1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

Description

If you put a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible away for posterity, now is the time to cash in. These big ragtops, including this nicely preserved Cotillion White example, are finally getting the respect they deserve. With a gargantuan V8 and enough sheetmetal to make sixteen Smart cars, there will never again be a convertible like this.

If you're going to own an Eldo, the '76 is definitely the one to seek out. Fender skirts were gone, so it has a more balanced look that isn't so bottom-heavy, and the stylish bumper ends front and back give it a smooth profile. This one appears to be wearing an older repaint, which could almost pass for original paint if we weren't picking nits. The front and rear fender caps have been replaced since the originals usually crack with age as the flexible plastic deteriorates, and the paint match is quite good so nobody will know. As a lifelong southern car, there's no critical rust damage (obviously) and the paint still has a great shine that needs nothing more than a quick wash and wax to look its best. Chrome trim is also excellent, with bumpers that fit tightly to the bodywork and details like the flexible plastic trim strips that outline the rear bumper extensions that are often missing. And since this car has an unusual tan interior, there's a tan insert on the rub strip as well as a matching gold pinstripe.

Acres of tan leather (which Cadillac called "Buckskin") provides a great contrast to the white paint that's a bit more subtle than the more common red interior. It's as nicely preserved as the rest of the car with supple hides on the seating surfaces and only modest wear on the carpets thanks to a set of custom embroidered floor mats. The door panels are in excellent shape, including the arm rests which are notorious for cracking and splitting, and the woodgrained trim and upper padded areas still look great. This Eldo was loaded with just about every option you could get, including a power seat, automatic climate control (ice cold A/C!), cruise control, interval wipers, and a power antenna. A modern AM/FM stereo slots neatly into the dash and makes this the ultimate road trip choice, and with the big trunk that's not compromised by the folding power top, it'll carry all your gear, too. And speaking of the top, the white power scissor top folds neatly and includes a glass rear window.

Cadillac's big 500-inch V8 makes the kind of effortless torque you'd expect for a land yacht this size. It turns slow but once it gathers a head of steam, it'll happily cruise all day at 80 MPH with the A/C blasting. It's extremely clean under the hood and defies its age and mileage with careful ownership and proper maintenance. The TH425 3-speed automatic drives a set of 2.73 gears through the front wheels, so the big Eldo feels light on its feet and pulls through corners surprisingly well. A new single exhaust system ditches the restrictive catalytic converter probably adds a bunch of horsepower and four-wheel disc brakes are surprisingly effective. The original wheels wear hubcaps with correct black centers (a 1976-only feature) and wear 235/75/15 whitewall radials.

Big ragtops like this will always be fashion statements, and the last of the 500-inch Eldos are only going to get more desirable in the coming years. Call today!