1968 Cadillac Eldorado

In a way, you can call the 1968-70 Eldorado a modern classic and certainly a collectible. For 1968 came a new 7.7 Liter V-8 with 35 more horses than the 7.0 Liter engine it replaced and 45 more torque to reach a thumping 525 lbs/ft torque. It was designed mainly for easier emissions control in that first year of federal smog standards. Now it was possible to spin the front-driven wheels on smooth, dry surfaces. Cadillac proudly noted that most engine accessories bolted rigidly to the block, rather than being attached by brackets, and boasted about the new V-8's two-million miles of testing.

1968 Cadillac Eldorado

Washington also decreed new safety features for 1968. Eldorado complied with discreet round side-marker lights, thicker dash padding, and non-injury interior hardware. Left alone were the broad hidden headlamp eggcrate grille distinctive vee'd backlight (i.e., back window), knife-edge fenderlines, and small backward-sliding rear-quarter windows. Wipers, however, were newly concealed by extending the hood 114mm toward the cowl. The Eldorado had the front parking lamps located on the leading edge of the fenders where they were mounted vertically. The design of the lens for the front cornering lamps (formerly vertically ribbed) was modified.

1968 Cadillac Eldorado

Spring rates were slightly lowered to give a more cushiony ride. Upholstery trims included diamond pattern cloth and vinyl; Deuville cloth with vinyl bolsters in four color choices and genuine leather options. Removed from the rear roof pillar, but not the hood and deck lid, were the familiar wreath and crest style Fleetwood emblems. Regular equipment on the luxury sports type car included all Fleetwood standards plus power rear quarter ventipanes; power front disc brakes; retractable headlamp covers; and Rosewood pattern dash panel appliques.

1968 Cadillac

Though base price jumped some $330, due mainly to the new safety and emissions gear, Eldorado production improved by nearly 37 percent for the model year, reaching over 24,000 units.