1974 Cadillac Eldorado

Description

Is there anything more American than 18 feet and 5200 pounds of Cadillac convertible? This 1974 Eldorado ragtop offers enough space to have its own zip code, a massive 500 cubic inch V8, and front-wheel drive, all combined into one distinctive luxury yacht that still has no equals even 40 years later.

You want tradition? The white-on-red combination on this Eldorado dates back to the first Eldorado in 1953 and looks fantastic on this '74's bodywork. It was repainted once about 20 years ago and still looks pretty tidy, although it's in what we call "usable" condition. Use it for parades, use it for car shows, use it for long cruises through the desert, whatever, this Eldo is a drop-top party waiting to happen. The bodywork is quite straight, which isn't easy when there's so much of it, and the crisply folded shape has actually aged gracefully compared to a lot of the stuff coming out of domestic automakers' factories in the early '70s. Even the important fender caps, which were made of a kind of early urethane that was prone to cracking and drying out, remain in very good condition on this car. A single set of red pinstripes highlight the shape of the hood and trunk and there's a tasteful single color-matched rib strip on the side, making this a somewhat restrained example of full-sized American luxury and the big chrome bumpers, grille, and other bright details are in excellent condition.

The red leather interior is original to the car and while it shows appropriate signs of age, it is not split, torn, or worn beyond use. In fact, I'd argue that it looks even more appealing with a few comfort marks, as if you could slide behind the wheel and head for Vegas on a whim. The instrument panel looks about a mile wide and the passenger sits waaaay over there, but the primary controls are arrayed around the driver right where they're easy to reach. The car is loaded with features like automatic climate control (needs to be recharged), power seat, windows, and locks, a tilt column, cruise control, and a power antenna for the AM/FM/8-track stereo system, which is befitting a top-of-the-line convertible like this. Original carpets are showing their age a bit but the car still carries its absolutely irreplaceable factory floor mats and they're in great shape. There's a white power top that stows under a hard fiberglass boot that's an ultra-rare accessory all by itself, and the trunk is outfitted with a full-sized spare with cover.

Until quite recently, Cadillac's 500 cubic inch V8 was the biggest production engine in history. With big torque that makes the Eldo feel effortless, the engine does its job superbly. It's still wearing Cadillac Blue paint on the block and valve covers and the big silencer is still on the air cleaner. It starts easily and these engines have proven to be practically bulletproof over the years, making the Eldorado easy to maintain. The TH425 3-speed automatic is a TH400 that drives the front wheels, so you know you won't break it and with 2.73 gears in the final drive, it's a highway cruiser of the highest order. A single exhaust is Cadillac quiet and with air shocks out back, no worries about a prom queen or two sitting on the rear deck for parades. Big 235/75/15 whitewall radials look right and work with the original wheels and hubcaps.

Full-sized fun with a top that goes down, and now that these cars are seeing some financial gains, maybe not a bad investment, either. Call today!