1966 Cadillac Eldorado - Less Than What It Is

Back in the 1970's a "Cadillac Eldorado" was a 5,400 pound, front wheel drive, parade float like this 1976 "triple white" convertible. Although priced considerably more than a deVille or Calais, it wasn't necessarily any better an automobile. For what it was worth, it wasn't any better than a Chevrolet Impala but then again back then these cars weren't so much about being better automobiles as much as they were props to make their owners appear to be better off. Its unique styling and front wheel drive layout at least made it significantly different than anything else Cadillac offered; it wouldn't have been far fetched to say they were "special". Even if by the mid 1970's, Cadillac had long abandoned marketing the Eldorado's front wheel drive as anything truly noteworthy.

There was a time, though, back during the Eisenhower, Kenndy and Johnson administrations that the Cadillac Eldorado was merely a trim option and nothing really noteworthy above and beyond a "run of the mill" Coupe deVille convertible. Our well worn subject here is a 1966 and is for sale on ebay out in sun drenched Los Angeles with a starting price of $10,000.  

After the splendor that was the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville, Eldorado went through GM's infamous debasement process that pushed at one time lofty models down on the pricing ladder. Coming of age with the frilly cake toppers that I did you'll have to forgive me if I happen to think a "Cadillac Eldorado" should be something more than just a Cadillac with different chrome accents. Interestingly, while all Eldorado's after 1960 where convertibles, Cadillac also offered a convertible Coupe deVille. So, what did a buyer get with an Eldorado they couldn't get with a Coupe deVille convertible? Aside from a wood veneer lined interior nothing much.

First introduced in 1953 to commemorate Cadillac's golden 50th anniversary, the car was named after El Dorado, the lost city of gold, the Eldorado was originally Cadillac's most expensive and exclusive model. The '53's, in fact, where a factory custom model that cost nearly twice that of a Series 62 sedan.  

The suicide door equipped 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville, at more than $13,000, was the most expensive Cadillac ever manufactured and sold. Problem was, as luxurious and opulent as it was, there were few takers. And, just like that, starting in 1958, what was once a boutique automobile became nothing more than a Coupe deVille with a bit more chrome. Cadillac, after all, at its most elemental, being a luxury car for the bourgeois. 



When General Motors relaunched their full size B and C bodies for 1965 they kept the Eldorado nameplate with one caveat - Eldorado became a submodel of their Fleetwood series. Going back to 1958 it was trim option on the deVille. Nothing more than semantics, really, but Cadillac marketed Fleetwood as being grander deVilles; the sedans rode on longer wheelbases too. Thing is, the Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado wasn't a two door Fleetwood, it was, again, a two door deVille. Yes, this is genuine wood veneer - something only offered on Fleetwoods. Fancy.

 

In any event, by 1965, Cadillac was deep in the development process for the 1967 Eldorado which was indeed a totally different automobile than a deVille, Fleetwood or Calais. This car was literally a placeholder until that car was ready; similar to what Buick did in 1977-1978 tarting up a LeSabre with a Park Avenue's interior and called it a "Riviera" until the new front wheel, E body Riviera was ready come 1979.

While pristine Eldorado's of this vintage have asking prices of more than $50,000, the starting price of $10,000 for this car is vexing. Everything looks better in pictures too so you have to wonder how bad this thing really is. It appears it needs everything. I'm surprised it runs. Yes, that's a whole in the floor board. 

Knowing what I know of the car crazy culture that is Hollywood and L.A., you are what you drive and it's better to drive something like this rather than some Camry or Explorer. The worn out, vagabond appeal of a beat up old block long Cadillac, while lost on me, no doubt appealing to a wannabee star or starlet who got a sizeable check for that appearance they did in a pilot. Hope there's more of that mailbox money coming, honey. Holes in the floor boards, no carpeting and a crumbling dash bad are all fixable but it's gonna cost you.  Two grand for the floor boards, couple grand more for a new top. New dash pad? Another thousand maybe? To do it right you should pull the windshield out. All this gets really pricey. I'd figure a good $8,500 to get the interior and top done. Better still, let's bank on ten grand. Anything left over you can plow into something else like the body and engine.

You're in deep for at last $20,000 to fix this bomb up right and that's on top of the $10,000 you dropped to buy it in the first place. And then all you have is an ill handling, underpowered, rattle trap gas guzzler you'd be afraid to take to Hollywood and Highland, Another example of where it's always better to buy something that's already been restored rather than pay for it yourself. Could you get your money back? It's Hollywood so anything is possible. No doubt there's a starlet or two looking for an interesting prop to make themselves appear to be more than what they really are. Funny that they would do so with something that's actually less than what it is.