This might not look aged enough to be a collectible right now, though it’s nearly forty years old. But squirrel it away in your garage, let the inevitable rush of time take over, and the next thing you know, you own a fifty-year-old car, and you’re the only one around with a ride like it. Then you can show it and enjoy talking to people about your 1983 Cadillac Eldorado. It’s available here on eBay in an auction ending Thursday. It’s currently bid just over $13 grand with the reserve not met. It can be found in Cresco, PA, should you win the auction.
This car represents the tenth of twelfth eventual Eldorado generations stretching from 1953-2002, and this tenth generation was sold from 1979-85. The chassis had become FWD in 1967, a departure for a full-sized American luxo-barge. The marks of luxury, as defined in the early 1980s, are everywhere, from the half-vinyl roof to the fact that this one’s a Biarritz, as signalled by the stainless-steel roof—nothing if not a conversation starter. This being the 1980s and not the 1950s, there may be only the memory of a set of fins protruding above the taillights, but the Cadillac crest at the bottom edge of the lenses more than adds a cool factor and reminds everyone following you that you are a baron of industry who can afford to flaunt a little wealth.
Speaking of driving, a new battery, new tires, and an AC full retrofit including a new AC Delco compressor, dryer, O-ring kit and R134A will ensure that you get down the road happily, wherever you might choose to cruise your new ride. An Astroroof lets you see the stars even when closed, the original red floor mats inside, the lovely rich burgundy color, tufted leather upholstery—all say “luxe.” This is the kind of car whose floaty ride makes every trip to the grocery store a parade cruise. What could be wrong? The engine is a 4.1 liter, or HT4100 (“High Technology”), V8 with cast iron heads and an aluminum block. This might sound like a good idea, but it was a warranty nightmare for GM, as many failed due to a variety of concerns. There’s no mention of this one having had warranty work, which is good—it’s original—and bad—this engine could give its next owner some headaches.
No doubt this Eldorado has been taken care of well. The seller notes some paint fatigue on the hood, and good of him to do so, because you can’t see this in the photos, which show the car off as if it’s just out of the showroom. So if you’re in the market for a low-mileage original, and you love those pillows that stand in for seat cushions, you may have found your steed.
Read anything on the caddy engines of the 80’s and these are right behind the 8,6,4 a one year mistake and these were what a 5 or 6 year mistake. Yes there was a fuel shortage but125hp? Yes they were lighter than anything Caddy ever produced. Yes fuel economy was slightly better but as a collector car? This is just another 80’s GM debacle. Nicer than a Citation but probably less reliable.
Hmmmmm, very interesting. I have been a car nut since I was just a kid. I joined the local Horseless Carriage Club with a family owned 1932 LaSalle Cabriolet when I was still in high school. Several other car clubs thru the years. I still belong to a very large San Francisco Bay Area car club with branches in LA and Palm Springs. You will look hard and long to find any 1980’s cars , especially GM’s. in our club. These “80’s car listed for sale in our monthly newsletter usually go unsold.
Where do I find your newsletter? I will take these 80s gm cars all day long. By 83 many of the ht4100 issues were fixed.
Now if this were the 5.7 diesel I’d be even more interested in it
I am also interested in your club’s newsletter…I am considering an early 80s Cadillac. I had an 81 Sedan de Ville and loved it.
I like the body style, the color and the interior.
125HP is bad enough, but FWD is the deal breaker.
10th gen??? Unless you include option packages from the 50s and 60s it is a 3rd gen car.
Opulence in that condition should be preserved but I would not like to maintain it. Owned for only 1 year by the seller.
Full floater suspension. Nice looking but still rear drum brakes.
Could be a aspirant for a engine swap to a more Torquay 1FE-UZ
Rear disc brakes on the El Dorados and Sevilles.
My parents had a 1985 identical I think maroon. Back then i always made it my business to get the keys and volunteer to go get them smokes at the store.LOL. I loved driving it. but had front wheel drive issues so they did not want to dump money into it. That was the only issue they had ..
I own an ‘85. It’s actually a very retro inspired design- all the design elements from the late 60’s model are there. I had my vinyl roof removed and it looks so much better- crisp and elegant. It drives so smooth and relaxed- by ‘85 they had improved the 4100.
