden headlights, long hood and short deck, and razor-sharp styling, it was unlike any Cadillac I had ever seen. And when I looked inside and saw a flat floor with no transmission hump, I said, “Whaaa??” Yes, Cadillac decided to enter the personal luxury car market in a big way with it’s new front-wheel drive Eldorado that, according to their elegant sales brochure, was a “dramatic blend of the best of two motoring worlds: the spirit and action of a true performance car with the comfort and five-passenger spaciousness of a true luxury car.” (I bet Ford’s team that created the larger, more luxurious 1967 Thunderbird took notice.) With such a groundbreaking departure from their usual full-sized Cadillac Eldorado the year before, it’s no surprise that year two saw minimal changes.
There’s not much background or history shared other than the seller is selling this vehicle for a family member, it’s rust-free, and comes from Texas. Yes, I know it needs whitewall tires, but I like the Caddy’s Code 36 Ivanhoe Green paint and that it’s not wearing a vinyl top. The Eldorado’s already long hood was made even longer in 1968 (by almost five inches) to make room for concealed windshield wipers. Based on the photos, the body looks straight, the paint is shiny, the hidden headlights work, and I’m not seeing any major issues with the Eldo’s exterior.
The Eldorado’s luxurious cabin has been treated to new black leather seats front and back and they look great. The black padded dash cap and the rosewood-trimmed instrument panel and door panels also look good . The carpet looks a bit tired and the seller doesn’t say how all the power accessories work except that the speedometer functions properly. A closeup of the instrument panel shows 65,733 on the five-digit odometer, but nothing is mentioned if they’re the original miles or not.
The biggest news for the second-year “new” Eldorado was found under the hood. Its power plant was increased from a 429cid V8 to a 472cid that generated 375 horsepower. That power was delivered to the front wheels by a 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission. The seller says the power steering line was recently replaced and that the Eldorado “runs and drives good.” Currently calling Lyons, Illinois home, this attractive ’68 Eldorado is for sale at No Reserve here on eBay. As of this writing, 15 bids have been placed with the highest bid standing at $7,700. But if you’re interested, you need to bid soon as the auction ends in a few hours at 12:17 a.m. Monday morning. Happy Bidding on this classy-looking personal luxury green machine!
One of the cleanest, nicest El Dorado’s we’ve seen here in a long time-its condition tells volumes of whoever took care of it. Even someone that doesn’t care for Cadillacs would have to stop to give it a second look considering its age and condition. A real beauty.
GLWTA
BTW-Good pick. Who wrote this feature?
I agree, I think it’s important too who wrote the article. There are some very talented writers and that needs to recognized.
Dear Santa….
Beautiful toy…
I know white walls are expensive now. When I bought new tires for my daily driver I inquired about white walls. I really wanted white wall tires and couldn’t afford Vogue. The were literally twice as expensive compared to just getting blackwall tires.
But seriously, if you’re going to be in the hobby, and your vehicle is a vintage Cadillac, be prepared to shell out the dough
to make it and or keep it original. If you can afford a 1968 Cadillac, an Eldorado no less, you can afford white wall tires for it.
I hope the next person them on it.
I agree with you Angel. Unfortunately we can’t tell people how to spend (notice I said spend not invest) their money. Exquisite taste and class is acquired. Variety is acknowledged but IMO has it’s own arena which I don’t fit in to and don’t care to.
IMO I think some of the actions taken by some to alter the appearance of these works of art might be due to cost and maintainance. Don’t have to worry about scrubbing white walls or washing and polishing glossy paint if it gets washed at all. Hence the flat finished paint. Water spots don’t show.
I put these babies on my Riviera and my Newport Custom. They’ve been great and look just right.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/305268534020
@ Rex
2.5″ to 3″ is perfect. Had them on my 2 Rivieras and my 2 Cadillacs
I see plenty of 235/75R15 whitewall tires on the walmart website – Tornels as low as $76.21.
I disagree..this Caddy looks PERFECT with blackwalls and no ugly vinyl top.Love this car..it brought back Caddys mojo…albiet briefly!
I agree with you on the absent vinyl top Malcolm but I have to part ways with you on the tires. The black side wall tires I believe started with European cars not including early Rolls Royces and Bentley. Black side wall tires recently (circa 90s) became standard here in the US on luxury cars which IMO still cheapens the appearance.
Some things just doesn’t and won’t be acceptable for me such as flames, graphics, graffiti, and primer paint SPECIFICALLY on luxury vehicles. Some one here murdered a Lincoln Town Car here with stickers graffiti etc. If I had a single digit IQ I might understand better what their intentions were. Better concern is are they liscensed to drive?
She’s really clean Lookin’
In 1968, most all of the Eldorado’s had a vinyl top. They were in vogue. The ones that didn’t looked weird then. And yes, they ALL came with whitewall tires. Some cars had white lettered tires or red walls. Black walls screamed cheap.The car looks nice though. And what’s that about 5 additional inches needed due to adding hidden headlights? That’s just not true!
Extra length was for hidden wipers .
I think the writer was saying that the hood itself was lengthened at the rear to conceal the wipers. The whole car wasn’t 5 inches longer.
Nice slick top better than the vinyl top….
Okay, I’m going to be the guy picking fly crap out of pepper, but the correct description is “white -stripe” tire. White “walls” went out of fashion a decade earlier and would be hideous on a car this beautiful.
I was going to mention the “white stripe” tires too..and most tires came that way. If you wanted blackwall, you reverse mounted the tire onto the rim.
Probably the best-looking Eldorado ever. And the front drive for such a large and powerful car was innovative. I can see these only increasing in value.
This is a sharp looking Eldo’. The no vinyl top, blackwalls, give it that real Texas ‘Caddy’ look. There’s no way I could sneak that into the side driveway. Too bad. Best of luck on the sale of this beauty.
If you’re not going to spring for white-stripe tires, at least put some tire dressing on the blackballs so they present as well as the rest of the car. Details matter!
Ha! BlackWALLS, not blackballs. I need more coffee.
Miller’s Black Tire Paint. Get it . Use it. Great results. Enough said.
pretty sporty for 18’n a half feet no matter the tire !
The exhaust must be custom made. Eldorado’s never came with dual exhaust. Nice car otherwise. I had a 1969, loved it!
It’s on Craigslist list in Chicago for $ 16,000.00.
Sold for $9,700.00 US dollars.
Fly crap out of pepper, good one, I’m going agin the tide here and say I think this was the ugliest Caddy ever, even the Cimarron looked better. Not to take away what a fantastic road car this is, I just never cared for the styling, is all. At just over $8 grand, it was one of the most expensive cars in 1968. For the money, and you like to travel, you won’t find a nicer ride. GM had all the nuts lined up on these cars.
What????
A Cimarron looked better than this Eldorado???
Some people should load their brain before shooting their mouth!
beautiful car but, i just can’t get past the front drive. must be a ton of weight up front.
An Uncle had 66 Toro and a customer had a 73 Toro. Two things these cars shared with the Eldo, a thirst for GAS and chewing up front tires. They probably ate front brakes with all the weight on the front end,
My Dad had a new gold 68 Eldo, used to borrow it for date night, two 18 year old kids with a bench seat, great times!
Those were the days!