I have owned a couple of these. This is one I would love to add to the fleet, but the price is now gotten too high for me. Someone else will love it instead.
I had a 1983 with the fake convertible top in yellow with burgundy roof and seats. It was also the touring edition. Loved it, never had any problems with the tranny. Believe or not it had sufficient power and very good gas mileage.
I used to buy and sell these back in the early 90’s. I could usually pick them between $3-4000 clean them up nice and make a few grand. I like them but I wouldn’t buy one today if it needed much of anything, too expensive to fix now. Better to buy one in this condition, pamper it and enjoy it
the block in these cars don’t last long. you have to put tablets in the radiator
Cadillac sold “stop leak” in a packet of six for Cadillac and called them “cooling system supplement”. EVERY OTHER GM dealership sold them in a packet of two and called them “Stop Leak”.
Beautiful car but if it isn’t the 79-80 model with the Oldsmobile 350 keep walking. For me those tufted button seats are too coffin like.
This car looks EXACTLY like mine ‘cept for the sun roof AND mine is a diesel.
I can’t believe that it’s bid to 20K and not met reserve, somebody must know something that I don’t. I’d rather have one with the 350 Olds engine, but I wouldn’t pay more than 5K…
At one point my mom and dad both had one of these. A yellow and a green. Driving moms, the cruise control would buck and hunt for gears. Dad gave up on Cadillac after that, and went Mercedes all the way to the present.
Back to BRAD 460. with an answer……….Sorry the club Newsletter is password protected and cannot be copied or sent forward. You would still want a diesel from this era?? My uncle had a new Olds 98 sedan, diesel. After the local dealership replaced THREE engines and then the car was retuned again for a fourth……..GM just gave UP and gave him a bunch of money. He then got a new Honda Accord .my suggestion, and loved it. He is now on his fourth Honda Accord never having spent a nickel on repairs on any, just good maintenance. Drove each Honda well over 125,000 miles each. GM has admitted to a huge mistake with the diesel , and that is well known.
Well around here a lot of farmers had the gm diesels and were served well. Uncle still has a 82 bonneville with a 5.7. A lot of it happened because people don’t understand diesels and didn’t warm them up before hammering on them.
I’ve had gm, ford, chrysler, as well as hondas, toyotas, Mitsubishi, etc. I’ve put more head gaskets in my 80s hondas than anything.
Each brand has its good and bad. I’m hearing of quite a few problems with the newer Honda 1.5L turbo engines.
My parents traded a ’75 Coupe de Ville for an ’82 Eldorado. They loved it at first as it was nimble and smaller but still a smooth ride. But by year 3 the “Check Engine ” light became an unpredictable issue as they did alot of long weekend drives. They dumped it for an ’89 Sedan de Ville and were much happier…
Two years ago was working for a non profit that had an 82 donated. Yellow beritz with 120k on the clock. Nice car. No rust. Ran good. We had it for sale for months and no takers. We ended up auctioning it off for $500. Couldn’t figure out why nobody wanted it.
Probably because of the yellow color, and the higher mileage.
Do yourself a favor and buy a 1980 Eldo with the Olds 350. My brother in law had a blue Cad with 4100 boat anchor. Nothing but junk. A good friend was a Cadillac mechanic in the 80s. Let’s just say he had job security. He was so busy fixing this total POS engine, he could do it with his eyes closed. Another example of a beautiful GM car, but a junk engine.
I think this is a pretty car, and it’s my favorite shade of Cadillac inside and out, (next to all yellow), but my last Caddy was a ’78 Coupe de Elegance. It was my fifth Cadillac since I bought my first project car, a ’63 Fleetwood. The Coupe was constantly failing me in some way. I traded it in on a foreign car and never looked back. I still occasionally see one that makes me swoon, but never again.
I had a new 83 Riviera, wanted the Eldorado, but being 22, and having bad habits like clubbing and girls, the Buick was cheaper, and just as horrible running as the Cadillac, rotten Oldsmobile 307 4,barrel, it was a slug, kept it a few years and bought a 88 Lincoln LSC, world of difference
Cmon John clubbing and girls isn’t bad habits lol My wife and I was test driving cars late 80’s and after driving the Lincoln LSC she said, this is the one.